Patent ID: 7015642

Claim:
A light intensifier tube, comprising: a main body having opposite first and second ends, and further having a shutter electrode which has a first operational condition which permits electromagnetic radiation forming an optical image to be processed and amplified by the light intensifier tube, and a second operational condition which substantially prevents the electromagnetic radiation from being processed and amplified by the light intensifier tube; and means for rapidly cycling between the first and second operational conditions to produce a visibly discernable image on a luminescent screen, and wherein the means for rapidly cycling the shutter electrode is adjustable and is further located intermediate the first and second ends thereof, and wherein the light intensifier tube produces a visibly discernible light output which is provided at the second end thereof, and wherein the means for cycling the shutter electrode adjustably cycles the shutter electrode between the first and second operational conditions during a period of time as little as 5 nanoseconds, and wherein the visibly discernable image produced by the light intensifier tube on the luminescent screen has an optical resolution of about 50 lines per millimeter to about 75 lines per millimeter.