Patent ID: 6072170
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A vision system comprising:(a) an image intensifier tube having four terminals and comprising:(i) a photocathode having a first terminal at one of its ends;(ii) a micro channel plate having second and third terminals at one of its ends; and(iii) an anode having a fourth terminal at one of its ends; and(b) a high voltage power supply comprising:(i) a micro channel plate voltage multiplier having positive and negative terminals and developing a voltage between its positive and negative terminals, said negative terminal thereof being connected to said second terminal of the micro channel plate and said positive terminal thereof being connected to said third terminal of said micro channel plate by way of a capacitor C1 and resistor R2 each having a first end connected to said positive terminal and with the second end of capacitor C1 connected to a ground potential and the second end of resistor R3 connected to said third terminal, said negative terminal thereof being further connected to one end of a capacitor C2 which has its other end connected to a ground potential;(ii) a pair of oppositely poled diodes CR1 and CR2 with one end of said pair connected to said first terminal of said photocathode and the other end of said pair connected to said second terminal of said micro channel plate;(iii) a screen voltage multiplier developing a negative voltage at one of its terminals connected to the first side of said capacitor C1, said screen voltage multiplier having a ground potential at another one of its terminals;(iv) a cathode voltage multiplier having a ground (gnd) and a negative (-) terminal and developing a negative voltage between said negative and ground terminals and having a capacitor C3 arranged across its negative and ground terminals;(v) a cathode switch having a common and a control terminal, said common having a first and second end with the first end an output terminal connected to said first terminal by way of a capacitor C4 and its second end switchable between ON and OFF positions in response to a gate signal applied at said control terminal, said ON position connected to said negative terminal of said cathode voltage multiplier and said OFF position connected to said first terminal by way of a resistor R1.