Abstract: An image intensifier device includes: an intensifier tube with at least one photocathode, a micro-channel plate and a conversion element, arranged in that order one after another, and an electric power supply module configured to supply at least one respective polarisation voltage to each of the elements of the intensifier tube. The electric power supply module extends in a region located upstream of the photocathode, on the side of the photocathode opposite to the micro-channel plate. Thus, a space is cleared located downstream of the intensifier tube in the direction of travel of the photons and of the electrons in the image intensifier device. This allows reducing the size of the image intensifier device for example by bringing an eyepiece closer.

Abstract: Vision apparatus intended to be mounted on the head of a user, including: a night vision device, for forming first virtual images; an offsetting element, for projecting the first virtual images in the field of view of the user; a shutter, such that the offsetting element is between the shutter and the eye of the user, and able to have an open position that allows light to pass and a closed position that blocks light; a switching element with an open position that authorises emission of the first virtual images or the transfer thereof to the offsetting element, and a closed position that blocks the image emission or transfer; and a controlling device controlling the shutter and the switching element according to opening and closing cycles so the shutter is closed during all or a portion of the time during which the switching element is open, and inversely.

Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The flight tube enables neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through an input opening and exit through an output opening. The stage supports a sample object to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and the output opening. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that receives neutrons that pass through the sample object and generates neutron detection signals. The neutron shield surrounds at least a portion of the flight tube and the neutron imaging module to block at least a portion of stray neutrons that travel toward the neutron-sensitive component of the neutron imaging module, in which the stray neutrons do not enter the flight tube through the input opening of the flight tube.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation detector includes an inlet window intended to receive a stream of incident photons, as well as a photocathode in the form of a semiconductive layer. A conductive layer is deposited on the downstream face of the inlet window and a thin dielectric layer is disposed between the conductive layer and the semiconductive layer. The conductive layer is brought to a potential below that of the semiconductive layer so as to drive the photoelectrons out of the recombination zone and consequently improve the quantum yield of the photocathode.

Abstract: A method of making leak tight electrical connections through the wall of a ceramic package, for example a ceramic package used on an image intensifier tube. The method comprises a hole metallisation step (500) to obtain vias, the metallisation step comprising the deposition of a bond layer (510), a diffusion barrier (520) acting as a metallic base layer and a wetting agent (530). For each via, a filler metal preform made of indium or a eutectic chosen from among InSn, AuSn, AuGe, AgSn is deposited (540) on each orifice and is heated to a temperature higher than its melting temperature (550) such that the molten filler metal closes off the via to make it leak tight.

Abstract: A neutron imaging system includes a neutron generator, a flight tube, a stage, a neutron imaging module, and a neutron shield. The flight tube enables neutrons from the neutron generator to enter the flight tube through an input opening and exit through an output opening. The stage supports a sample object to receive neutrons that pass through the entire length of the flight tube and the output opening. The neutron imaging module has a neutron-sensitive component that receives neutrons that pass through the sample object and generates neutron detection signals. The neutron shield surrounds at least a portion of the flight tube and the neutron imaging module to block at least a portion of stray neutrons that travel toward the neutron-sensitive component of the neutron imaging module, in which the stray neutrons do not enter the flight tube through the input opening of the flight tube.

Abstract: The invention discloses a photocathode comprising an amorphous substrate such as a glass substrate (110) presenting an input face that will receive incident photons and a back face opposite the front face. Nanowires (120) made from at least one III-V semiconducting material are deposited on the back face of the substrate and extend from this face in a direction away from the front face. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a photocathode by MBE.

Abstract: A channel electron multiplier having a high aspect ratio and differential coatings along its channel length is disclosed. The elongated tube has an input end, an output end, and an interior surface extending along the length of the tube between the input end and the output end. The channel electron multiplier also has first and second conductive layers formed on the interior surface of the tube. The first conductive layer is selected to provide a first electrical resistance, a first electron emission characteristic, or both, and the second conductive layer is selected to provide a second electrical resistance, a second electron emission characteristic, or both. A method of making a channel electron multiplier having two or more different conductive layers is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image intensifier is provided in which a thin film (090) is arranged between an output surface of the electron multiplier (040) and the phosphorous screen. The thin film is a semi-conductor or insulator with a crystalline structure comprising a band gap equal or larger than 1 eV, wherein the crystalline structure has a carrier diffusion length equal or larger than 50% of the thickness of the thin film. In addition, the thin film has an anode directed surface which has a negative electron affinity. By way of provisioning a thin film of the above type in the image intensifier, an improvement in mean transfer function of the overall image intensifier is obtained.

Abstract: An image intensifier sensor for acquiring, amplifying and displaying images and including a vacuum envelope, the image intensifier sensor including a photocathode arranged for releasing photoelectrons into the vacuum envelope upon electromagnetic radiation acquired from the images which impinges the photocathode, an anode, spaced apart from and in facing relationship with the photocathode, arranged for receiving the photoelectrons and converting the photoelectrons for displaying the images on the basis thereof, and a power supply unit for providing power to the image intensifier sensor, wherein the image intensifier sensor further includes potting material, wherein the potting material comprises a foam compound.

Abstract: An optical system retaining system for vision augmenting system prevents the unintended removal of the optical system but does not require disassembly of the augmenting system to remove the optical system.

Abstract: A coalignment system including wedge-prism assembly that can be attached to a conventional night vision scope, for example. This could allow a standard handheld night vision scope to be deployed in different modes such as on headmounted goggles or as an augmentation scope in front of a day sight a weapon while enabling Line of sight/point of impact (LOS/POI) correction. In order to ensure maximum compatibility, the coalignment system includes diopter adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocathode including an input window (210) suitable for receiving a flow of incident photons, and an active layer (230), the active layer consisting of a plurality of elementary layers (2301, 2302) made of semiconductor materials having decreasing forbidden bandwidths in the direction of the flow of incident photons. The surface of the photocathode opposite the input window is structured so that each elementary layer of the active layer has its own photoelectric emission surface (2401, 2402). By choosing the semiconductor materials of the elementary layers, it is possible to obtain an image which has high sensitivity in both the visible spectrum and the near infrared.

Abstract: Image acquisition device comprising a photocathode, converting an incident flux of photons into a flux of electrons, a sensor, and a processor. The device according to the invention comprises a matrix of elementary filters, each associated with at least one pixel of the sensor, the matrix being disposed upstream of the photocathode. The matrix comprises primary color filters, and transparent filters, termed panchromatic filters. The processor is configured to: calculate a quantity, termed a useful quantity (F), for determining whether at least one zone of the sensor is in conditions of weak or strong illumination, the useful quantity being representative of a mean surface flux of photons or of electrons which is detected on a set of panchromatic pixels of the sensor; forming, only if the zone is in conditions of strong illumination, an image of the zone on the basis of the primary color pixels of this zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semi-transparent photocathode (1) for a photon detector having an increased absorption rate for a preserved transport rate. According to the invention, the photocathode (1) includes a transmission diffraction grating (30) able to diffract said photons and provided in the support layer (10) on which the photoemissive layer (20) is deposited.

Abstract: An imaging device (100) for acquiring and displaying images in real-time, the imaging device comprising i) an imaging sensor (110) comprising a radiation sensitive array (120) for acquiring an image (142), ii) a readout circuit (140) connected to the radiation sensitive array for reading out the image, iii) a signal processor (160) for processing the image for obtaining a processed image (162), and iv) a display (180) for displaying the processed image, the radiation sensitive array being arranged in rows of sensor pixels and the display being arranged in rows of display pixels, and wherein the readout circuit is a rolling shutter circuit for sequentially reading out the rows of sensor pixels for sequentially providing subsets of pixels, the signal processor is configured for, on availability of one of the subsets of pixels, processing the subset of pixels for providing a processed subset of pixels, and the display is configured for, on availability of the processed subset of pixels, displaying the processed

Abstract: The invention relates to an image acquisition device comprising a sensor composed of an array of photosensitive pixels, and an array of elementary filters covering the sensor. Pixels may be of three different types: panchromatic pixels, primary colour pixels and infrared pixels. Under low illumination conditions, the device displays a monochrome image using panchromatic pixels, and under high illumination conditions, a colour image with a high signal to noise ratio, by combining primary colour images and subtracting the infrared image.

Abstract: An electron multiplying structure for use in a vacuum tube using electron multiplying, the electron multiplying structure having an input face intended to be oriented in a facing relationship with an entrance window of the vacuum tube, an output face intended to be oriented in a facing relationship with a detection surface of the vacuum tube, wherein the electron multiplying structure at least is composed of a semi-conductor material layer adjacent the detection windows. Also disclosed is a vacuum tube using electron multiplying with an electron multiplying structure.

Abstract: A system for detecting electromagnetic radiation or an ion flow, including an input device for receiving the electronic radiation or the ion flow and emitting primary electrons in response, a multiplier of electrons in transmission, for receiving the primary electrons and emitting secondary electrons in response, and an output device for receiving the secondary electrons and emitting an output signal in response. The electron multiplier includes at least one nanocrystalline diamond layer doped with boron in a concentration of higher than 5·1019 cm?3.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube and a night vision system fitted with such a tube. The tube body of the image intensifier tube includes a multilayer ceramic substrate fixed in a sealed manner to an input device and to an output device so as to assure leaktightness of a vacuum chamber delimited by the tube body. The multilayer substrate also maintains a microchannel plate arranged between a photocathode and a phosphorus screen, and supplies voltage to the photocathode, the plate, and the phosphorus screen.