Patent ID: 7940005

Claim:
A photocathode for an image intensifier tube comprising a faceplate, a glass plate disposed opposite the faceplate, a span having one end attached to the glass plate and the other end attached to the faceplate, for forming a sealed chamber between the faceplate and the glass plate, and a semiconductor layer bonded to a surface of the glass plate, the semiconductor layer disposed outside of the sealed chamber, wherein the semiconductor layer transforms light into electrons, a thermal electric cooler (TEC) is disposed completely inside the sealed chamber for cooling the semiconductor layer, at least one cantilever bracket is attached to the glass plate at one end, and the cantilever bracket forms a seat for holding the TEC at another end, the cantilever bracket and the span each extend away from the glass plate and do not touch each other, and the cantilever bracket provides direct thermal conduction between the TEC and the glass plate.