Permachon - A storage pickup tube

The Permachon is a pickup tube having storage capabilities and multi copy readout characteristics. The target is a new solid state film having unusual electrical properties, particularly as applied to the memory of its own previous electrical and optical history. More specifically, the target under the stimulus of low velocity electron bombardment can remember and retain previously applied potentials. A direct and very significant consequence of the unusual properties of the Permachon is the ability to hold previously written information by a low velocity scanning operation, and at the same time to read this information out on a multi copy basis. It has been demonstrated that more than 104 copies may be made while scanning at the 30 frame per second rate. The image retention or hold feature can be used simultaneously with light input, thus greatly enhancing the sensitivity by integration.