A miniature vidicon of high sensitivity

Experimental models of a sensitive miniature Vidicon pickup tube ½" in diameter and 3" long have been built and operated in prototype equipment. With such a small photolayer area, the use of a photoconductor having the sensitivity of conventional Vidicons would require an excessively fast lens or an increase in scene illumination. A new photoconductor has been developed which has sufficient operating sensitivity to more than offset the reduction in light collecting area. The spectral response of the new tube covers the approximate range from 400 to 800 millimicrons with its maximum in the neighborhood of 600 millimicrons. Resolution and picture lag are adequate for many applications where the small size is particularly attractive. The ½" tube requires only one-fourth the heater power and one-third the deflection power of the 6198 Vidicon.