Evolving image intensifier technology

Richard A. Sturz

doi:10.1117/12.372654

7 December 1999 Evolving image intensifier technology

Richard A. Sturz

Proceedings Volume 3751, Airborne Reconnaissance XXIII; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.372654
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

The image intensifier, originally designed tor night vision, has scientific applications based on its spectral response and ability to be gated. U.S. industry consolidation and military requirements have focused the domestic manufacturing capability on the latest intensifier technology. Earlier technology that provided diversity of intensifier spectral response has been virtually eliminated domestically by the shift of manufacturing to the latest government priorities. The scientific community continues to require the capabilities and variety of the earlier designs and to have these designs updated to permit imaging for research. The lack of domestic sources has forced a reliance on other sources and has created a niche market for these sources. The scientific requirements for the image intensifier does not create a large market and therefore only few manufacturers can adequately meet the limited market needs. A few select manufacturers in Europe and Asia have continued development and vastly improved on the original intensifier designs creating new sources of scientific application intensifiers. The SPIE Airborne Reconnaissance session paper presented in 1995 entitled "Advances in Low' Light Level Video Imaging" 1 and a 1998 paper entitled “Imagery Intensifier for Recce”2 described the then available image intensifiers. This paper explores and updates the previous papers, by describing the improvements in image intensifier technology in an ever-changing industry.

Citation Download Citation

Richard A. Sturz "Evolving image intensifier technology", Proc. SPIE 3751, Airborne Reconnaissance XXIII, (7 December 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.372654

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