Low energy particle counter with two-dimensional position sensing

Claim 2

A two-dimensional position indicating system for detecting radiant energy comprising: an energy detection element having an input surface and an output surface, a plurality of charged particles emanating from said output surface in response to the impact of a single particle of radiant energy with said input surface; a first plurality of spaced conductors in the proximity of said output surface and extending completely along one dimension of said output surface, said conductors being subjected to said charged particles emanating from said output surface; a second plurality of spaced conductors extending completely along another dimension of said output surface and perpendicular to said first plurality of conductors, and physically displaced from and in the proximity of said first plurality of conductors, said second plurality of conductors being subjected to said charged particles as they pass through said first conductors; and readout means responsive to the charges impinging upon said first and second conductors to yield an output indicative of the two-dimensional location at which said radiation impacted said input surface.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said readout means includes a first plurality of readout units equal to said first plurality of conductors and individually responsive to the outputs of said first conductors so that individual indications of said first readout units are indicative of the position of impacts of energy with said input surface along said one dimension; and a second plurality of readout units equal to said second plurality of conductors and individually responsive to the outputs of said second conductors so that individual indications of said second readout units are indicative of the position of impacts of energy with said input surface along said another dimension.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of conductors are individually identified along a y axis of said output surface and said second plurality of conductors are individually identified along an x axis of said output surface so that each charged particle emanating from said output surface impacts one conductor in each of said first and second pluralities and yields outputs respectively having an x- y address.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said energy detection element is an electron multiplier and said first plurality of spaced conductors is evaporated onto said output surface in the configuration of uniformably spaced parallel conductive lines arranged perpendicular to said second plurality of conductors.

Claim 6

A two-dimensional position indicating system for detecting radiant energy comprising: an energy detection element having an input surface and an output surface, a plurality of charged particles emanating from said output surface in response to the impact of a single particle of radiant energy upon said input surface; a plurality of linear resistive elements having a length extending along one dimension of said output surface and arranged along the other dimension of said output surface, said resistive elements being physically displaced from and in the proximIty of said detection surface, said resistive elements also being responsive to said charged particles as they pass through said detection surface, said resistive elements serving to split the charges received from said detection surface in accordance with a ratio determined by the linear position at which said charges impact said resistive elements; and a plurality of readout means individually responsive to said linear resistive elements and responsive to said detection surface to yield an indication of the two-dimensional locations at which said charged particles emanate from said output surface.

Claim 7

A two-dimensional position indicating system for detecting radiant energy comprising: an energy detection element having an input surface and an output surface, a plurality of charged particles emanating from said output surface in response to the impact of a single particle of radiant energy upon said input surface; a plurality of linear resistive elements having a length extending along one dimension of said output surface and arranged along the other dimension of said output surface, said resistive elements being physically displaced from and in the proximIty of said detection surface, said resistive elements also being responsive to said charged particles as they pass through said detection surface, said resistive elements serving to split the charges received from said detection surface in accordance with a ratio determined by the linear position at which said charges impact said resistive elements; and a plurality of readout means individually responsive to said linear resistive elements and responsive to said detection surface to yield an indication of the two-dimensional locations at which said charged particles emanate from said output surface.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein said readout means includes a plurality of low input impedance amplifiers individually responsive to said resistive elements; a plurality of dividers individually responsive to said amplifiers so that an output from one of said dividers is indicative of the position of energy impact on said input surface along one dimension of said input surface and the amplitude of said divider output is indicative of the position of energy impact with said input surface along a second dimension of said input surface.

Claim 9

The system of claim 6 wherein one end of each of said resistive elements is directly grounded and the other end of each of said resistive elements is relatively grounded through one of said amplifiers; and said dividers are two input analog dividers.

Claim 10

The system of claim 6 wherein one input of each of said dividers is responsive to said conductive surface and the other input of said dividers is individually responsive to said resistive elements.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8 wherein said ratio is Y/L where: Y the distance between the point of input of said particle and said grounded end; L the total length of said resistive element.