Secondary Emitter Type (e.g., Electron Multiplier) Patents (Class 313/103R)
  • Patent number: 6064055
    Abstract: A night vision device (10) includes an improved fine-resolution microchannel plate (22) having a multitude of microchannels (32). The microchannels (32) are defined in groups (32a, 32b), with each group having plural microchannels. Each group of the microchannels originates with a single fiber pre-form (50) used in a process of manufacturing the microchannel plate (22). A method of making such a microchannel plate (22) is also explained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Dorko
  • Patent number: 6005347
    Abstract: An improved magnetron which is capable of elongating the life span of the magnetron, reducing the fabrication cost, and enhancing the performance of the system without using a filament in the conventional art, which includes a center lead, an upper end shield engaged to an upper portion of the center lead for preventing thermal electrons from being escaped, a plate-type primary cathode arranged below the upper end shield and fixed to one side of the supporting layer surrounding the center lead, a cylindrical secondary cathode having an elongating slit formed in an outer circumferential surface thereof, through which slit a part of the plate-type primary cathode is outwardly extended beyond the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical secondary cathode, and a lower end shield engaged to the lower portion of the secondary cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 5986387
    Abstract: This invention relates to a transmission type electron multiplier having a high secondary electron generation efficiency and having the structure capable of detecting positions of incidence of detected light, and also to an electron tube provided therewith. The electron tube comprises a closed container, an electron source, housed in the closed container, for emitting electrons into the closed container, an anode disposed so as to face the electron source, and a transmission type electron multiplier disposed between the electron source and the anode. Particularly, the transmission type electron multiplier comprises a thin film of diamond or a material containing a principal component of diamond, and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the thin film, the reinforcing member having an aperture for exposing a part of the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Minoru Niigaki, Toru Hirohata, Hirofumi Kan, Masami Yamada
  • Patent number: 5969361
    Abstract: This detector comprises electron multiplication means (14) producing a cluster of electrons under the impact of each particle (2), a layer (6) that this cluster passes through, and which emits a light pulse by interaction with the layer, and transparent electron detection means (8) capable of determining the moment of impact of the particle and supplying information about the impact positions for each moment thus determined, so that these positions can be determined and correlated with the moments determined by the detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Didier Blavette, Alain Bostel, Bernard Deconihout
  • Patent number: 5955833
    Abstract: A cathodoluminescent field emission display device features an enhancement layer disposed over at least selected portions of an outer surface of an extraction grid of the device. The enhancement layer provides enhanced secondary electron emissions. The enhancement layer is preferably near mono-molecular film of an oxide of barium, beryllium, calcium, magnesium, strontium or aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Janning
  • Patent number: 5949063
    Abstract: A night vision device includes an improved power supply which operates the image intensifier tube of the device according to a variable duty cycle either at a design voltage level for the tube or at a voltage level simulating a dark-field. This duty cycle variation is effected as a function of the current flow in the image intensifier tube in order to provide automatic brightness control and bright source protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Michael R. Saldana, Alric M. Fitterer
  • Patent number: 5942747
    Abstract: A night vision device which applies a time-varying voltage to the photocathode of the device during periods of high average light intensity from a scene being viewed. The purpose of applying this time-varying voltage during periods of high average light intensity is to reduce the average current through the photocathode, thus increasing reliability for the night vision device while preserving image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Saldana
  • Patent number: 5923120
    Abstract: In the microchannel 50, a conductive film 52 is formed on an electron input surface of a dynode 51 where the plurality of channels are arranged. The conductive film is made of material that can transmit light that has originated photoelectrons and that has a refractive index lower than that of the dynode constituting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Kuniyoshi Yamauchi, Atsushi Onoda, Masahiko Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5917281
    Abstract: According to the photomultiplier tube, the dynode unit 10 is constructed from a plurality of stages of dynodes 11 laminated one on another for multiplying incident electrons in a cascade manner through each of a plurality of channels. The anode unit 13 has a plurality of anodes 24 which define a plurality of electron passage gaps 14 each for transmitting the electrons emitted from the dynode unit 10 at a corresponding channel. The inverting dynode plate 15 is provided with a plurality of electron incident strips 17 each for receiving electrons having passed through a corresponding electron passage gap 14 in the anode unit 13, multiplying the electrons, and guiding the electrons back to the corresponding anode 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hideki Shimoi, Hiroyuki Kyushima
  • Patent number: 5907150
    Abstract: A multi-function day/night observation, ranging, and sighting device includes a single objective lens and a single eyepiece lens and provides an image of a scene. The single objective lens leads to a visible-light first optical path and to an invisible-light second optical path. The invisible-light second optical path includes an image intensifier tube providing a visible image. The first-and second optical paths converge with visible images provided by each pathway being overlaid at a reticule plane. A single light path leads from the reticule plane to the eyepiece lens. A laser provides a pulse of laser light projected into the scene via the single objective lens, and the image intensifier tube is used as a detector for a portion of the laser light pulse reflected from an object in the scene in order to provide a laser range finding function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Michael R. Saldana
  • Patent number: 5880458
    Abstract: In the photomultiplier tube 1, the focusing electrode plate 17 has the focusing portion 20 for focusing incident electrons and the frame 21 surrounding the focusing portion 20. The focusing portion 20 has a plurality of slit openings 18. The dynode unit 10 is constructed from a plurality of dynode plates 11 laminated one on another. Each dynode plate 11 has a plurality of electron through-holes 13 located in confrontation with the plurality of slit openings 18. A plurality of anodes 9 are provided for receiving electrons emitted from the respective through-holes 13 of the dynode unit 10. The frame 21 has dummy openings 22 at positions located in confrontation with edges 15 of the first stage dynode plate 11a in the dynode unit 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hideki Shimoi, Hiroyuki Kyushima, Hisaki Katoh
  • Patent number: 5874806
    Abstract: A crossed-field amplifier is provided having a cathode structure with an emitting surface which emits secondary electrons upon impingement of priming electrons, an anode vane structure surrounding the cathode and a signal input port located adjacent the anode vanes. A secondary emission material is disposed in an area proximate the signal input port for providing priming electrons in the interaction region of the amplifier. The RF input signal causes the secondary emission material to emit priming electrons for use by the cathode structure. The creation of priming electrons in the interaction area reduces irregular start-up or "jitter" typically experienced with the amplifier at low pulse repetition frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Pasco, Chris L. Wheeland
  • Patent number: 5744908
    Abstract: An electron tube includes an electron multiplication unit for multiplying an incident electron flow by secondary electron emission. This electron multiplication unit is formed by stacking a plurality of dynodes toward an incident side of the electron flow. A plurality of through holes are arranged and formed in each dynode, in which one end on the incident side of the electron flow is used as an input opening, and the other end is used as an output opening. An acceleration electrode unit projecting toward the through hole of the upper dynode is provided at an edge portion of the input opening. As described above, the acceleration electrode unit is provided at the edge portion of the input opening of the through hole formed in each dynode. For this reason, a damping electric field is pushed up by the acceleration electrode unit and deeply warped into the through hole of the upper dynode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kyushima
  • Patent number: 5736731
    Abstract: In a photomultiplier tube, a second dynode Dy2 is located in confrontation with a first dynode Dy1 in an electron multiplication portion 6. The second dynode Dy2 is made of material that has a secondary electron emission gain which is substantially saturated with respect to an electric voltage applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kyushima, Takayuki Omura, Kimitsugu Nakamura, Suenori Kimura, Yousuke Oohashi, Masuo Ito
  • Patent number: 5701004
    Abstract: A driving circuit for an electron multiplying device is provided which provides sufficient dynamic range and input-output linearity characteristic and reduces power loss to a greater extent. A cathode is set to a voltage substantially equal to the housing so that an electric field is not developed therebetween. A multiple stages of dynodes are arranged between the cathode and an anode, and a voltage multiplier is provided for applying bias voltages to the dynodes. The voltage multiplier includes a plurality of diodes and a plurality of capacitors. The capacitors are connected to respective ones of the dynodes individually to apply a voltage charged across each of the capacitors to the corresponding dynode. With such voltage multiplier, the dynodes are applied with voltages that increase with proximity of the subject dynode to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Takanori Nakaya
  • Patent number: 5689152
    Abstract: An electron multiplier of the perforated sheet type includes two successive sheets constituting a dynode which has several multiplier channels in common. For controlling the gain of a given channel (A), a control electrode (30) is provided in the form of a sheet inserted between the sheets (14, 15) of a dynode (Dn) which has a grating window (33) controlling the gain of the channel (A) in question, and one (or several) aperture(s) (34) in accordance with the number of remaining channels. Another channel (B) is controlled by another electrode (31) inserted between the sheets (16, 17) of another dynode (D.sub.n+1). Also disclosed is a multi-channel photomultiplier tube which includes such an electron multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Boutot, Pierre L'Hermite
  • Patent number: 5686721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for image signal decoupling in position-transmitting high-vacuum electromagnetic radiation quanta or particle detectors. The electromagnetic radiation quanta or particles impinge on a spatially resolving anode structure through a photoelectron converter layer (in the case of electromagnetic radiation) and directly through an electron multiplier as an electron avalanche (in the case of particle radiation). The electron avalanche is first collected for a short time inside the vacuum on the anode side by means of a high-resistance, conducting semiconductor thin film, and is then read out capacitively from the outside through the glass bottom (counter-substrate) of the detector device as an image charge by means of a low-resistance anode layer of suitable structure. The capacitive decoupling permits high spatial resolution when the internal resistances of the charge collecting layer and the readout anode layer are optimally adapted to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignees: Litef GmbH, Roentdek-Handels GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt-Bocking
  • Patent number: 5677595
    Abstract: An electron multiplier includes an improved resistor assembly for applying relevant voltages to respective dynodes. Resistor patterns are printed on one surface of an insulation substrate. Each resistor pattern is connected to one end of one of a plurality of conductor patterns which are also printed on the same surface of the insulation substrate, so that each resistor pattern is sandwiched between adjacent conductor patterns to provide a predetermined resistance therebetween. The other end of each conductor pattern extends to a corresponding insertion hole formed on the insulation substrate. One end of a conductor element, which may be a lead, wire, or other wire shaped conductor, is inserted into the corresponding insertion hole and electrically connected to its corresponding conductor pattern. At least the area around where the conductor pattern is connected to the conductor element and also areas around resistor patterns are covered with an insulating seal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Shirou Sakai, Makoto Nakamura, Hiroshi Suzuki, Kazunori Wada, Hiroyuki Kyushima, Tetsuya Morita
  • Patent number: 5665966
    Abstract: A current measuring system comprising a current measuring device having a first electrode at ground potential, and a second electrode; a current source having an offset potential of at least three hundred volts, the current source having an output electrode; and a capacitor having a first electrode electrically connected to the output electrode of the current source and having a second electrode electrically connected to the second electrode of the current measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company
    Inventors: David A. Dahl, Anthony D. Appelhans, John E. Olson
  • Patent number: 5656807
    Abstract: A 360.degree. surround photon detector/electron multiplier having: i) a continuous annular inner wall formed of thin light-transmissive material defining an internal coaxial detection chamber; ii) an annular enclosed evacuated envelope integral with the inner wall; iii) a cylindrical photocathode positioned adjacent the vacuum side of the inner wall; and iv), an electron multiplier assembly housed within the envelope for multiplying photoelectrons emitted from the photocathode and operable as a plurality of adjacent, circumferentially arrayed electron multipliers, each including an output terminal. The outputs originating from various segments of the photocathode may be utilized with coincidence circuitry requiring simultaneous detection of light events in at least two different sections of the photocathode in order to eliminate spurious signals such as result from thermal electron emissions from the photocathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Lyle E. Packard
  • Patent number: 5619091
    Abstract: A secondary electron emitter is provided and includes a substrate with a diamond film, the diamond film is treated or coated with an alkali-halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Universities Research Association, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Anderson, Simon W. Kwan
  • Patent number: 5616987
    Abstract: A mesh electrode 9 is provided over an incident opening 7a of the electron multiplication portion 6. In the electron multiplication portion 6, a dynode group Dy is located downstream of a first dynode Dy1 for multiplying electrons supplied from the first dynode Dy1. The dynode group Dy is provided in the vicinity of the curvature center of the first dynode Dy1. A plate electrode 10 and a mesh electrode 9 are supplied with a potential intermediate between the potentials applied to the first dynode Dy1 and applied to the dynode group Dy. Accordingly, the electric field formed due to the potential difference between the first dynode Dy1 and the dynode group Dy is surrounded by the intermediate potentials. The electric field is therefore uniformly distributed over the region from the vicinity of the first dynode Dy1 toward the dynode group Dy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ohmura, Tomoyuki Okada, Hiroyuki Kyushima, Yousuke Oohashi
  • Patent number: 5594301
    Abstract: An electron tube, such as, a photomultiplier, includes an aluminum seal ring 4 disposed between a Kovar cylinder 1, and a quartz faceplate 5 having a photocathode 6. The electron tube further includes a borosilicate stem plate 2, an anode 8, and a dynode 7. The aluminum seal ring 4 provides for increased air tightness, reliability, quantum efficiency, and gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sawai, Masayuki Inuzuka, Toyohiko Terada
  • Patent number: 5578891
    Abstract: An electron multiplier according to this invention comprises dynodes DY1 .about.DY16 arranged in multi-stages along a direction of incidence of an energy beam for, upon incidence of the energy beam, gradually multiplying secondary electrons to emit the same, a collection electrode A for receiving electrons emitted from that of the dynodes on a last stage, and resistors R1 .about.R16 inserted between the respective dynodes and their adjacent ones, the dynodes, the collecting electrode, and the resistors being mounted between two support plates 10a, 10b disposed in parallel with each other, the resistors being arranged in two rows which sandwich the dynodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Shiro Sakai, Takehisa Okamoto, Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5568013
    Abstract: A micromachined electron multiplier is disclosed wherein a substrate has at least one trench formed therein and an aperture cover is disposed on the substrate with at least one inlet aperture aligned with one end of the channel. Either the substrate or the apertured cover may have an outlet aperture formed therein. A variety of channel shapes, and arrays are disclosed as well as a solid state photomultiplier tube formed with an integrated radiation window and anode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Center for Advanced Fiberoptic Applications
    Inventors: Alan M. Then, Gregory L. Snider, Robert J. Soave, G. William Tasker
  • Patent number: 5523556
    Abstract: A Cockcroft-Walton (CW) multiplying circuit is mounted to wrap around a cylindrical structure. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) has a photocathode which emits electrons and has dynodes connected to the CW multiplying circuit. The dynodes are biased to attract electrons from the photocathode. An electrical shield surrounds the PMT and the PMT nests within the shield. The cylindrical structure surrounds the shield and the shield nests within the cylindrical structure. The shield is a conductive material which electrically isolates the PMT from the CW multiplying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Meddaugh, Mehrzad Mahdavi, Stefan Vajda
  • Patent number: 5491380
    Abstract: A photomultiplier which can be easily made compact has a dynode unit having a plurality of dynode plates stacked in an electron incident direction in a vacuum container fabricated by a housing and a base member integrally formed with the housing. Each dynode plate is constituted by welding at least two plates overlapping each other. The welding positions do not overlap each other in the stacking direction of the dynode plates. With this structure, field discharge at the welding portions between the dynode plates can be prevented to reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics, K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kyushima, Koji Nagura, Yutaka Hasegawa, Eiichiro Kawano, Tomihiko Kuroyanagi, Akira Atsumi, Masuya Mizuide
  • Patent number: 5434469
    Abstract: In a device for ion generation, the ionization chamber is characterized by walls coated with a material with a high coefficient of secondary emission, such as a suitable glass; this enables the energy yield and mass yield of the device to be improved with respect to known techniques. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Proel Tecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Cirri
  • Patent number: 5416382
    Abstract: A photomultiplier tube in which a photoelectron beam (42) is divided in N independent paths by means of an electron-optical device. The optical device includes a first cup-shaped focusing electrode (25) having a flat bottom portion of polygonal or circular shape, in which N apertures (30a), (30b) are formed, and having raised side faces (28a), (28b) which extend towards the photocathode (12), viewed in the radial directions corresponding to the elementary photomultipliers, and side faces having V-shaped recesses between these directions. The optical device is completed by a deflection electrode (35) which is brought to approximately the same potential as the photocathode and which is centrally arranged close to the bottom portion of the focusing electrode (25). The assembly is followed by a multiplier (16) of the perforated sheet-type whose focusing electrode (161) has projecting portions (41a), (41b), the multiplier being followed by N anode plates (20a), (20b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre L'Hermite
  • Patent number: 5410211
    Abstract: The electron tube according to this invention comprises an electron multiplier for multiplying incident electron flows by secondary electron emission. This electron multiplier includes a plurality of stages of dynodes laid one on another, and each stage dynode includes a number of through-holes each having an electron input opening on one end and an electron output opening on the other end. The electron output opening has a larger area than the electron input opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics, K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kyushima
  • Patent number: 5374864
    Abstract: A series of improved electron multipliers is shown which are capable of reducing the number of bombardments per unit area. In the preferred embodiment, the inner channel is significantly increased in surface area over that surface area of present-day multipliers. Because the surface area is increased, for the same charge throughout, the number of electron bombardments per unit area is decreased. Since the number of bombardments per unit area is reduced, there is less degradation on the inner surface of the channel and hence the device lifetime is also increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Detector Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Roy, Peter W. Graves, Thomas J. Loretz
  • Patent number: 5363014
    Abstract: A photomultiplier for receiving incident light on a photocathode, and cascade-multiplying electrodes emitted from the photocathode by a secondary electronic effect of a plurality of dynodes, whereby the incident light is detected. The photomultiplier includes a slowing-down electrode for decelerating those of secondary electrons emitted from a dynode on the first stage to a dynode on the second stage which have a higher speed. Because of the slowing-down electrode the secondary electrons having a higher speed are selectively decelerated, whereby a transit time spread of the secondary electrons emitted from parts of the first stage-dynode to the second stage-dynode is relatively decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Kimitsugu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5348934
    Abstract: A cathode for a secondary emission structure comprised of a superconductive material is described. In one embodiment the cathode comprises a layer of a superconductive material such as yttrium barium cupric oxide, or rare earth substituted neodymium cupric oxides. The layer may be bonded to a metal electrode or preferably the cathode consist of a superconductive or conductive oxide. The use of a superconductive material provides a cathode having suitable secondary emission characteristics and, furthermore, which being conductive at room temperatures, as well as, temperatures of operation of the cathode, obviating the need for a use of a very thin film of a secondary emission material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Beverley A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5336967
    Abstract: A multiple section photomultiplier tube. The tube is constructed essentially as a matrix of several independent tubes in one envelope. The photocathode of each individual section of the tube is formed into an independent surface, and the photocathode to dynode spacings are isolated by a configuration built with separator electrodes which connect to photocathode boundary dividers formed in the faceplate. The boundary dividers also isolate the independent photocathode regions. The boundary dividers can be either slots into which the separator electrodes fit or ribs with which the separator electrodes are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Burle Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Tomasetti, Fred A. Helvy, Donald B. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5285061
    Abstract: A direct conversion X-ray photo-electron cathode has specially designed secondary electron emission layers which provides high efficiency, low noise, high speed and broad band X-ray photon detection. The X-ray photocathode is integrated with a micro channel plate and an output phosphor display screen to form a panel type X-ray intensifier. The X-ray intensifier is combined with a micro-focus X-ray source to provide projection type X-ray microscope for use in X-ray microscopic diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: CSL Opto-Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yongzheng She, Shizheng Chen, Weilou Cao, Yanhua Shih
  • Patent number: 5270611
    Abstract: Electric discharge element comprising a cathode which cooperates with an electron duct cavity which is defined by walls of electrically insulating material having a secondary emission coefficient .delta., which cavity has an output aperture, while electrode means which can be connected to a voltage source are provided for applying, in operation, an electric field across a path in the cavity from the cathode to the output aperture so as to enable electron transport through the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus G. P. Van Gorkom
  • Patent number: 5220240
    Abstract: A planar display apparatus with a fluorescent screen formed on the inner surface of a front panel in a planar tube body. An electron gun is disposed at a position deviated in a vertical scanning direction from a region opposite the fluorescent screen, and a vertical deflecting electrode composed of a plurality of parallel electrodes is disposed at an opposite portion relative to the fluorescent screen on the side of a back panel opposed to the front panel of the planar tube body. In a space between the vertical deflecting electrode and the fluorescent screen, there is disposed an electrode structure having at least an electron lens scanning electrode composed of a plurality of parallel electrodes, a splitting electrode for splitting an electron beam from the electron gun into a plurality of beams, a modulating electrode, and horizontal deflection electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Ohoshi, Akira Nakayama, Junichi Inoue, Masaru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5180943
    Abstract: A venetian-blind type of photomultiplier tube comprising a photocathode for converting an incident light into photoelectrons, a venetian-blind type of dynode array comprising plural dynode rows arranged in a first direction, each of which comprises plural dynode elements arranged at a constant pitch in a second direction, each dynode element having a plate inclined to the first direction for emitting the secondary electrons, an anode array comprising plural anodes arranged in the second direction for collecting the secondary electrons emitted from the dynode array and outputting an amplified electrical signal corresponding to the light, and one or more electron converging electrodes for converging at least one stream of the photoelectrons and the secondary electrons and concentrically directing the converged stream to a predetermined portion of each of the dynode elements. The electron-flight control member may have various patterns such as a grid, strip, mesh and multi-aperture structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kyushima
  • Patent number: 5117149
    Abstract: A parallel plate electron multiplier employing active dynode surfaces in confronting spaced relationship for effecting electron multiplication between the input and the output thereof in the active dynode area. Electron multiplication occurs in response to an accelerating biasing field extending between the input and the output. Electrostatic elements laterally of the dynode area establish lateral biasing fields in a direction transverse of the dynodes for containing electrons in the dynode area and for attracting positively charged species away from the dynode area in order to reduce spurious signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Galileo Electro-Optics Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Fijol
  • Patent number: 5115667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for processing a signal received by an electron multiplier. The circuit comprises an electron multiplier followed by an electron collector, a power supply for the electron multiplier, a gain-compressing amplifier for processing the signal delivered by the electron collector, and a feedback path for continuously modulating the gain of the electron multiplier by means of a control circuit which acts on the HT power supply of the electron multiplier. This circuit is particularly suitable for use in mass spectrometry and in helium leak detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Alcatel Cit
    Inventor: Gilles Baret
  • Patent number: 5077504
    Abstract: A multiple section photomultiplier tube constructed as a matrix of several independent tubes in one envelope. The photocathode to dynode spacings are isolated by a separator configuration built with walls which interlock in cooperating slots, and each photocathode operates with its own independent dynode cage. One dynode in each cage is maintained electrically independent, and its connection is brought out of the envelope independently. This permits independent adjustment of the gain for each of the tube's multiple sections, so they can be adjusted to the same response for a standard radiation signal. The entire tube can then be used to monitor a large area for radiation, and will yield the same response over its entire cathode area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Burle Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred A. Helvy
  • Patent number: 5073743
    Abstract: An electrode for discharge light source which is suitable for discharge display on account of its high reliability and outstanding discharge characteristics attributable to the metal conductor which is formed 1-5 .mu.m thick in the discharge container and also to the film of the material for secondary emission which is formed on the metal conductor from a compound composed of LaB.sub.6 and Ba in an amount of 0.01-20 mol % of LaB.sub.6 or a compound composed of LaB.sub.6, Ba in an amount of 0.01-20 mol % of LaB.sub.6, and Ca in an amount of 0.01-5 mol % of Ba, and is 0.5-2 .mu.m thick so that it is free of pin-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiro Kajiwara, Goroku Kobayashi, Keiji Fukuyama, Ko Sano, Yojiro Yano, Keiji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5030878
    Abstract: A segmented electron multiplier is disclosed with front and rear sections. The sections are specially designed so that the length of the rear section compared to the length of the front section is no less than 4:1. This permits multiple replacements of the rear section, after the multiplier wears out, without any unsatisfactory drop in the overall electrical gain produced by the repaired device. In the preferred embodiment, the front portion is a funnel having a tubular stem, and the rear portion is a straight tube with a cylindrical helical inner channel. The length-to-length split is 5:1, which theoretically permits up to six or seven replacements of the rear section before unsatisfactory gain occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Detector Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Roy, Peter W. Graves, Thomas J. Loretz, Jonathan W. Amy, George C. Stafford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4999540
    Abstract: A photomultiplier tube (10) for the use in high collecting power is described having a photocathode (20), a first dynode (30) and a stackable-dynode multiplier device (40). According to the invention, the first dynode (30) is constituted by a sheet which extends parallel to the photocathode (20) and is provided with a feedthrough aperture (31), an extracting grid (32) being arranged between the photocathode (20) and the sheet, and the stackable-dynode multiplier device (40) is positioned opposite the aperture (30) in such a manner as to collect the secondary electrons (50) emitted by the first dynode (30) and passing through the feedthrough aperture (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventor: Pierre L'hermite
  • Patent number: 4990827
    Abstract: A micro secondary electron multiplier or an array thereof employs discrete dynodes which are microstructured and applied to an insulating substrate plate. The substrate plate is provided with electrical conductor paths for the connection of the dynodes. The dynodes can be made using a technique such as X-ray depth lithography-galvanoplasty (the LIGA technique). The micro secondary electron multiplier or an array of such multipliers is extremely small and sensitive, and has a high time resolution. Furthermore there is considerable flexibility in positioning the multipliers of an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Herbert Moser, Dietrich Munchmeyer
  • Patent number: 4987335
    Abstract: A structure for supporting a funnel portion of a secondary electron multiplying tube in a secondary electron multiplier. In the supporting structure for the funnel portion, a support member has a circular contact element for supporting an end face of a mouth of the funnel, and nails formed along the outer periphery of the circular contact element so as to grasp the mouth end portion of the funnel from the outside thereof. A press member is welded to the support member into which the funnel portion is inserted. The posture and position of the funnel portion are correctly determined in relation to an opening of a Farady cup, by fixing the support member to a casing of the secondary electron multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamamoto, Takeshi Terashima
  • Patent number: 4978885
    Abstract: Reduced ion feedback in an electron multiplier (EM) is achieved by applying a higher than normal bias voltage to the EM and degassing the EM with a relatively high concentration of self-generated particles as a result of the applied bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Galileo Electro-Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul L. White, Bruce N. Laprade
  • Patent number: 4825118
    Abstract: An electron multiplier device consists of an insulating substrate having, a plurality of through-holes, a first secondary electron emission layer and a second secondary electron emission layer or a conductive layer, and a DC electric field is applied to the first secondary electron emission layer with respect to the second latter secondary electron emission layer or conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4806827
    Abstract: Electron multiplier element for secondary emission, consisting of a first metal plate (11) which has at least one multiplier hole (12) having one input aperture (13) and one output aperture (14), and a second metal plate (16) in parallel with the first plate (11) which has at least one auxiliary hole (17) disposed opposite the output aperture (14) of the multiplier hole (12). The second plate (16) being brought to an electric potential (V1) which is higher than the electric potential (V0) of the first plate. The apertures (13, 14) are such that the projection (18) of the output aperture (14) of the multiplier hole (12) in a plane which is parallel to the first metal plate (11) is at least partially located outside the corresponding projection (19) of the input aperture (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert Eschard
  • Patent number: RE33344
    Abstract: .[.A negative ion detector converts negative ions to positive ions by means of a conversion anode which is maintained at a relatively high positive voltage. The resultant positive ions are detected by a standard continuous dynode electron multiplier which has its detection signal output at ground potential..]. .Iadd.Apparatus for detecting the abundance of negative ions from a source of negative ions, having a first conversion dynode and an electron multiplier, the electron multiplier having a second conversion dynode. The first conversion dynode is operated at a high positive potential to attract the negative ions whereby the negative ions impact the first conversion dynode with a substantial portion of the negative ions being converted to secondary positive ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Finnigan Corporation
    Inventor: George C. Stafford