US5633493A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image tube having a YAG crystal
Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
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Filing: 1995-05-30
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2015-05-30
Abstract
Abstract This image tube converts irradiated electrons into fluorescence by irradiating electrons converted from a light beam by a photocathode onto a YAG crystal member. Since the YAG crystal member is a single unitary solid, the fluorescence generated on the input surface of the YAG crystal member contains no fixed pattern noise.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideki Suzuki
- 👤 Minoru Kondo
- 👤 Yasushi Watase
- 👤 Yoshihito Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:55
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; H; H01; H01J; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/50; H01J31/506; H01J2231/00; H01J2231/50; H01J2231/50005; H01J2231/5001; H01J2231/50057; H01J2231/50063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for amplifying a light beam incident thereon to output the light beam, comprising: (A) a housing having first and second openings; (B) a transparent member for sealing the first opening, said transparent member having, (a) a light incidence surface applied with an atmospheric pressure, onto which the light beam is irradiated, and (b) a light exit surface opposing said light incidence surface, from which the light beam emerges; (C) a photocathode, fixed on said light exit surface, for converting the light beam into electrons; (D) an electron multiplier, opposing said photocathode, for multiplying the electrons incident thereon; and (E) a YAG crystal member for sealing the second opening, said YAG crystal member comprising a YAG crystal as a single unitary solid and having (a) an input surface opposing said electron multiplier and arranged in said housing, and (b) an output surface opposing said input surface and located outside said housing, on which an atmospheric pressure is applied.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for amplifying a light beam incident thereon to output the light beam, comprising: (A) a housing having first and second openings; (B) a transparent member for sealing the first opening, said transparent member having, (a) a light incidence surface applied with an atmospheric pressure, onto which the light beam is irradiated, and (b) a light exit surface opposing said light incidence surface, from which the light beam emerges; (C) a photocathode, fixed on said light exit surface, for converting the light beam into electrons; (D) an electron multiplier, opposing said photocathode, for multiplying the electrons incident thereon; and (E) a YAG crystal member for sealing the second opening, said YAG crystal member comprising a YAG crystal as a single unitary solid and having (a) an input surface opposing said electron multiplier and arranged in said housing, and (b) an output surface opposing said input surface and located outside said housing, on which an atmospheric pressure is applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electron multiplier is a microchannel plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electron multiplier is a microchannel plate having a glass member having a plurality of through holes and secondary emitters sticking to inner walls of the through holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aluminum layer in contact with said input surface of said YAG crystal member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises an aluminum layer in contact with said input surface of said YAG crystal member and a chromium layer electrically connected to said aluminum layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aluminum layer in contact with said input surface of said YAG crystal member and a chromium layer electrically connected to said aluminum layer and in contact with said YAG crystal member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a metal wire arranged in said housing and coated with titanium said metal wire adapted and constructed to receive a current to absorb air or water molecules from within said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wire arranged in said housing, a shielding member arranged between said wire and said electron multiplier, and a titanium layer arranged between said shielding member and said wire and sticking to said shielding member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance from said input surface to said output surface of said YAG crystal member is set such that fluorescence generated in said YAG crystal member in response to incidence of the electrons from said electron multiplier on the YAG crystal does not contain a fixed noise pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance from said input surface to said output surface of said YAG crystal member is larger than 10 mm and smaller than 14.2 mm.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for amplifying a light beam incident thereon to output the light beam, comprising: (A) a housing; (B) a transparent member fixed to said housing, said transparent member having, (a) a light incidence surface onto which the light beam is irradiated, and (b) a light exit surface opposing said light incidence surface, from which the light beam emerges; (C) a photocathode, fixed on said light exit surface, for converting the light beam into electrons; (D) an electron multiplier, opposing said photocathode, for multiplying the electrons incident thereon; and (E) a YAG crystal member fixed to said housing, said YAG crystal member comprising a YAG crystal as a single unitary solid and having (a) an input surface opposing said electron multiplier and arranged in said housing, and (b) an output surface opposing said input surface and located outside said housing so that a distance from said input surface to said output surface of said YAG crystal member is larger than 10 mm and smaller than 14.2 mm.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
167 words
An apparatus for amplifying a light beam incident thereon to output the light beam, comprising: (A) a housing; (B) a transparent member fixed to said housing, said transparent member having, (a) a light incidence surface onto which the light beam is irradiated, and (b) a light exit surface opposing said light incidence surface, from which the light beam emerges; (C) a photocathode, fixed on said light exit surface, for converting the light beam into electrons; (D) an electron multiplier, opposing said photocathode, for multiplying the electrons incident thereon; and (E) a YAG crystal member fixed to said housing, said YAG crystal member comprising a YAG crystal as a single unitary solid and having (a) an input surface opposing said electron multiplier and arranged in said housing, and (b) an output surface opposing said input surface and located outside said housing so that a distance from said input surface to said output surface of said YAG crystal member is larger than 10 mm and smaller than 14.2 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a distance from said input surface to said output surface of said YAG crystal member is set such that fluorescence generated in said YAG crystal member in response to incidence of the electrons from said electron multiplier on the YAG crystal does not contain a fixed noise pattern.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |