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MX10160 is the designation for a format of image intensifier tubes.
[[File:MX10160A Front View.jpg|alt=MX10160A|thumb|An image intensifier tube labelled as MX10160A]]MX-10160 is a specification for [[Image Intensifier|image intensifier]] tubes for the [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]].


Image intensifier tubes of this format have a diameter of X mm, a height of X mm and a phosphor screen diameter of X mm.
The designation is often used to refer to the physical [[Image Intensifier#Formats|format]] of the tube described inside of the specification, as all iterations of the specification reuse the same format to facilitate backwards compatibility.
 
This format, together with the sibling [[MX-11769]] format, are the most common formats both in military and civilian applications as of today.
 
== Format ==
Other names commonly used to refer to the format are:
 
* ''Small Anvis'' (because it was developed for [[AN/AVS-6]] binoculars)
* ''18 mm'' (because of the diameter of the core)
* ''37 mm'' (because of the diameter of the tube)
 
Tubes of this format utilize a fiber twist to invert the intensified image, making the lens system of compatible oculars much simpler.
 
The format does not support [[External Gain Adjustment Circuit (EGAC)|manual gain]]. The later introduced sibling [[MX-11769]] format as well as the gain contact subformat later added that missing feature.
 
=== Gain Contact Subformat ===<!-- TODO: Figure out the real name of the "gain contact subformat" -->
 
Especially outside of the U.S., an inofficial modification of the MX-10160 format is common that introduces a third contact inbetween the positive and negative contact for gain control.
 
A compatible housing connects the negative (ground) contact and the new gain contact through a potentiometer with a peak resistance of ~50 kΩ. The gain is inverse to the selected resistance of the potentiometer.
 
Tubes of this type can be made backwards compatible with housings designed for the original MX-10160 format by adding a thin wire between the aformentioned contacts on the tube, running the tube at maximum gain.
 
The image intensifier manufacturers [[Photonis Technologies SAS|Photonis]] and [[Katod]] use this format for some of their manual gain image intensifiers.
 
== Devices ==
 
The table below lists all devices using MX-10160 image intensifier tubes for which a page exists on this wiki.
 
{{#ask:
[[Category:Devices]]
[[Tube Format::MX-10160]]
|?Housing Type
|?Manufacturer
|?Mount
|format=table
}}
 
== Iterations ==
 
=== MX-10160/AVS-6 ===
The original MX-10160/AVS-6 specification was introduced in 1989 in the MIL-I-49428 specification. <ref>http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-I/MIL-I-49428_53852/</ref>
 
It consists of many requirements that designated image intensifier tubes had to meet as well as how those requirements should be tested.
 
The specification was cancelled in 1997 in favor of later iterations.
 
==== Key Specifications ====
Below is an incomplete list of key specifications that the image intensifiers have to meet.
 
{{TubeSpecs|res-min=36|halo-max=1.47|diam-min=17.5|mtf-4-min=8|mtf-3-min=28|mtf-2-min=58|mtf-1-min=83|obu-max=3:1|obu-min=4:1|gain-2-max=10.5K|hi-res-min=5|gain-2-min=3.5K|gain-1-max=35K|gain-1-min=20K|ebi-max=2.5|snr-min=16.2|rad-sens-2-min=60|rad-sens-1-min=100|lum-sens-min=1000|phosphor=P20}}
 
Some further specifications include:
* 18mm microchannel wafer
* minimum useful photocathode and [[Phosphor Screen|phosphor screen]] diameter of 17.5 mm
* maximum weight of 85 grams
* image inversion
* resistance to shocks of at least 75 G's
* mean time to failure of minimum 7500 hours (minimum 1500 hours under <i>accelerated</i> conditions<ref group="Notes">Accelerated conditions differ only in shorter on-off cycles and more frequent temporary increases in input illumination.</ref>)
** under vibration and varying illumination levels
** pass criteria:
*** Gain: 10k-35k fL/fc @ 2x10<sup>-6</sup> fc
*** SNR: >= 13.60
 
* stability and uniformity of output brightness
* ion barrier film quality
* photocathode sensitivity
* burn-in / environmental stress screening
* vibration
* resonance search / resonance dwell / cycling
* temperature ranges / temperature cycling
* compatibility with the ANVIS monocular assembly
* reverse polarity protection
* resistance to bright lights
* allowable dark & bright spots
* veil glare
* image alignment
* electromagnetic interference
* assembly quality
* chicken wire
 
=== MX-10160A/AVS-6 ===
{{Unverified}}
The MX-10160A/AVS-6 (NSN 5855-01-423-1497) specification was introduced in 1995.
 
Northrop Grumman Electro-Optical Systems originally supplied these tubes, with their production moving into [[Litton Industries|Litton]] and [[ITT Industries|ITT]], and later [[L3]] Warrior Systems.
 
=== MX-10160B/AVS-6 ===
{{Unverified}}
Not much is known about the MX-10160B/AVS-6 specification, except that it was introduced around the year 2000.
 
Both [[Litton Industries|Litton]] and [[ITT Industries|ITT]] supplied image intensifiers for it. MX-10160B image intensifiers produced by [[Litton Industries|Litton]] were the first [[Image Intensifier#Filmless|filmless]] contract image intensifiers, while [[ITT Industries|ITT]] produced thin-filmed image intensifiers.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Specifications for Litton<ref>http://aunv.blackice.com.au/userfiles/david-mx10160B.pdf</ref>
!Performance parameters
!Units of measurement
!Values
|-
|[[Resolution]]
|lp/mm
|57 - 72
|-
|Highlight Resolution
|@20fc, lp/mm
|32 - 36
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Photocathode Sensitivity]]
|28560 K, uA/lm
|1,500 - 2,100
|-
|@ 830 nm, mA/W
|77 - 200
|-
|@ 880 nm, mA/W
|30 - 100
|-
|[[Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)|Signal to Noise Ratio]]
|
|20.6 - 36.0
|-
|EBI
|1 x 10<sup>-11</sup> lm/cm<sup>2</sup>
|0.5 - 2.5
|-
|[[Gain#Luminance Gain|Luminous Gain]]
|fl/fc @2 x 10<sup>-6</sup> fc
|30K - 80K
|-
|Output Brightness
|@1 and 20 fc
|2.0 - 4.0
|-
|[[Halo]]
|mm
|0.4 - 1.25
|-
|Output Brightness Uniformity
|@2856 K
|3:1 - 2:1
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)|MTF]]
|% @15.0 lp/mm
|61%+
|-
|% @25.0 lp/mm
|38%+
|-
|Photocathode Diameter
|mm
|17.0 - 17.5
|-
|[[Phosphor Screen|Phosphor]]
|
|P22, P43
|}
 
=== MX-10160C/AVS6 ===
The MX-10160C/AVS-6 specification was introduced on 17. October 2003 in the MIL-PRF-A3279602B specification.<ref>https://govtribe.com/file/government-file/fa853309r22222-mil-prf-a3279602b-dot-pdf</ref>
 
On 22. April 2010 the first MX-10160C/AVS-6 tubes with a halo of less than 0.85mm were accepted.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230110205422/https://govtribe.com/award/federal-contract-award/delivery-order-w15p7t04aj208-0034</ref> On 1. September 2010 the halo specification was revised from 0.70mm to 0.85mm.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230110213327/https://govtribe.com/award/federal-idv-award/indefinite-delivery-contract-w15p7t04aj208</ref> There are rumors, that ITT had measured the halo values as too small for some time.
* MIL-PRF-A3279602B (17 October 2003)
* Low distortion fiber optic output, +-1 deg image inversion
* Minimum specs:
** Image alignment offset max 0.006 inch
** Halo: early models max halo 0.70mm, later models with revised spec max 0.85mm
** Electromagnetic interference (EMI): The assembly, when properly incorporated within a certified AN/AVS-6 system shall comply with the EMI requirements as specified in MIL-PRF-A3279454(CR) or MIL-PRF-49425.
** Reliability: the assembly shall have a minimum mean time to failure of not less than 12,500 hours (2,500 hours accelerated)
{| class="wikitable"
!Performance parameters
!Units of measurement
!Values
|-
|[[Resolution]]
|lp/mm
|64+
|-
|Highlight Resolution
|@20fc, lp/mm
|45+
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Photocathode Sensitivity]]
|28560 K, uA/lm
|2200+
|-
|@ 830 nm, mA/W
|240+
|-
|@ 880 nm, mA/W
|120+
|-
|[[Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)|Signal to Noise Ratio]]
|
|28+
|-
|EBI
|1 x 10<sup>-11</sup> lm/cm<sup>2</sup>
|2.5-
|-
|[[Gain#Luminance Gain|Luminous Gain]]
|fl/fc @2 x 10<sup>-6</sup> fc
|50K - 80K
|-
|Output Brightness
|@1 and 20 fc
|
|-
|[[Halo]]
|mm
|early: 0.70
later: 0.85
|-
|[[Phosphor Screen|Phosphor]]
|
|P43
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Spot spec
!Size in inches, at zone
!1
!2
!3
|-
|0.009 or larger
|0
|0
|0
|-
|0.006 to 0.009
|0
|0
|1
|-
|0.003 to 0.006
|0
|0
|2
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+End-of-life specs (threshold specs at 12,500h)
!Requirement
!Acceptance level
|-
|Luminance gain at 2x10^-6 fc
|35k to 95k fL/fc
|-
|EBI
|2.5
|-
|SNR
|23 minimum
|-
|Center resolution
|64lp/mm minimum
|-
|Bright-light level center res.
|36lp/mm minimum
|-
|Useful cathode diameter
|17.5mm minimum
|-
|Output brightness uniformity
|Within normal spec
|-
|Screen quality
|Within normal spec
|}
 
== Other ==
Below is a list of other known MX-10160 contract iterations for which currently no information is available
 
*
* MX-10160GS
* MX-10160WG
* MX-10160FG
 
== Notes ==
<references group="Notes" />
 
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Formats]]

Latest revision as of 01:26, 15 November 2024

MX10160A
An image intensifier tube labelled as MX10160A

MX-10160 is a specification for image intensifier tubes for the United States military.

The designation is often used to refer to the physical format of the tube described inside of the specification, as all iterations of the specification reuse the same format to facilitate backwards compatibility.

This format, together with the sibling MX-11769 format, are the most common formats both in military and civilian applications as of today.

Format[edit | edit source]

Other names commonly used to refer to the format are:

  • Small Anvis (because it was developed for AN/AVS-6 binoculars)
  • 18 mm (because of the diameter of the core)
  • 37 mm (because of the diameter of the tube)

Tubes of this format utilize a fiber twist to invert the intensified image, making the lens system of compatible oculars much simpler.

The format does not support manual gain. The later introduced sibling MX-11769 format as well as the gain contact subformat later added that missing feature.

Gain Contact Subformat[edit | edit source]

Especially outside of the U.S., an inofficial modification of the MX-10160 format is common that introduces a third contact inbetween the positive and negative contact for gain control.

A compatible housing connects the negative (ground) contact and the new gain contact through a potentiometer with a peak resistance of ~50 kΩ. The gain is inverse to the selected resistance of the potentiometer.

Tubes of this type can be made backwards compatible with housings designed for the original MX-10160 format by adding a thin wire between the aformentioned contacts on the tube, running the tube at maximum gain.

The image intensifier manufacturers Photonis and Katod use this format for some of their manual gain image intensifiers.

Devices[edit | edit source]

The table below lists all devices using MX-10160 image intensifier tubes for which a page exists on this wiki.

 Housing TypeManufacturerMount
ACT DTNVGBinocularACTinBlackWilcox Dovetail
ACT DTNVSBinocularACTinBlackWilcox Dovetail
AN/AVS-9BinocularElbit Systems Of AmericaBall Detent
Argus Panoramic Night Vision GogglesPanoramicArgusWilcox Dovetail
Fenn NG700DBinocularFenn Night Vision LimitedProprietary
GPNVG-18PanoramicL3HarrisWilcox Dovetail or Ball Detent
LLI AeternusBinocularLow Light InnovationsWilcox Dovetail
MUM-14MonocularNivisys Industries LLVMini Rail
RPNVGPanoramic BinocularAB NightVision IncWilcox Dovetail
Ruggedized Night Vision Goggle (RNVG)BinocularAB NightVision IncWilcox Dovetail
Troya Ninox ProBinocularTroya Tech Defense LtdWilcox Dovetail

Iterations[edit | edit source]

MX-10160/AVS-6[edit | edit source]

The original MX-10160/AVS-6 specification was introduced in 1989 in the MIL-I-49428 specification. [1]

It consists of many requirements that designated image intensifier tubes had to meet as well as how those requirements should be tested.

The specification was cancelled in 1997 in favor of later iterations.

Key Specifications[edit | edit source]

Below is an incomplete list of key specifications that the image intensifiers have to meet.

Performance Parameter Unit of measurement Value
Resolution lp / mm >36
High Light Resolution lp / mm @ 20fc >5
Photocathode Sensitivity uA/lm @ 2856K >1000
mA/W @ 830nm >100
mA/W @ 880nm >60
Signal to Noise Ratio >16.2
EBI 1 x 10-11 lm/cm2 <2.5
Gain fL/fc @ 2x10-6 fc 20K-35K
fL/fc @ 2x10-4 fc 3.5K-10.5K
Halo mm <1.47
Output Brightness Uniformity @ 2856K 4:1-3:1
MTF % @ 2.5 lp/mm >83
% @ 7.5 lp/mm >58
% @ 15.0 lp/mm >28
% @ 25.0 lp/mm >8
Photocathode Diameter mm >17.5
Phosphor P20


Some further specifications include:

  • 18mm microchannel wafer
  • minimum useful photocathode and phosphor screen diameter of 17.5 mm
  • maximum weight of 85 grams
  • image inversion
  • resistance to shocks of at least 75 G's
  • mean time to failure of minimum 7500 hours (minimum 1500 hours under accelerated conditions[Notes 1])
    • under vibration and varying illumination levels
    • pass criteria:
      • Gain: 10k-35k fL/fc @ 2x10-6 fc
      • SNR: >= 13.60
  • stability and uniformity of output brightness
  • ion barrier film quality
  • photocathode sensitivity
  • burn-in / environmental stress screening
  • vibration
  • resonance search / resonance dwell / cycling
  • temperature ranges / temperature cycling
  • compatibility with the ANVIS monocular assembly
  • reverse polarity protection
  • resistance to bright lights
  • allowable dark & bright spots
  • veil glare
  • image alignment
  • electromagnetic interference
  • assembly quality
  • chicken wire

MX-10160A/AVS-6[edit | edit source]

⚠ This section contains unverified information. You can help by adding references to it.

The MX-10160A/AVS-6 (NSN 5855-01-423-1497) specification was introduced in 1995.

Northrop Grumman Electro-Optical Systems originally supplied these tubes, with their production moving into Litton and ITT, and later L3 Warrior Systems.

MX-10160B/AVS-6[edit | edit source]

⚠ This section contains unverified information. You can help by adding references to it.

Not much is known about the MX-10160B/AVS-6 specification, except that it was introduced around the year 2000.

Both Litton and ITT supplied image intensifiers for it. MX-10160B image intensifiers produced by Litton were the first filmless contract image intensifiers, while ITT produced thin-filmed image intensifiers.

Specifications for Litton[2]
Performance parameters Units of measurement Values
Resolution lp/mm 57 - 72
Highlight Resolution @20fc, lp/mm 32 - 36
Photocathode Sensitivity 28560 K, uA/lm 1,500 - 2,100
@ 830 nm, mA/W 77 - 200
@ 880 nm, mA/W 30 - 100
Signal to Noise Ratio 20.6 - 36.0
EBI 1 x 10-11 lm/cm2 0.5 - 2.5
Luminous Gain fl/fc @2 x 10-6 fc 30K - 80K
Output Brightness @1 and 20 fc 2.0 - 4.0
Halo mm 0.4 - 1.25
Output Brightness Uniformity @2856 K 3:1 - 2:1
MTF % @15.0 lp/mm 61%+
% @25.0 lp/mm 38%+
Photocathode Diameter mm 17.0 - 17.5
Phosphor P22, P43

MX-10160C/AVS6[edit | edit source]

The MX-10160C/AVS-6 specification was introduced on 17. October 2003 in the MIL-PRF-A3279602B specification.[3]

On 22. April 2010 the first MX-10160C/AVS-6 tubes with a halo of less than 0.85mm were accepted.[4] On 1. September 2010 the halo specification was revised from 0.70mm to 0.85mm.[5] There are rumors, that ITT had measured the halo values as too small for some time.

  • MIL-PRF-A3279602B (17 October 2003)
  • Low distortion fiber optic output, +-1 deg image inversion
  • Minimum specs:
    • Image alignment offset max 0.006 inch
    • Halo: early models max halo 0.70mm, later models with revised spec max 0.85mm
    • Electromagnetic interference (EMI): The assembly, when properly incorporated within a certified AN/AVS-6 system shall comply with the EMI requirements as specified in MIL-PRF-A3279454(CR) or MIL-PRF-49425.
    • Reliability: the assembly shall have a minimum mean time to failure of not less than 12,500 hours (2,500 hours accelerated)
Performance parameters Units of measurement Values
Resolution lp/mm 64+
Highlight Resolution @20fc, lp/mm 45+
Photocathode Sensitivity 28560 K, uA/lm 2200+
@ 830 nm, mA/W 240+
@ 880 nm, mA/W 120+
Signal to Noise Ratio 28+
EBI 1 x 10-11 lm/cm2 2.5-
Luminous Gain fl/fc @2 x 10-6 fc 50K - 80K
Output Brightness @1 and 20 fc
Halo mm early: 0.70

later: 0.85

Phosphor P43
Spot spec
Size in inches, at zone 1 2 3
0.009 or larger 0 0 0
0.006 to 0.009 0 0 1
0.003 to 0.006 0 0 2
End-of-life specs (threshold specs at 12,500h)
Requirement Acceptance level
Luminance gain at 2x10^-6 fc 35k to 95k fL/fc
EBI 2.5
SNR 23 minimum
Center resolution 64lp/mm minimum
Bright-light level center res. 36lp/mm minimum
Useful cathode diameter 17.5mm minimum
Output brightness uniformity Within normal spec
Screen quality Within normal spec

Other[edit | edit source]

Below is a list of other known MX-10160 contract iterations for which currently no information is available

  • MX-10160GS
  • MX-10160WG
  • MX-10160FG

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Accelerated conditions differ only in shorter on-off cycles and more frequent temporary increases in input illumination.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-I/MIL-I-49428_53852/
  2. ↑ http://aunv.blackice.com.au/userfiles/david-mx10160B.pdf
  3. ↑ https://govtribe.com/file/government-file/fa853309r22222-mil-prf-a3279602b-dot-pdf
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230110205422/https://govtribe.com/award/federal-contract-award/delivery-order-w15p7t04aj208-0034
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230110213327/https://govtribe.com/award/federal-idv-award/indefinite-delivery-contract-w15p7t04aj208
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