Automatic brightness control for image intensifiers

• US 4,882,481 A
• Filed: 10/19/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sperry Marine Incorporated Charlottesville VA
• Original Assignee: Sperry Marine, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Gerdt, David W., Gilligan, Lawrence H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Application Number:
  US07/259,829
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 250/213 VT, 250/213 R, 313/529, 313/537, 313/103 CM, 313/105 CM
• US Class Current: 250/214.0VT
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/98 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the tube and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 31/507 using a large number of channels, e.g. microchannel plates

Abstract

The microchannel plate current of a microchannel plate image intensifier is sensed to generate a pulse train applied to the image intensifier photocathode for gating the image intensifier on and off with an on period proportional to the light impinging thereon. The off periods of the pulse train are sufficiently positive to repair photocathode spot damage.

Claims

1. Brightness control apparatus for an image intensifier having a photocathode, a microchannel plate, and an anode, comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring the current drawn by said microchannel plate in response to the light level impinging on said photocathode and for providing a pulse control signal in accordance therewith, and

pulse generating means responsive to said pulse control signal for providing a pulse train to said photocathode so that said image intensifier is gated on and off with an on period proportional to said light level impinging on said photocathode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image intensifier includes a microchannel plate input and a microchannel plate output, said apparatus further including power supply means for applying suitable operating potentials to said microchannel plate input, said microchannel plate output and said anode to effect substantially maximum gain when said photocathode is pulsed on by said pulse generating means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image intensifier includes a microchannel plate input and a microchannel plate output, said apparatus further including power supply means for applying suitable operating potentials to said microchannel plate input, said microchannel plate output and said anode.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

said power supply means includes a microchannel plate input power supply for applying a suitable potential to said microchannel plate input, and

said monitoring means includes a resistor through which said microchannel plate current flows for providing said pulse control signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pulse train is sufficiently positive during the off periods of said image intensifier so that spot damage which may occur on said photocathode is repaired.