Pyroelectric vidicons

Pyroelectric vidicons for infrared imaging applications have recently been reported. Some of the advantages these appear to offer are low cost, good resolution with moderate sensitivity, and room temperature operation. A target material useful in these camera tubes is triglycine sulfate (TGS). With this material, resolution capabilities up to 200 TV lines/ picture height have been demonstrated. In the preferred cathode potential stabilized (CPS) mode, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for removal of electrons from the TGS surface to prevent excess charging. This removal has been provided by positive ions generated in tubes which produce a pedestal current (i.e., an equivalent dark current) with less than optimum vacuum conditions.