Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
250207000 | Electron multiplier | 31 |
20080230680 | ELECTRON MULTIPLYING SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ADJUSTING ELECTRON MULTIPLYING GAIN - An electron multiplying solid-state image pickup apparatus which obtains a desired electron multiplying gain through adjusting a voltage applied to an electron multiplying gate electrode includes an electron multiplying unit, a test signal supply unit and a control unit. The electron multiplying unit multiplies an electron corresponding to an input signal by an electric field generated by the applied voltage. The test signal supply unit supplies a test signal to the electron multiplying unit. The control unit compares a level of the test signal multiplied by the electron multiplying unit with an expected level determined in advance, and adjusts the voltage applied to the electron multiplying gate electrode so that the multiplied test signal level is equal to or larger than the expected level. | 09-25-2008 |
20080245950 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE - In this control circuit, based on a reference potential generated in a high-voltage generating circuit, a comparator outputs an over-light incidence discrimination signal to the outside of a module. It is revealed that, when an over-light incidence discrimination signal switched to high level from low level is outputted to the outside, data to be outputted from an anode terminal has no reliability while data has reliability before switching. Therefore, detection can be performed while determining reliability. | 10-09-2008 |
20080245951 | PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE MODULE - An extension line of a tube axis of a photomultiplier tube is shifted from the center of gravity position of a front surface of a housing, which allows a space to be formed at an opposite side in the housing. A signal processing board is arranged in this space, and a high-voltage generating circuit board is fixed on the extension line of the tube axis, and thus the interior space of a housing can be effectively used. Since the signal processing board can be made adjacent to a tube wall of the photomultiplier tube, even when the length in a tube axis direction of the signal processing board is long, it becomes possible to house the same in the housing. Therefore, it becomes possible to achieve miniaturization. | 10-09-2008 |
20080251692 | Silicon Photoelectric Multiplier (Variants) and a Cell for Silicon Photoelectric Multiplier - The invention relates to high-efficient light-recording detectors and can be used for nuclear and laser engineering, and in technical and medical tomography etc. | 10-16-2008 |
20080283725 | Apparatus for Digital Imaging Photodetector Using Gas Electron Multiplier - The present invention provides a digital imaging photodetector with a gas electron multiplier. The digital imaging photodetector comprises a gas electron multiplier detector. The gas electron multiplier detector includes a photoelectric converter for converting incident light into photoelectrons or Compton electrons; a gas electron multiplier (GEM) for receiving the photoelectrons or Compton electrons from the photoelectric converter and multiplying them; and a readout unit for receiving an electrical signal indicating a position where an electron cloud multiplied in the gas electron multiplier arrives on an anode, recognizing coordinates of the electron cloud based on the received signal, and outputting the coordinates of the electron cloud. According to the digital imaging photodetector of the present invention, real-time imaging of image information can be achieved by multiplying photoelectrons or Compton electrons, which are discharged due to a photoelectric effect or a Compton effect induced by visible rays, ultraviolet rays or X-rays, using the gas electron multiplier. | 11-20-2008 |
20090050786 | Fast and Precise Time-Resolved Spectroscopy with Linear Sensor Array - Time-resolved analysis of a spectrum is performed by illuminating a one-dimensional array of charge-transfer device light-sensitive pixel cells and periodically non-destructively copying charges in the light-sensitive cells to respective storage cells (“row storage registers”) co-located with the light-sensitive cells in an integrated circuit. Information about the charges stored in at least some of the storage cells is provided to a component external to the integrated circuit. | 02-26-2009 |
20090134312 | SLOTTED MICROCHANNEL PLATE (MCP) - A microchannel plate (MCP) for an image intensifier includes an active portion having an input surface area for receiving electrons and an output surface area for outputting multiplied electrons. The input and output surface areas are oriented horizontally with respect to each other and spaced by a vertical distance. A non-active portion surrounds the active portion of the MCP. The non-active portion includes at least one slot extending vertically into the non-active portion and extending horizontally to form a horizontal slotted area. When the MCP is positioned vertically above an electron sensing device having wires looping vertically above the electron sensing device, the slot is configured to receive a portion of the wires, resulting in a vertical clearance between the MCP and the electron sensing device. The wires loop a vertical looping distance above a surface of the electron sensing device, and a portion of the vertical looping distance is configured to be received within the slot of the MCP. The horizontal slotted area may be a rectangle, and the input and output surface areas may also be rectangles. | 05-28-2009 |
20090230285 | Drive and measurement circuit for a photomultiplier - A method of measuring an anode current in an electron-multiplier device having an anode, a cathode, dynodes and a voltage divider network for applying voltages to the dynodes, which method includes applying an HV positive voltage to the anode and intermediate voltages to the dynodes, the cathode being at or near circuit ground potential, conducting dynode currents through or in parallel to the voltage divider to a point substantially at cathode potential, and deriving from those currents a current representative of the anode current. | 09-17-2009 |
20090230286 | MICRO CHANNEL PLATE ASSEMBLY - In an MCP assembly | 09-17-2009 |
20090302201 | Photo-detector filter having a cascaded low noise amplifier - Method and systems related to obstructing a first predefined portion of at least one defined wavelength of light incident upon a first photo-detector array; and detecting the at least one defined wavelength of light with a photo-detector in a second photo-detector array. | 12-10-2009 |
20100001172 | Photomultiplier with fastening device - The invention relates to a photomultiplier ( | 01-07-2010 |
20100102203 | PULSE DATA RECORDER - A pulse data recorder system and method are provided. Upon the arrival or occurrence of an event or signal, the state of a digital switch is set. Upon receiving a pulse from a readout clock, the state of the switch is stored in a buffer memory, and the state of the switch is reset. As the readout clock is run, a time history of the state of the switch is obtained. The pulse data recorder can feature a plurality of unit cells, for use in imaging or other multiple pixel applications. | 04-29-2010 |
20100301192 | SOLID-STATE PHOTOMULTIPLIER MODULE WITH IMPROVED SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO - A scanning imaging system is provided. The scanning imaging system comprises an illumination source for illuminating a sample with an excitation light, a filter to block emission light wavelengths from the illumination source. Further, the scanning imaging system comprises a SSPM module comprising a solid state photo multiplier to detect a photon flux and generate electrical signals based on impinging photons; a conditioning circuit to accumulate charge from the SSPM and a micro-controller to change a bias voltage applied to the SSPM to achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio. | 12-02-2010 |
20110095167 | System having light sensor with enhanced sensitivity - The optical device includes a waveguide and a light sensor on a base. The light sensor includes a ridge extending from slab regions positioned on opposing sides of the ridge. The ridge includes a multiplication layer and an absorption layer. The absorption layer is positioned to receive at least a portion of the light signal from the waveguide. Additionally, the absorption layer generates a hole and electron pair in response to receiving a photon of the light signal. The multiplication layer is positioned to receive the electron generated in the absorption layer and to generate additional electrons in response to receiving the electron. | 04-28-2011 |
20110108702 | Method And Apparatus To Minimise The Onset And Recovery Time Of A Silicon Photomultiplier - Silicon photomultiplier circuitry is provided that comprises at least one silicon photomultiplier pixel, each pixel comprising a plurality of silicon photomultiplier microcells. The silicon photomultiplier circuitry comprises control circuitry adapted to maintain a substantially constant voltage on a connection node between microcells of the pixel. The control circuitry is adapted to minimise the onset and recovery time of an output signal by maintaining a substantially constant voltage on the connection node. | 05-12-2011 |
20110133055 | MICROSTRUCTURE PHOTOMULTIPLIER ASSEMBLY - The subject invention provides for a novel photomultiplier assembly, termed the Microstructure Photomultiplier Assembly (MPA), which enables the effective conversion of light signals (received at the front of the assembly) into readily-detectable electrical signals. The MPA comprises a photocathode (which converts light into electrons and which is located in front of or on the front surface of the assembly), followed by an electron-multiplying plate, or series of plates, each made from an insulating substrate which does not emit sufficient contaminants to poison the photocathode. Each plate is coated on the front and rear faces with a conductive layer. In addition, the front face of each plate is further coated with a layer of secondary electron-emissive material which, when struck by an incoming electron, can produce secondary electrons. Each plate is perforated with channels (with non-conducting walls) and the number and geometry of these channels is designed to promote the efficient transfer and acceleration of electrons through the channel, under an applied voltage differential across the plate(s). The number of plates placed in series is determined by the desired degree of electron multiplication. At the exit of the last plate, an anode is located to collect the electrons and generate an electrical signal that can be read by conventional electronics. The anode can be a simple anode or can be a position-sensitive anode. The spacing between the photocathode, the electron-multiplying plates, and the anode is selected to promote the efficient transfer and acceleration of electrons across the assembly, as well as to promote the efficient production of secondary electrons. The photocathode, electron-multiplying plate(s) and anode are all contained within a vacuum enclosure. | 06-09-2011 |
20110139961 | LOW-LUMINANCE IMAGING DEVICE USING SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIER - Disclosed is a low-luminance imaging device using a silicon photomultiplier, which includes a first optical portion for collecting incident light, the silicon photomultiplier including a plurality of microcells so that photons of collected light are converted into photoelectrons which are then multiplied, a phosphor screen for converting the multiplied photoelectrons into photons, a second optical portion for transferring the converted photons, and an image sensor for picking-up the transferred photons thus obtaining an image, so that the imaging device has a high photomultiplication factor thereby obtaining an image having good image quality even at low luminance and achieving a low bias voltage and a small size. | 06-16-2011 |
20110226933 | Image Intensifying Device - An image intensifying device includes a lens that is positioned at a light input that forms an image of a scene. The image intensifying device also includes an image intensifier tube that includes a photocathode that is positioned to receive the image formed by the lens. The photocathode generates photoelectrons in response to the light image of the scene. The image intensifier tube also includes a microchannel plate having an input surface comprising the photocathode. The microchannel plate receives the photoelectrons generated by the photocathode and generating secondary electrons. An electron detector receives the secondary electrons generated by the microchannel plate and generates an intensified image of the scene. | 09-22-2011 |
20110253881 | Interface Techniques for Coupling a Sensor to a Readout Circuit - Techniques are disclosed that can be used to interface a sensor circuit with readout circuitry. The techniques can be employed, for instance, with microchannel plate (MCP) based devices used in numerous sensing/detection applications, and are particularly suitable for applications where it is desirable to interface an MCP having a relatively large active area to a readout circuit having a relatively smaller active area. The interface effectively decouples anode geometry from readout circuit geometry and also may be configured with flexible anode pad geometry, which allows for compensation of optical blur variations as well as a very high fill factor. The interface can be made using standard semiconductor materials and photolithography techniques and can be configured with thermal expansion qualities that closely track or otherwise match that of the readout circuitry. | 10-20-2011 |
20110272557 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A solid-state imaging device | 11-10-2011 |
20120091316 | PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE - The photomultiplier tube | 04-19-2012 |
20120187278 | MICROCHANNEL PLATE AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD - A microchannel plate ( | 07-26-2012 |
20120228472 | High Strength Optical Window For Radiation Detectors - The invention provides a hermetically sealed scintillation crystal package with a window made of a ruggedized material such as ALON (aluminum Oxynitride) or Spinel ceramic (MgAl | 09-13-2012 |
20130048830 | High Gain Photo and Electron Multipliers and Methods of Manufacture Thereof - A photomultiplier tube includes a photocathode, a first electrode, and a second electrode opposedly disposed to the first electrode and separated from it to create a space therebetween. An anode opposedly disposed to the photocathode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed between the anode and the photocathode. The photocathode is adjacent to the first electrode and separated from it, and the anode is adjacent to the second electrode and separated from it. An amplifying medium is disposed in the space between the first electrode and the second electrode. The amplifying medium includes metal oxide nanoparticles and/or an aerogel. The metal oxide nanoparticles have an aspect ratio greater than or equal to about 5. | 02-28-2013 |
20130126705 | TRANSMISSIVE-REFLECTIVE PHOTOCATHODE - The present invention includes a transmissive-reflective photocathode including a membrane configured to absorb photons from an illumination source via a first surface of the membrane, the membrane further configured to emit photoelectrons in a reflection mode via the first surface, the membrane further configured to emit photoelectrons in a transmissive mode via a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being substantially parallel, and a membrane support structure configured to mechanically secure the membrane, the membrane support structure further configured to provide at least a first pathway between the first surface and free space and a second pathway between the second surface and free space. | 05-23-2013 |
20130264464 | PHOTO-DETECTOR DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR BIASING A PHOTOMULTIPLIER TUBE - A photo-detector and method for operating same: the photo-detector comprises a photomultiplier tube comprising a plurality of electrodes, each having a photocathode, an anode, a first dynode, intermediate dynodes and a last dynode; and a biasing circuit that comprises a sequence of voltage follower elements, a voltage divider and a current source. The voltage divider is coupled across a high voltage power supply and different dynodes are coupled to different ones of the voltage follower elements, control inputs of which are coupled to different junctions of the voltage divider. The current source is coupled to the voltage divider, to the sequence of the voltage follower elements and to the cathode. The anode is coupled to a load element coupled to a positive pole of the high voltage power supply and arranged to receive an output signal of the anode and convert it to an output signal of the photo-detector. | 10-10-2013 |
20130320192 | SHOCK-RESISTANT IMAGE INTENSIFIER - In one exemplary embodiment, a shock-resistant night vision assembly is configured to detect a high-acceleration event, for example, resulting from a round or burst of high-caliber rifle fire. Upon detecting the event, a voltage such as a photocathode voltage is forced to an inactive or protective level and held there for approximately 50 ms, giving time for mechanical excursions of the microchannel plate to settle out. Damage from physical impact and electrostatic discharge may thus be mitigated. | 12-05-2013 |
20140151529 | OPTICAL DETECTORS AND METHODS OF USING THEM - Certain embodiments described herein are directed to optical detector and optical systems. In some examples, the optical detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In other configurations, each dynode can be coupled to a respective electrometer. Methods using the optical detectors are also described. | 06-05-2014 |
20140263949 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTON COUNTING - A method and apparatus for photon counting are disclosed. In an implementation, the present disclosure provides a dynamic-range photon-counting spectrometric sensor for low signal detection embedded in large parasitic background light signal. Rather than using a known forward illuminated imager approach of counting photons directly, embodiments of the present disclosure use a backward illuminated imager approach to generate a burst of electrons based on the photons, and perform photon detection by counting the generated burst of electrons using the plurality of CMOS chip pixels. An electronic circuit, in communication with the CMOS chip pixels, includes a fast clock enabling discrimination between electrons in time. The electronic circuit can be built on the face of a semiconductor wafer on which the CMOS chip pixels are provided. | 09-18-2014 |
20150076320 | ELECTRONIC MULTIPLIER POROUS GLASS PLATE AND DETECTOR - An electronic multiplier porous glass plate used for a detector that measures ionized electrons by utilizing an electron avalanche multiplication in a gas is presented. The plate has a plurality of through holes provided on a plate-like member so as to be arranged two-dimensionally, wherein the plate-like member is formed by a photosensitive crystallized glass obtained by crystallizing a photosensitive glass, to realize a thinner glass plate and finer through holes. | 03-19-2015 |
20150136948 | Bias-Variant Photomultiplier Tube - A bias-variant photomultiplier tube (PMT) includes a photocathode that when operating absorbs photons and emit photoelectrons responsive to the absorbed photons. The bias-variant PMTO also includes a plurality of dynodes that receive the photoelectrons emitted by the photocathode. The plurality of dynodes include a first pair of dynodes having a first bias difference and at least a second pair of dynodes having a second bias. The second bias difference is greater than the first bias difference. The bias-variant PMTO also includes an anode to receive photoelectrons directed from the plurality of dynodes. | 05-21-2015 |