SECOND-GENERATION IMAGE INTENSIFIERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS (FROM CARNAHAN CONFERENCE ON ELECTRONIC CRIME COUNTERMEASURES, 1972 - PROCEEDINGS, BY J S JACKSON AND R W DEVORE - SEE NCJ-10711)

• NCJ Number: 27923
• Author(s): G N BUTTERWICK; R G STOUDENHEIMER
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Kentucky; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER COMPARES SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRSTAND SECOND-GENERATION IMAGE INTENSIFIERS AND INDICATES UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THE SECOND-GENERATION INTENSIFIERS MAY BE PREFERRED OVER FIRST-GENERATION INTENSIFIERS.

Abstract

IN 1969, FIRST-GENERATION IMAGE INTENSIFIERS WERE REMOVED FROM GOVERNMENT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY MADE AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF NIGHT SURVEILLANCE. THESE INTENSIFIERS WERE PLACED IN VARIOUS SYSTEMS FOR DIRECT VIEWING, REMOTE VIEWING WITH LOW LIGHT LEVEL TV, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL OR CRIMINAL ACTS AT NIGHT. THE UTILITY OF IMAGE INTENSIFIER SYSTEMS FOR PROPERTY PROTECTION OR FOR SECRETLY OBSERVING SUSPECTED ILLEGAL ACTIONS AT NIGHT WAS DEMONSTRATED SO EFFECTIVELY THAT INTENSIFIER SYSTEMS WERE PROCURED BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN JULY OF 1971, SECOND-GENERATION IMAGE INTENSIFIERS WERE DECLASSIFIED, AND ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR NIGHT SURVEILLANCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THESE INTENSIFIERS HAVE PERFORMANCE VERY SIMILAR TO FIRST-GENERATION INTENSIFIERS, BUT ARE SMALLER IN SIZE. THEIR GREATEST VALUE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT APPEARS TO BE IN THEIR PORTABILITY. THEIR LOW DISTORTION AND UNIFORM BRIGHTNESS OF THE DISPLAYED PICTURE ARE OF GREAT VALUE ALSO. THEY ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ROUTINE NIGHT PATROL AND OBSERVATION OF PROWLERS IN UNOCCUPIED HOMES, STORES, WAREHOUSES, AND OTHER DARK AREAS AT CLOSE RANGE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)