ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

ITT has a proven record of developing and utilizing a variety of processing technologies to manufacture high-quality, high-performance image intensifier devices. These include: Photocathode (Crystal Growth) Processing; Microchannel Plate (Electron Multiplier) Processing; Ultra-High Vacuum Processing; Power Supply/Electronic Component Manufacturing.

Photocathode Processing

ITT's production of gallium arsenide (GaAs) photocathodes involves two state of the art organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy (OMVPE) growth reactors with the high level of flexibility needed to grow multilayer epitaxial structures-- without time-consuming and expensive "up-front" calibration growths. This process creates a high-purity GaAs crystal able to withstand very high processing temperatures. Our crystal growth processing capabilities are unmatched, and perfect for applications such as GaAs devices and IC's (microwave, RF, optoelectronics, solar cells, etc.), as well as wafer bonding.

Microchannel Plate Processing

Electron multipliers, in the form of microchannel plates (MCPs), have been manufactured at our facility for years. We recently updated our technology with new, advanced draw towers that produce the ultra-thin fibers necessary for our high resolution image tubes--and hundreds of other high-tech products. Co-located Class 10,000 clean rooms enable consistent product flow from the single-fiber draw operation to chemical processing with a minimum of handling, resulting in a precise, uniform product with superior quality and virtually no contamination. Applications include analytical instrumentation, x-ray imaging, microchannel heat exchangers, substrate for photonic crystals, fiber optics, and optical fibers.

Ultra-High Vacuum Processing

ITT Night Vision's ultra-high vacuum processing equipment offers the purity of a total vacuum, not unlike that of outer space. Contaminants as small as a single atom could damage the sensitive surfaces of our image tubes. We use fully automated vacuum (or "exhaust") stations. Obtaining the latest generation of vacuum processing technology has allowed our facility to greatly increase efficiency and production levels. We recently obtained a new vacuum system that has been dedicated solely to engineering development of advanced processes.

Power Supply/ Electronic Component Manufacturing

Our Power Supplies facility (formerly K & M Electronics) provides substantial design, development, and manufacturing expertise in the area of supporting electronics. These include everything from simple components to customized electronics systems. Power Supplies' miniaturized high-voltage power supplies, developed initially for image intensification devices are also used with mass spectrometry. It also provides channel electron multiplier (CEM) detectors and other high-reliability electronic components for a wide range of commercial and military applications.