Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Exelis Inc.

Thomas Theodore Mabry

Nelson Christopher DeVoe

Arlynn Walter Smith

Nils Ian Thomas

Warren David Vrescak

Thomas N Peck

Daniel Brown Vest

A boule for making a multichannel plate (MCP) includes (a) at least two sets of rows of fibers, each set arranged to form a hexagonally shaped boundary of fibers, and (b) an additional row of fibers disposed between the two sets of hexagonally shaped boundary of fibers. The additional row of fibers includes a horizontally oriented row of fibers, which is packed on top of a horizontally oriented boundary of fibers. A fiber of the horizontally oriented row of fibers of the boundary is packed adjacent to two consecutive fibers of the additional row of fibers, forming a triangular shape of fibers. The triangular shape of fibers forms a maximum open area ratio (OAR) of at least 90 percent.

Microchannel plate (MCP) having an asymmetric packing pattern for higher open area ratio (OAR)

The present invention provides a glass packing tube for use in fabricating a microchannel plate. The glass tube has a plurality of flat inner surfaces and is used to form a boule including a plurality of optical fibers located in the tube and a plurality of support rods between the first optical fibers and the flat surfaces whereby the tube, fibers and rods are fused together with reduced glass flow.

Device and method for reducing glass flow during the manufacture of microchannel plates

An image intensifier tube comprising a housing which holds a photocathode and a screen, wherein a microchannel plate is supported in a recess in an interior surface of an annular collar which is also held in the housing.

Locking device for microchannel plate in image amplifier tube

There is disclosed a three draw technique for drawing optical fibers into various cross-sectional shapes. The process employs a glass tube and rod which are fed into a heated furnace. The viscosity of the glass decreases and the glass flows. The glass is pulled or drawn out of the furnace at a different rate than it is fed into the furnace. The resultant drawn fibers are stacked and the process is repeated two more times. By employing three drawing steps one can achieve extremely small fiber faces. The final draw step uses a hexagonal cross-section preform and fibers. From the first drawn fibers three geometrical shapes can be assembled and finally drawn into hexagonal shapes with round fibers which are triangles, rhombohedrials and half hex or trapezoidal shapes. These shapes maintain the hexagonal closely packed space providing the highest density per cross-section. With this high density there is less glass flowing to fill voids thereby reducing distortion within the fabricated MCP. The final reduction ratio of the starting material to the finished device is the product of each reduction ratio of the individual draw steps.

Microchannel plates (MCPs) having micron and submicron apertures

Microchannel plates (MCPS) having micron and submicron apertures

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 Theodore Mabry