<title>Computer Interfaced Image Tube Intensified Self-Scanned Array Cameras And Instruments</title>

Abstract

Image tube intensified linear and area self-scanned array (SSA) readout detector assemblies are becoming increasingly important for automatic inspection systems and machine vision. Proximity focused diode and microchannel plate (MCP) image intensifier tubes are being used in conjunction with SSAs because they can be electronically gated, they are physically small, they do not introduce image distortion, and for several other reasons 11,12,30-33. Even single photon events can be detected by using high gain MCP image tubes. Image intensified linear SSA (IL/SSA) detector assemblies can now provide successive 100% duty cycle optical samples in time periods as short as 1 ms for up to 1024 linear array pixels with 8 or 12 bit parallel output. Image intensified area SSA (IA/SSA) detector assemblies with, for example, 488 x 380 pixels in the active image area, can be read out in 33 ms. Both IL/SSA and IA/SSA detector assemblies can be interfaced to computers directly, or through conventional data acquisition systems (DASs) 14,15,35,45,48,51. Depending upon the maximum input data rate to the computer, the DAS either operates in the continuous-mode or in the burst-mode. Virtually any type of linear or area SSA can be image tube intensified and computer interfaced using the methods described 38,42. A new 512 or 1024 pixel IL/SSA instrument detector assembly, the F4560, coupled to an HP-85 microcomputer through an HP-6942A DAS has been developed.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.