Intevac, Inc.

David B Johnson

Allan W Scott

Thomas G Daley

Stephen J Bartz

A camera attachment converts a standard day-light video camera into a day/night-vision video camera. The attachment device has a threaded input and output to physically and optically interconnect an auto-iris lens to a video camera. The attachment device contains an image intensifier tube and a fiber optic image conduit either of which may be switched into the through optical path to receive and either amplify or simply conduct the light image to a relay lens. The relay lens focuses the output image from either the image tube or the fiber optic image conduit onto the optical input of the video camera. The switching of the image intensifier tube or the fiber optic image conduit is dependent upon the ambient light conditions of the camera so that if there is insufficient lighting for normal daytime viewing the image tube is activated and switched into the through optical path of the camera.

Surveillance system having a microchannel image intensifier tube

A low cost image intensifier tube is provided which has an improved vacuum sealing mechanism and improved optical transmission. Glass windows on both the input and output of the tube are vacuum sealed within the housing by a ring of indium that contacts the interface between each of the windows and the housing. A pair of raised pointed flanges each positioned along the inner housing surface interfacing the windows protrude into the adjacent ring of indium for improving the vacuum seal of both input and output windows and for controlling the spacing of the elements within the tube. Sealing the photocathode from the rest of the tube is a ceramic cathode cork. The cathode cork is a solid sealing ring press fit within the tube housing and colocated between the input window at the outer edge of the photocathode and the microchannel plate.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

David B Johnson