Imaging arrangement and method for high-speed imaging
An electro-optic device is disclosed which has a plurality of independently-gatable portions. One example is an image intensifier having a number of segmented photocathode areas (GP). The corresponding portions of the intensifier can be energized independently via contact stripe (CS). Used in conjunction with an appropriate trigger signal generator, imaging device and beam splitter, the device may be used to capture a series of images at very high speed. An electrical device having a reflective tunnel for generating a plurality of input images is also disclosed.
1. An imaging arrangement adapted to receive two dimensional optical data representative of an object and represented by at least two beams of electromagnetic radiation, the arrangement comprising means for gating and converting the at least two beams into image data includes a single electro-optic device comprising a photosensitive surface, which surface is arranged to comprise a plurality of independently-gatable portions, wherein the independently gatable portions correspond to each of the at least two beams of electromagnetic radiation, each portion being responsive to an image signal, and wherein the means for gating and converting the at least two beams into image data is arranged to provide an image including the object in its entirety to each respective portion of the photosensitive surface.
2. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an image intensifier.
3. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the image intensifier comprises a segmented photocathode.
4. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the segmented photocathode comprises a photocathode layer and a segmented conductive layer adjacent the photocathode layer.
5. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the image intensifier comprises a photocathode that is controlled capacitively by a segmented, external electrode.
6. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a solid-state imager.
7. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the solid state imager comprises segmented imaging sections.
8. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the solid state imager further comprises erasing means for erasing an image corresponding to one of the at least two beams.
9. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the solid state imager further comprises overwriting means for overwriting an image corresponding to one of the at least two beams.
10. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means for splitting an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation into at least two beams of electromagnetic radiation for application to the means for gating and converting the at least two beams.
11. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the means for splitting the incident beam into a plurality of beams comprises chromatic means for splitting each of the plurality of beams into a plurality of differently-coloured beams.
12. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the independently-gated portions of the means for gating and converting the at least two beams into image data correspond with each of the plurality of differently-coloured beams.
13. An imaging arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means responsive to an event for storing converted image data which was converted before the event.
14. An imaging arrangement for two dimensional optical data representative of an object and represented by an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation, the arrangement comprising:
means for splitting the incident radiation beam into a plurality of beams,
means for gating and converting the plurality of beams into image data,
wherein the means for gating and converting the plurality of beams into image data includes a single electro-optic device comprising a photosensitive surface having independently-gated portions corresponding to each of the plurality of beams, and each of the plurality of beams corresponds to an image including the object in its entirety.
15. A method of imaging two dimensional optical data representative of an object and represented by a beam of electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
splitting the radiation beam into a plurality of beams;
gating the plurality of beams;
converting the gated beams into image data;
wherein the gating of the plurality of beams is performed using a single electro-optic device comprising a photosensitive surface having independently-gated portions corresponding to each of the plurality of beams, and each of the plurality of beams corresponds to an image including the object in its entirety.
16. An imaging arrangement adapted to receive a plurality of images representative of an object, said imaging arrangement comprising:
an electro-optic device comprising a photosensitive surface, which surface is arranged to comprise a plurality of independently-gatable portions, wherein each respective portion of the photosensitive surface is arranged to gate an image including the object in its entirety, and the electro-optic device is arranged to output the image including the object in its entirety from each respective portion of the photosensitive surface.
17. An imaging arrangement adapted to receive a plurality of images representative of an object, said imaging arrangement comprising:
an electro-optic device comprising a photosensitive surface, which surface is arranged to comprise a plurality of independently-gatable portions, wherein each respective portion of the photosensitive surface is arranged to gate an image including the object in its entirety, and the electro-optic device is arranged to output image data corresponding to the image including the object in its entirety from each respective portion of the photosensitive surface.