Litton Systems, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Other

L-3 Communications Corporation

Varo, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.

Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc.

Joseph P Estrera

Timothy W Sinor

Timothy Everett Ostromek

Keith T Passmore

Antonio V Bacarella

Michael Jude Iosue

John W Glesener

Timothy B Hogan

Adriana Giordana

Michael R Saldana

Rodney Lynn Doster

David W Davis

Jeffrey C Short

Michael R Salda&ntilde;a

Roland M Morley

Kenneth W Sauter

David G Couch

Loig E Bourree

Robert H Smithson

Bruce V Hoodswain

Robert Glosser

Clyde James Smittle

Anthony J Nico

John Glesener

Jason Verne Liebert

Lee S May, Jr

Timothy c/o Litton Electro-Optical Systems Division Ostromek

A compact viewing device (M) has a receiving sensor assembly () with a display () that generates a visible output image () and an output sensor assembly () that receives and processes the visible output image () from the receiving sensor assembly () into an electronic image format. A wide field of view (WFOV) lens assembly () conveys the visible output image () from the receiving sensor assembly () to the output sensor assembly (). The WFOV lens assembly () is positioned between the receiving sensor assembly () and the output sensor assembly (), and has a central longitudinal axis () through the WFOV lens assembly () that is co-linear with both a central optical axis () of the receiving sensor assembly () and having an centered input sensor () which is co-linear with the central longitudinal axis ().

Compact intensified camera module

A user portable viewing device includes a plurality of non-coaxially aligned sensors for sensing a scene. A processing element combines electronic images into a single electronic image. A display displaying the combined electronic image is adaptable for mounting in an optical axis including an eye of the user and an input end of the first sensor for direct view. In a second embodiment, a system for fusing images comprises sensors for generating sets of image data. An information processor receives and samples the sets of image data to generate sample data for computing a fused image array. A display receives the fused image array and displays a fused colorized image generated from the fused image array.

Digitally enhanced night vision device

A method for processing light energy is provided that includes receiving a plurality of photons reflected by an object and generating sensor data that is based a portion of the plurality of photons received. The sensor data is processed in order to generate processed sensor data. A segment of the processed sensor data that directly corresponds to the portion of the plurality of photons is displayed such that the segment may be viewed.

System and method for processing and displaying light energy

A method for detecting radiation is disclosed that includes forming a detector having a photocathode () with a protective layer () of cesium, oxygen and fluorine; a microchannel plate (MCP) (); and an electron receiver (). Radiation is received at the photocathode (). The photocathode () discharges electrons () in response to the received photons. Discharged electrons () are accelerated from the photocathode () to the input face () of the microchannel plate (). The electrons () are received at the input face () of the microchannel plate (). A cascade of secondary emission electrons () is generated in the microchannel plate () in response to the received electrons (). The secondary emission electrons () are emitted from the output face () of the microchannel plate (). Secondary emission electrons () are received at the electron receiver (). An output characteristic of the secondary emission electrons () is produced.

Method and system for detecting radiation incorporating a hardened photocathode

A sensor unit (F) has at least a first and second sensor () arranged along a sensor axis (). A head adapter () provides support to mount at least one selected device about a user's cranium (). A securing module () is attached to the sensor unit for mounting the sensor unit (F) to the head adapter (). The sensor unit (F) is to be mounted above an ocular axis () formed between a pair of eyes () of the user (U) when the sensor unit (F) is attached to the head adapter element (). When the sensor unit (F) is secured to the user (U) with the head adapter element (), the sensor axis () is essentially perpendicular to the user's ocular axis ().

Centerline mounted sensor fusion device

An InGaAs Image Intensifier ('I2') Camera (C) detects and forms an image () to be viewed. An InGaAs photocathode Image Intensifier () is used to pass an amplified signal () from a screen (). The InGaAs image intensification tube () is optically coupled () to an imaging device () for passing output light. The output light () from the InGaAs tube () is transformed by an electronic circuit () producing a desired signal output (). The signal output () from the electronic circuit () may be further enhanced into an enhanced signal output (). The enhanced signal output may be formatted into a form for viewing or may be saved.

InGaAs image intensifier camera

A photocathode manufacturing intermediary article () includes a substrate layer (), and an active layer () that is carried by the substrate layer (). The active layer () includes photoemissive alkali antimonide material that is epitaxially grown on the substrate ().

MBE grown alkali antimonide photocathodes

A system ( ) for gating a sensor ( ) includes a detector ( ) that detects light and outputs a signal ( ) corresponding to the light. A control unit ( ) receives the signal ( ), and enables and disables a power supply ( ) in response to the signal ( ) to generate a gated power signal ( ). The power supply ( ) outputs the gated power signal ( ) to a sensor ( ) sensing the light.

Method and system for gating a sensor using a gated power signal

The present invention comprises a method for detecting photons and generating a representation of an image. A photocathode receives photons from the image. The photocathode discharges electrons in response to the received photons. A microchannel plate is located no more than about 125 microns from the photocathode. The microchannel plate has an unfilmed input face and an output face. The microchannel plate receives the electrons from the photocathode and produces secondary emission electrons which are emitted from the output face. A screen receives the secondary electrons and displays a representation of the image.

Method and system for enhanced vision employing an improved image intensifier and reduced halo

A system ( ) for gating a sensor ( ) includes a detector ( ) that detects light and outputs a signal ( ) corresponding to the light. A control unit ( ) receives the signal ( ), adjusts a gating signal ( ) in response to the signal ( ), and outputs the adjusted gating signal ( ) to gate a sensor ( ) sensing the light.

Method and system for gating a sensor using a gating signal

The present invention comprises a photon detector and image generator, which includes a photocathode that receives photons from an image. The photocathode discharges electrons in response to the received photons. A microchannel plate with an unfilmed input face and an output face receives the electrons from the photocathode and produces secondary emission electrons which are emitted from the output face. A display receives the secondary electrons and displays a representation of the image. The photon detector and image generator has a lifetime of more than 7,500 hours.

System for enhanced vision employing an improved image intensifier with an unfilmed microchannel plate

An improved microchannel plate ( ) is disclosed. The microchannel plate has an input side ( ) and an output side ( ). A coating ( ) is applied to the input side ( ) to increase secondary electron production and to prevent ions from leaving the microchannel plate ( ) and damaging the photocathode ( ).

Microchannel plate having an enhanced coating

The present invention comprises a method for detecting photons and generating a representation of an image. A photocathode receives photons from an image. A power supply to the photocathode is gated such that the photocathode is switched between an on state and an off state. The photocathode discharges electrons in response to the received photons while the photocathode is in the on state. A microchannel plate with an unfilmed input face and an output face receives the electrons from the photocathode and produces secondary emission electrons which are emitted from the output face. A screen receives the secondary electrons and displays a representation of the image.

Method and system for enhanced vision employing an improved image intensifier and gated power supply

A method for detecting radiation comprising nine steps is disclosed. Step one, forming a detector having a photocathode (,) with a protective layer (,) of cesium, oxygen and fluorine; a microchannel plate (MCP) (,); and an electron receiver (,). Step two, receiving radiation at the photocathode (,). Step three, photocathode (,) discharging electrons (,) in response to the received photons. Step four, accelerating discharged electrons (,) from the photocathode (,) to the input face (,) of the microchannel plate (,). Step five, receiving the electrons (,) at the input face (,) of the microchannel plate (,). Step six, generating a cascade of secondary emission electrons (,) in the microchannel plate (,) in response to the received electrons (,). Step seven, emitting the secondary emission electrons (,) from the output face (,) of the microchannel plate (,). Step eight, receiving secondary emission electrons (,) at the electron receiver (,). Step nine, producing an output characteristic of the secondary emission electrons (,). A device for detecting radiation is disclosed. The device comprises a photocathode (,), a microchannel plate (,) and an electron receiver (,). The photocathode (,) is operable to receive radiation on an input side (,) and to discharge electrons (,) from its output side (,) in response. The output side (,) of the photocathode (,) has a protective layer (,) comprising cesium, oxygen and fluorine. The microchannel plate (,) serves to receive electrons (,) on its input face (,) from the photocathode (,), to produce a cascade of secondary emission electrons (,) and to discharge those electrons (,) from its output face (,). The electron receiver (,) is operable to receive secondary emissions electrons (,) from the microchannel plate (,) and to produce an output characteristic of those electrons (,).

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Joseph P Estrera