VISIT TO DALMO VICTOR TO MONITOR MODIFICATIONS OF THE CHIGOE LLLTV SYSTEM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05752622
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 10, 2021
• Case Number: F-2011-01575
• Publication Date: May 9, 1967

Approved for Release: 2021/01/11 C05752622
3r.urit
9 May 1967
ORD-2763-67
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Visit to Dalmo Victor to Monitor Modifications
of the CHIGOE LLLTV System
1. On April 17-18, 1967 the undersigned visited
the D-V facility in Belmont, California to inspect the
installation of an S-20 extended red response image
intensifier in the Low Light Level TV camera head. The
new intensifier tube showed improved contrast performance
at very low light levels (10-7 ft. candle photocathode
illumination) and at least 350 TV lines were resolved at
that level in Optoliner tests.
2. LTV shipped the entire camera system to DV
including monitors and cables but excluding platform and
bulkhead connectors. DV noticed that the camera's auto-
matic iris was jammed in a half closed position. This
could explain Lt. Cmdr. Porter's dissatisfaction with
the camera's performance during flight tests in November.
The iris gear train was freed up and Tealigned. While
the camera head was being modified, both monitors were
checked and tuned up. The vertical roll over problem
during warm-up in the operators monitor was eliminated.
The cable connectors on the pilots monitor were checked
for poor connections since during previous tests on the
aircraft the reticle on the pilots display was intermit-
tent. All connections checked out OK and intermittency
appears to have cleared up. A new cable (3'-2" longer)
was made connecting the pilots joystick to the servo
electronics box. This was done at our request to permit
moving the joystick to a location accessible to both
pilot and co-pilot.
3. One system problem remains and should be fixed
by DV with the system installed in the aircraft. The
platform gimbals occassionally do not uncage, i.e.,
power transients apparently cause az/el servo systems
to drive the gimbal cage pins hard against the sides of
their holes so that the solenoids cannot extract them.
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Approved for Release: 2021/01/11 C05752622
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SECRET
ORD-2763-67
As a result fuses blow. The undersigned discussed the
problem with Bill Mallet, DV's platform expert. He
agreed it would be possible to install a delay relay in
the servo electronics box that would momentarily connect
a dummy load to the servo amplifiers to establish proper
voltage levels, then connect the azjel motors. I sug-
gested that Jim Smith, Mgr. Electro-optics, contact
to establish a time and place for installing
the platform caging fix and for participation in final
acceptance flight tests.
4. The Machlett intensifier installed in our
camera has particularly good red and near-IR response
as well as high luminous sensitivity. A copy of the
tube spectral response is being forwarded for our eval-
uation. The process of changing image intensifier tubes
is possible under field conditions but ill-advised.
Approximately a 25% reduction in resolution can be
expected if a reassembled tube assembly is not placed in
a vacuum bell jar to improve optical contacting. DV has
found that "3 in 1" oil serves well as an immersion
fluid for optical contacting the intensifier to the SEC
vidicon but must be applied in a very thin uniform film.
The leads from the SEC tube's grid and target must be
shorted together when they are disconnected during the
tube change procedure to prevent static charge build-up
and resultant target destruction.
5. Mark Broemmelsiek, the project engineer, noted
that Westinghouse SEC vidicons have improved starting
with production units delivered in December 1966. They
perform better generally, are not laggy at low light
levels, can be operated at higher target voltages, and
therefore exhibit higher gain. Smith and Broemmelsiek
suggest our procuring a spare tube assembly. It would
be costly ( $20K) but could be installed in the field
and would improve camera performance. Not enough life
data has been accumulated on SEC vidicons, but 50-100
hrs. is expected to be typical. A spare tube assembly
may be necessary if extended use in the field is con-
templated.
SECRET
Approved for Release: 2021/01/11 C05752622