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Abstract

A light and charged particle image intensifier receives incident image conveying light or charged particles ('incident beam') and provides to data processing and video equipment signals from which the image conveyed by the incident beam can be constructed and displayed. The beam that is being processed includes visible light reflected from objects and X-ray radiation that has been passed through an object such as a human body. The image intensifier includes a scintillator and photocathode unit for converting the incident beam to photoelectrons and a charge-coupled device ('CCD') for detecting the photoelectrons and transmitting to the data processing and video equipment information relating to the quantity or energy level as well as the location of the electrons impinging on the sensing areas of the CCD. From this information, the data processing and video equipment can reconstruct the image conveyed by the incident beam. The sensitivity of the device is increased either by imposing an electric field across the photocathode and the CCD to accelerate the photoelectrons or by placing a micro channel plate ('MCP') between the photocathode and the CCD to increase the number of electrons that impinge on the CCD. Alternately, a silicon diode target can be used instead of a CCD to intercept the electrons and an electron beam gun can be used to detect the location and intensity of the charges created on the target by the impinging electrons. Finally, a grid having a number of windows can be used instead of a CCD or a silicon target to detect the location of the electron streams and a photoanode can detect their intensity.

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