Characterization of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes

Edward J. Bender; Michael V. Wood; Daniel J. Hosek; Steve D. Hart

doi:10.1117/12.2015462

5 June 2013 Characterization of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes

Edward J. Bender, Michael V. Wood, Daniel J. Hosek, Steve D. Hart

Proceedings Volume 8706, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXIV; 870607 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2015462
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

The market for military-use Generation 2 and Generation 3 image intensifier (I2) tubes has become truly global, with major manufacturers and customers spanning five continents. This worldwide market is becoming increasingly important to U.S. manufacturers, with the majority of U.S. Army intensifier fielding having been completed in 2012. Given this keen global competition, it is not surprising that the advertised tube performance of a given source is often discounted by competitors, and the customers have no objective "honest broker" to determine the relative accuracy of these claims. To help fill this void, the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD recently measured a number of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes, using consistent test equipment/procedures with which the U.S. industry must correlate for Army tube deliveries. Data and analysis will be presented for the major tube parameters of luminance gain, equivalent background input (EBI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), limiting resolution, halo, and modulation transfer function (MTF). The bright-light resolution provided by various auto-gated and non-gated tubes will also be addressed, since this area has been an important factor in the international market. RDECOM CERDEC NVESD measurement data will be compared to the corresponding manufacturer specifications whenever possible.

Citation Download Citation

Edward J. Bender, Michael V. Wood, Daniel J. Hosek, and Steve D. Hart "Characterization of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes", Proc. SPIE 8706, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXIV, 870607 (5 June 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2015462

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