Electronic camera tube utilizing an array of charge storage cells for image storage and tunneling devices for readout

摘要

An electronic camera tube includes a transparent envelope enclosing an evacuated cavity, a photocathode layer on a first internal surface of the envelope and an array of cells on a second internal surface of the envelope. The first and second surfaces are parallel and closely spaced. The photocathode layer emits electrons in response to an incident light intensity pattern. The cells in the array receive the electrons from the photocathode layer and emit secondary electrons, thereby accumulating a charge pattern representing the light intensity pattern. The camera tube further includes readout devices for reading out the charge pattern during a readout phase. The readout devices operate by electron tunneling and inject electrons perpendicular to the cell array through the evacuated cavity to readout electrodes on the photocathode layer. The electron currents injected through the evacuated cavity by the readout devices are controlled in response to the charge on the respective cells in the array.