Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Thomas N Peck

Nils Ian Thomas

Thomas Theodore Mabry

Warren David Vrescak

Daniel Brown Vest

A mega-boule is used in fabricating microchannel plates (MCPs). The mega-boule has a cross-sectional surface including an island section, an inner perimeter section and an outer perimeter section, each section occupying a distinct portion of the cross-sectional surface. The island section is formed of a first plurality of optical fibers, transversely oriented to the cross-sectional surface, each optical fiber including a cladding formed of non-etchable material and a core formed of etchable material. The inner perimeter section is formed of non-etchable material and is disposed to surround the island section. The outer perimeter section is formed of a second plurality of optical fibers, transversely oriented to the cross-sectional surface, each optical fiber including a cladding formed of non-etchable material and a core formed of etchable material, and the outer perimeter section is disposed to surround the island section and the inner perimeter section. The first plurality of optical fibers of the island section form transverse microchannels for an MCP, when the island section is etched, and the second plurality of optical fibers of the outer perimeter section form perforated cleave planes, when the outer perimeter section is etched.

Perforated mega-boule wafer for fabrication of microchannel plates (MCPs)

An improved image intensifier tube has electrically operative components that include a photocathode having a photoemissive layer, a microchannel plate (MCP) having a conductive input surface and a conductive output surface, and a vacuum housing for retaining the photocathode, microchannel plate and a fiber optic inverter and screen within an evacuated environment. The fiber optic inverter has a circumferentially extending flange portion extending toward the housing to accommodate a sealing material which sealingly engages an inner surface of an output flange with the inverter flange portion to form an air impervious vacuum seal and where the output flange is supported by the fiber optic inverter flange portion. The improved intensifier includes a photocathode having a flat faceplate conductively engaging the photocathode along the entire surface of the faceplate. The photocathode is operable so as to directly engage a conductive support ring for providing electrical contact to the photocathode external to the vacuum housing. The improved intensifier further includes a support assembly disposed in the housing for supporting the microchannel plate. The assembly includes a ceramic ring having a first metalized surface in conductive contact with the microchannel plate and a second metalized surface operable to provide an electrical contact external to the housing, and where the ceramic ring is soldered to the plate at a position on the first metalized surface to conductively join and retain the plate within the housing. A non-evaporable getter is disposed in the housing between the metalized ceramic ring and a getter tab to absorb gas generated during operation of the image intensifier tube.

Growing community of inventors

Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Thomas N Peck