Patent attributes
Techniques are disclosed that can be used to increase the dynamic range of a microchannel plate (MCP) device, thereby eliminating the need for conventional techniques such as gating. In one example embodiment, an MCP device is provided that includes a plurality of channels, each channel for amplifying a photoelectron input to the channel and for producing an electron cloud at its output. The device further includes one or more charging switches associated with each channel for allowing charging current to flow so as to charge that channel in response to producing an electron cloud. In some such example cases, the plurality of channels and the one or more switches are implemented in silicon, and the one or more charging switches turn on only in the presence of the electron cloud produced at the corresponding channel output.
