<title>High-performance LLLTV CCD camera for nighttime pilotage</title>

Abstract

Nighttime, nap-of-the-earth pilotage requires information from several sensors including thermal and image intensified sensors. Traditionally, the thermal imagery is displayed on a CRT; the image intensified imagery is displayed with a night vision goggle (NVG), a direct- view device worn immediately in front of the pilot''s eyes. If electronic output data from the image intensifier could be displayed on a CRT, the pilot''s safety and mission effectiveness would be greatly enhanced. Conventional approaches to using charge coupled devices fiberoptically coupled to image intensifier tubes have failed to provide the resolution, contrast, and sensitivity that pilots are accustomed to with night vision goggles. To produce image intensified sensors with performance comparable to an NVG, an intensified sensor that is optimized for coupling to solid state sensors and eliminates all fiberoptic-to-fiberoptic interfaces was fabricated. The Integrated Taper Assembly (ITA) sensor has a fiberoptic taper built into the vacuum of the image tube. The fiberoptic taper minifies the 18 or 25 millimeter (mm) output of the image intensifier tube to the 11 mm diagonal of the high resolution CCD. This requires one optical coupling -- at the CCD surface. By offering high resolution, high sensitivity, and a simplified optical path, the ITA image intensifier overcomes the shortcomings that normally limit the performance of intensified CCD cameras.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.