Abstract: A system (100) for combining multi-spectral images of a scene (102) is disclosed. The system (100) is compatible with a viewing system (104) for viewing the scene (102) in a first spectral range. The viewing system (104) has an objective lens (110), an image intensifier (112) and viewing optics (114). There is a detector (128) for viewing the scene (102) in a second spectral band. The detector (128) has an image output (129) representative of the viewed scene. A display (132) for receiving and displaying the image output is provided. There is a collimator (134) for receiving and projecting the displayed image. A beam mixer (118) is provided for receiving both the viewed scene in the first spectral band and the displayed image and conveying the combined images to the viewing system (104) to construct the combined multi-spectral images of the scene. The system may also be used stand-alone without the viewing system (104).

Abstract: An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode (20) with an active layer (52) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode (20) also includes integral spacer structure (42) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate (22) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance “G” between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode (20) with an active layer (52) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode (20) also includes integral spacer structure (42) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate (22) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance “G” between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

Abstract: A image intensifier tube (14) includes a housing (18) carrying a photocathode (22) and a microchannel plate (24). The housing also receives axially extending fine-dimension spacing structure (22a) interposed around an active area 22b of the photocathode and the microchannel plate to establish and maintain a selected fine-dimension, precise PC-to-MCP spacing between these structures. The housing includes yieldable deformable electrical contact structure (56′) for establishing and maintaining contact with the microchannel plate, and yieldable deformable sealing structure (58) allowing axial movement of the photocathode relative to the housing structure as the tube is assembled and the axial spacing structure controls PC-to-MCP spacing. The result is that the PC-to-MCP spacing dimension of the tube is largely isolated from dimensional variabilities of the housing and is established and maintained precisely during manufacturing of the tube despite stack up of tolerances for the housing and its components.

Abstract: A image intensifier tube (14) includes a housing (18) carrying a photocathode (22) and a microchannel plate (24). The housing also receives axially extending fine-dimension spacing structure (22a) interposed around an active area 22b of the photocathode and the microchannel plate to establish and maintain a selected fine-dimension, precise PC-to-MCP spacing between these structures. The housing includes yieldable deformable electrical contact structure (56′) for establishing and maintaining contact with the microchannel plate, and yieldable deformable sealing structure (58) allowing axial movement of the photocathode relative to the housing structure as the tube is assembled and the axial spacing structure controls PC-to-MCP spacing. The result is that the PC-to-MCP spacing dimension of the tube is largely isolated from dimensional variabilities of the housing and is established and maintained precisely during manufacturing of the tube despite stack up of tolerances for the housing and its components.

Abstract: A image intensifier tube (14) includes a housing (18) carrying a photocathode (22) and a microchannel plate (24). The housing also receives axially extending fine-dimension spacing structure (22a) interposed around an active area 22b of the photocathode and the microchannel plate to establish and maintain a selected fine-dimension, precise PC-to-MCP spacing between these structures. The housing includes yieldable deformable electrical contact structure (56′) for establishing and maintaining contact with the microchannel plate, and yieldable deformable sealing structure (58) allowing axial movement of the photocathode relative to the housing structure as the tube is assembled and the axial spacing structure controls PC-to-MCP spacing. The result is that the PC-to-MCP spacing dimension of the tube is largely isolated from dimensional variabilities of the housing and is established and maintained precisely during manufacturing of the tube despite stack up of tolerances for the housing and its components.

Abstract: A image intensifier tube (14) includes a housing (18) carrying a photocathode (22) and a microchannel plate (24). The housing also receives axially extending fine-dimension spacing structure (22a) interposed around an active area 22b of the photocathode and the microchannel plate to establish and maintain a selected fine-dimension, precise PC-to-MCP spacing between these structures. The housing includes yieldable deformable electrical contact structure (56′) for establishing and maintaining contact with the microchannel plate, and yieldable deformable sealing structure (58) allowing axial movement of the photocathode relative to the housing structure as the tube is assembled and the axial spacing structure controls PC-to-MCP spacing. The result is that the PC-to-MCP spacing dimension of the tube is largely isolated from dimensional variabilities of the housing and is established and maintained precisely during manufacturing of the tube despite stack up of tolerances for the housing and its components.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode (20) with an active layer (52) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode (20) also includes integral spacer structure (42) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate (22) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance “G” between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode (20) with an active layer (52) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode (20) also includes integral spacer structure (42) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate (22) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance “G” between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

Abstract: A night vision device (10) with an image intensifier tube (14) includes an improved microchannel plate (22) which has an extraordinarily low indigenous population of gas molecules. Because of this low population of gas molecules, positive ions produced from these gas molecules in the high voltage operating environment of the image intensifier tube (14) are of such a low number that the image intensifier tube (14) will operate for a satisfactory service life even though the microchannel plate (22) has no ion barrier film. The microchannel plate (22) is also spaced much closer to a photocathode (20) of the image intensifier tube (14) than has heretofore been possible. Thus, improved gain and reduction or elimination of image halo also results from the present invention.