Abstract A solid-state image intensifier comprising, essentially, an electroluminescent layer containing 45 to 70 percent by volume of electroluminescent phosphor mixed with a binding material and a photoconductive layer in juxtaposition or close association with the electroluminescent layer. This solid-state image intensifier is adapted for use as an amplifier of radiant energy or as a converter of invisible radiation into visible radiation and is designed to be energized by AC and DC fields. Due to its pecific composition, the electroluminescent layer has a nonlinear resistance which functions to keep a DC voltage applied across the photoconductive layer at a substantially constant value, thereby increasing the photoconductive sensitivity of the photoconductive layer. The increase in the DC voltage as applied to the image intensifier causes the characteristic curve to shift to the low input energy side, enabling efficient operation of the image intensifier in a low input energy range.
Inventors
👤 K Tanaka
👤 T Kohashi
👤 Y Machida
👤 N Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-30 15:00
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
A solid-state image Intensifier according to claim 1, in which said zinc sulfide is activated with copper and aluminum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 1, in which said binding material selected from the group consisting of a vitreous material such as boro-silicate glass enamel and a plastic such as epoxy resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 1, in which continuous layers of a resistive and light-reflective material and a resistive light-opaque material are interposed between said photoconductive layer and said electroluminescent layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 4, in which said light-reflective layer comprises particles of ferroelectric material such as BaTiO3 mixed with a resistive plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 4, in which said light-reflective layer comprises particles of ferroelectric material such as BaTiO3 mixed with a resistive material such as TiO2 and a plastic such as epoxy resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 4, in which said light opaque layer comprises a powdered resistive material such as CdS:Cl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A solid-state image intensifier according to claim 1, in which the connections of said DC voltage source are selected that the positive pole thereof is connected to said electroluminescent layer side and the negative pole thereof is connected to said photoconductive layer side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A solid-state image intensifer according to claim 1, in which a unidirectional field provided by said DC voltage source is varied to shift the characteristic curve to low input energy range without any appreciable change in contrast ratio and gamma value.