Compact image intensifier tube and night vision system fitted with such a tube

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An image intensifier tube for receiving photons from an external environment and outputting a visible image, comprising:
a tube body delimiting a portion of a vacuum chamber, closed in a sealed manner at a first end by an input device of an incident light signal and a second end opposite the first end along the axial direction of the tube by a light signal output device; a photocathode arranged on an internal surface of the input device, that receives photons to generate photoelectrons; multiplying means for receiving the photoelectrons to output secondary electrons in response thereto; and a phosphorus screen arranged on an internal surface of the output device to receive the secondary electrons to provide a visible image in response thereto, wherein the tube body includes a multilayer ceramic substrate coupled in a sealed manner to the input device and to the output device, to which the multiplying means is coupled at a plurality of coupling locations, and adapted to bring the multiplying means to different electrical potentials, the multilayer ceramic substrate having a central opening configured to allow the secondary electrons to pass from the multiplying means to the phosphorus screen, a first face of the multilayer ceramic substrate facing toward the photocathode, and a second face of the multilayer ceramic substrate opposite the first face facing toward the phosphorus screen, wherein the multiplayer ceramic substrate includes a plurality of internal electrical connections, each of which is arranged between two neighboring ceramic layers, for connection to an external electrical power supply, and extends radially outward in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube from a corresponding one of said plurality of coupling locations, and wherein said multilayer ceramic substrate is coupled in a sealed manner to an internal surface of the input device by a first conducting attachment means consisting of at least one seal made of indium-tin, indium-bismuth or pure indium, which is in direct contact with said internal surface of the input device and in direct contact with said multilayer ceramic substrate.