Litton Systems, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Michael Jude Iosue

Joseph P Estrera

Jay Scott Tucker

Miguel M Saldana

Timothy Everett Ostromek

Niels F Jacksen

Kevin D Wheeler

Bruce Johnson

Antonio V Bacarella

Kenneth W Sauter

John W Glesener

Timothy W Sinor

Timothy B Hogan

Clifford James Connors

Timothy R Beystrum

Adriana Giordana

Michael R Salda&ntilde;a

Robert H Smithson

Carlos J Batista

Lynn Kern

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

A system () for combining multi-spectral images of a scene () is disclosed. The system () is compatible with a viewing system () for viewing the scene () in a first spectral range. The viewing system () has an objective lens (), an image intensifier () and viewing optics (). There is a detector () for viewing the scene () in a second spectral band. The detector () has an image output () representative of the viewed scene. A display () for receiving and displaying the image output is provided. There is a collimator () for receiving and projecting the displayed image. A beam mixer () is provided for receiving both the viewed scene in the first spectral band and the displayed image and conveying the combined images to the viewing system () to construct the combined multi-spectral images of the scene. The system may also be used stand-alone without the viewing system ().

Method and system for combining multi-spectral images of a scene

Mating faces of a microchannel plate (MCP) () and a multi-layer ceramic body () unit are deposited with a thin film having protuberances () using a suitable metal selected for optimum diffusion at a desired temperatures and pressure. The metallized MCP () and multi-layer ceramic body () unit are then aligned and placed in a bonding fixture (F) that provides the necessary force applied to the components to initiate a diffusion bond at a desired elevated temperature. The bonding fixture (F) is then placed in a vacuum heat chamber (V) to accelerate the diffusion bonding process between the MCP () and the multi-layer ceramic body unit ().

Bonding methods for microchannel plates

An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode () with an active layer () providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode () also includes integral spacer structure () which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate () of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance 'G' between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

Image intensification tube

A microchannel plate (MCP) () and a dielectric insulator () are deposited with a thin film () using a suitable metal selected for optimum diffusion. The metallized MCP () and dielectric insulator () are then aligned and placed in a bonding fixture () that provides the necessary force applied to the components to initiate a diffusion bond. The bonding fixture () is then placed in a vacuum heat chamber to accelerate the diffusion bonding process between the MCP () and the dielectric insulator ().

Diffusion bonding method for microchannel plates

A microchannel plate (P) for receiving photoelectrons includes a plate-like substrate web (W) formed from a plurality of micro-tubules () of a single type of cladding glass () and defining a pair of opposite faces (and). The substrate web (W) further includes a plurality of microchannel passages () extending between the opposite faces (and) and having openings (and, respectively) in both of the opposite faces (and). The microchannel openings () have funnel-like entries or openings () formed in the substrate web (W) with at least one of the opposite faces ().

Microchannel plate having input/output face funneling

Bonding method for microchannel plates

Image intensifier tube

A system (S) for combining multi-spectral images of a scene includes a first detector ( ) for transmitting a scene image in a first spectral band. A separate, second detector ( ) senses the scene in a second spectral band. The second detector ( ) has an image output that is representative of the scene. A transparent display ( ) mounted in the output viewing path ( ) of the first detector ( ) and displays a displayed image in the second spectral band. The image of the transparent display is aligned such that the image ( ) of the scene in the second spectral band combines with the image output ( ) in the first spectral band. The combined multi-spectral images ( ) are conveyed to an output ( ) for a user (U).

Integrated display image intensifier assembly

A image intensifier tube ( ) includes a housing ( ) carrying a photocathode ( ) and a microchannel plate ( ). The housing also receives axially extending fine-dimension spacing structure ( ) interposed around an active area of the photocathode and the microchannel plate to establish and maintain a selected fine-dimension, precise PC-to-MCP spacing between these structures. The housing includes yieldable deformable electrical contact structure ( &prime;) for establishing and maintaining contact with the microchannel plate, and yieldable deformable sealing structure ( ) allowing axial movement of the photocathode relative to the housing structure as the tube is assembled and the axial spacing structure controls PC-to-MCP spacing. The result is that the PC-to-MCP spacing dimension of the tube is largely isolated from dimensional variabilities of the housing and is established and maintained precisely during manufacturing of the tube despite stack up of tolerances for the housing and its components.

Night vision device and method

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

An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode ( ) with an active layer ( ) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode ( ) also includes integral spacer structure ( ) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate ( ) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance &ldquo;G&rdquo; between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

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

An image intensifier tube includes a photocathode (,) with an active layer (,) providing an electrical spectral response to photons of light. The photocathode (,) also includes integral spacer structure (,) which extends toward and physically touches a microchannel plate (,) of the image intensifier tube in order to establish and maintain a desirably precise and fine-dimension spacing distance &ldquo;G&rdquo; between the photocathode and the microchannel plate. A method of making the photocathode and a method of making the image intensifier tube are described also.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Michael Jude Iosue