Light amplifier with non-linear response to provide improved contrast characteristics

Claim 1

A NON-LINEAR LIGHT AMPLIFIER TUBE COMPRISING: FINE MESH STORAGE GRID MEANS PROVIDED WITH AN INSULATING LAYER ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND WITH A CONDUCTIVE LAYER ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, A PHOTOCATHODE AND A LUMINESCENT SCREEN FACING SAID INSULATING AND CONDUCTIVE LAYERS, RESPECTIVELY, FOCUSING AND ACCELERATING ELECTRODE MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PHOTOCATHODE AND SAID STORAGE GRID MEANS, MEANS FOR PROJECTING ONTO SAID PHOTOCATHODE AN OPTICAL IMAGE, MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY ENERGIZING SAID PHOTOCATHODE WITH RELATIVELY HIGH VOLTAGE AND WITH RELATIVELY LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR SUCCESSIVELY CONVERTING SAID OPTICAL IMAGE INTO A FAST ELECTRON IMAGE AND A SLOW ELECTRON IMAGE, RESPECTIVELY, SAID FAST ELECTRON IMAGE PRODUCING ON SAID STORAGE GRID A CHARGE PATTERN REPRESENTATIVE OF SAID OPTICAL IMAGE WHILE SAID SLOW ELECTRON IMAGE IS AMPLIFIED UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID CHARGE PATTERN, WITH THE RESULTING AMPLIFIED ELECTRON IMAGE IMPINGING ON SAID LUMINESCENT SCREEN THEREBY PRODUCING THEREON AN OPTICAL IMAGE WITH INCREASED BRILLIANCE AND CONSTRAST.