NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS

• US 20020122302A1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Palmer
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Palmer
• Inventors: Palmer, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,456,497 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/483 Reactive adhesives, e.g. chemically curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/485 Multi-component adhesives, i.e. chemically curing as a result of the mixing of said multi-components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12449 being asymmetric B29C66/12445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12469 being asymmetric
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/322 Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/006 PBT, i.e. polybutylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

A night vision binocular assembly (10) capable of converting low light and infrared energy into a visible image. The night vision binocular assembly (10) includes at least one objective lens assembly (62), image intensifier tube (64), collimator lens assembly (66) and diopter cell assembly (68) encased in an easy to assembly waterproof housing (16). The objective lens assembly (62), image intensifier tube (64), collimator lens assembly (66) and diopter cell assembly (68) are all supported by a common base structure (80) within the housing (16). As a result, variations caused by thermal expansions and contractions are evenly distributed among the various optical elements, thereby preserving a predetermined optical relationship between those elements. Simple button controls (28, 30, 31) are used to operate and adjust the night vision binocular assembly (10). The button controls (28, 30, 31) are disposed on a common circuit board (38). An elastomeric structure (36) is disposed between the circuit board (38) and the interior of the binocular housing (16). The circuit board (38) is affixed to the interior of the binocular housing (16) in a manner that compresses the elastomeric structure (36) against the binocular housing (16) to provide a water tight seal. The elastomeric structure (36) has switch membranes or domed portions which extend through apertures (37) in the housing (16) creating both a fluid impermeable seal with the housing (16) and a means for the tactile engagement of the switches on the below lying circuit board (38).

Claims

1. A night vision apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

at least one objective lens arrangement;

image intensifier means for producing an intensified visible image from energy directed to said image intensifier means by said objective lens arrangement;

at least one eyepiece lens arrangement for viewing said intensified visible image; and

a unistructural support member, positionable within said housing, upon which said objective lens arrangement, said image intensifier means and said eyepiece lens arrangement attach, wherein thermal contractions and expansions caused by changes in temperature are evenly distributed between said objective leans arrangement, said image intensifier means and said eyepiece lens assembly, maintaining a predetermined optical relationship therebetween within said housing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said objective lens arrangement and said eyepiece lens arrangement both include optical elements held in casings, wherein said support member has generally the same coefficient of thermal expansion as does each of said casings.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a collimator lens assembly disposed between said image intensifier means and said at least one eyepiece for collimating said intensified optical image, wherein said collimator lens assembly is attached to said support member and is maintained at a predetermined optical relationship with respect to said eyepiece lens assembly and said image intensifier means within said housing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said collimator lens assembly includes optical elements held in a casing and said casing has generally the same coefficient of thermal expansions as said support member.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further including a beam splitting means for splitting the intensified visible image exiting said collimator lens assembly and directing the split image to two eyepiece lens assemblies for binocular viewing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the two eyepiece lens assemblies have a interpupillary distance therebetween and said support member includes a means thereon for enabling a change in said interpupillary distance without disconnecting either of said eyepiece lens assemblies from said support member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image intensifier tube includes an elastomeric casing and said support member includes a structure capable of retaining said elastomeric casing of said image intensifier tube with an interference fit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said objective lens assembly includes a lens arrangement subassembly and a tubular structure that surrounds said lens arrangement;

wherein said lens arrangement can move reciprocally along the longitudinal axis of said tubular structure within a given range and said tubular structure interconnects with said support structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further including a positioning means for selectively adjusting the position of said lens arrangement in said tubular structure, wherein said positioning means directly interconnects said lens arrangement to said support member.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said eyepiece lens arrangement comprises a snap-together assembly.

11. A waterproof electronic assembly, comprising:

a housing, having any internal hollow made from a fluid impervious material, having at least one button aperture located on a surface thereof;

at least one circuit board disposed in said housing hollow and having at least one tactile controlled element located thereon that is positioned below said button aperture;

an elastomeric member disposed between said circuit board and said housing, said elastomeric member being sealed to said housing within said hollow, wherein said elastomeric member has a projecting portion which extends through said button aperture to enable said tactile control element to be activated by depressing said elastomeric member through said button aperture; and

means for fastening said circuit board to said housing, wherein said circuit board contacts said elastomeric member and compresses said member against said housing to enable a fluid impervious seal to be formed about said button aperture.

10. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said position means is a stepper motor having a variable length drive shaft.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said housing has a plurality of button apertures thereon and said elastomeric member extends through each of said button apertures, said elastomeric member being a single unistructural member.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said elastomeric member has indicia formed thereon, said indicia extending through said button apertures so as to be identifiably by a person engaging said elastomeric member through said button apertures.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said elastomeric member is generally planar in shape having at least one button projection extending upwardly therefrom, said button projection s extending through said button apertures in said housing when assembled between said housing and said circuit board.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said first housing section and said second housing sections are made from an impact resistant material.

17. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said bottom rim has a male projection extending therefrom and said top rim has a female receptacle formed therein to receive said male projection.

18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein a gap exits between said bottom rim and said top rim as said bottom rim and top rim are joined, said gap being largest proximate said interior of said housing assembly promoting the extrusion of adhesive toward said interior of said housing assembly.

19. The assembly according to claim 15 further including apertures in said first housing section and said second housing assembly to enable light energy to interact with said optical apparatus and window elements attachable to said first housing section and said second housing section in a fluid impervious manner to cover said apertures an isolate said interior of said housing assembly.

20. The assembly according to claim 15 further including a recess formed along said interface joint on the exterior of said housing assembly, wherein said recess is sealed in a fluid impervious manner by said adhesive means extruded from said interface joint as said first housing section is joined to said second housing section

23. The assembly according to claim 19 further comprising elastomeric material disposed adjacent at least one of said apertures for providing impact protection.

15. A housing assembly for encasing an optical apparatus within the interior of said housing assembly, comprising:

a first housing section having a bottom rim;

a second housing section having a top rim adapted to interconnect with said bottom rim of said first housing section along. a common interface joint;

adhesive means disposed between said bottom rim and said top rim for adhesively joining said first housing section to said second housings section, wherein the interconnection of said top rim to said bottom rim is adapted to extrude some of said adhesive into said interior of said housing assembly, said adhesive covering said interface joint on the interior of said housing assembly creating a fluid impervious seal.

21. A night vision apparatus comprising:

a watertight housing, the outer surface of which is configured to have generally upper, lower and side faces, the combined surface arm of said upper and lower facts being substantially greater than the surface areas of said side faces and said housing being further configured for enabling said apparatus to float in water; and

an optical assembly contained within the interior of said housing positioned therein for causing said apparatus, when immersed in water, to float in a manner that either said upper face or said lower face is exposed above and substantially parallel to the surface of the water.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said optical assembly includes an objective lens and said apparatus is configured for receiving a supplemental magnification lens external to said housing and in optical alignment with said objective lens.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said eyepiece lens arrangement comprises a cell housing, at least one lens and a mirror, wherein said lens and said mirror are snap-connected to said cell housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said eyepiece lens arrangement comprises:

a collar configured to slidably engage said cell housing;

a first lens snap-connected to said cell housing; and

a mirror snap-connected to said cell housing;

wherein said collar is configured to enable said second lens to be selectively positionable relative to said mirror while remaining in optical alignment with said mirror.