Direct view thermal tube? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 09:30:26 am
content: I came across this abstract:QuoteLeaving aside for a moment the unfortunate publication date, the abstract implies to me a tube not unlike a Gen 0 night vision device but with a pyroelectric photocathode. Google found an intriguing image:Does anyone know any more about this, or possibly even have access to the original 1976 article?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 12:55:32 pm
content: I have that articleI will send it to you later todayFraser

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 12:56:35 pm
content: Somewhat before my time, but it was an attempt as you say at a thermal image intensifier. It did not work very well, and the disadvantages of the bulky discrete electronics for the vidicon camera approach rapidly reduced.This is what 'reduced' meant though...A similar concept was promoted by 'RedShift' much more recently where again a thermal sensitive array affected a visual system, in the RedShift case a CCD camera. They called it a TLV - Thermal Light Valvehttps://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/techbriefs/photonics/12142RedShift also did not make it iff the bench, may even have been a scam, but kept a few folks off the streets for a few years.

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 01:10:19 pm
content: Is that white tank the liquid nitrogen reserve?(Yes I know it was an uncooled camera, but even so...)

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 01:26:35 pm
content: And the look on that chap's facereminds me of this marvellous (if now politically-incorrect) sketch:

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 02:51:12 pm
content: As Ultrapurple has said to me offline, I am surprised that a wavelength converter for thermal wavelengths did not progress further in Military circles. I say this because the infrared wavelength converters and image intensifiers did undergo great development for military applications and grew more capable as a result. A pyroelectric thermal wavelength converter that was like the modern military image intensifier units with high gain figures would have been an interesting development. Resolution would be dictated by target and phosphor grain and any micro channel amplification stages, if used. Imagine making a high resolution converter that you could bolt onto a high resolution modern SLR camera ! Such exists for image intensification and IR. An example being the Electrophysics Astroscope of which I own a Gen 3 exampleFraser

author: Flukav
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2020, 04:06:23 pm
content: Reminds me of this great scope-looking passive thermal imager:https://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2010/10/low-cost-diy-thermal-imaging-liquid.html

author: Lambda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2021, 08:23:09 pm
content: Hello...Sorry for digging here... But while, as a newcomer, enjoying to drift through the forum, i was falling on this topic.I am also interested in this version of thermal viewer, being already a user of standard (Vis/NIR) image intensifiers integrated in some DIY projects.To see IRL a thermal gear based on this elegant concept, would be really enjoyable for me....While waiting this time coming, i found a published patent disclosing such concept, based on a standard architecture of a modern image intensifier including MCP.https://patents.google.com/patent/US10062554B2/enThe main difference was the photocathode composition. Here is claimed the use of some "metamaterial" having a specific composite structure and exhibiting electron emissivity when submitted to LWIR radiation, instead of using the usual Vis/NIR responsive GaAs or Alkali/multi-Alkali material...Promising (IMHO)...Cheers.Stéphane

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2021, 09:35:15 pm
content: Here's anotherhttps://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/supplements/ptb/briefs/12142The Redshift 'Thermal Light Valve', as far as I know falling somewhere between vapourware and unicorn poo.Bill

author: adammunich
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2021, 11:26:40 am
content: I am interested in reading it too!