An electron-telescope which permits magnification or demagnification of distant scenes without distortion by the use of electrons is revealed in a series of patents issued to George' A. Morton of Hadden Heights, New Jersey. The electron-telescope is said to reveal objects in the dark by the infra-red or heat waves they give off. Thus, aeroplanes flying at night might be made visible in the electron-telescope by the heat given off by their motors. Magnification can be so adjusted that close-ups of distant scenes are possible, it is pointed out.
The electro-telescope comprises a cylindrical vacuum tube, Inside one end of the tube is a photosensitive cathode on which the scene is focused by means of a lens. The light image falling on this photosensitive cathode generates a "family" of electrons, or an electron image of the scene.
Down the tube the electrons fly through a series of rings. These rings serve as lens to focus the electrons upon an "electron-centre," a disc with a hole which corresponds to the pinhole in a pinhole camera. Here the electrons cross eventually to form an upright visible magnified image on a fluorescent screen, The "electron-centre" can be electrically shifted. It is by thus shifting this "centre" that variable magnification of the image is obtained. The electron-telescope can easily be hooked up with a television camera tube so that distant scenes may be readily televised, it is stated.
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