Low light imaging device

• US 20030222216A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CANVS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CANVS Corporation
• Inventors: Walkenstein, Jonathan A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,911,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/16 Sighting devices adapted for indirect laying of fire
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A low light imaging device including an optical input structured to define a line of sight, a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within the line of sight, an image intensification assembly responsive to photons within the line of sight, and an optical output structured to provide an output image to be viewed. The thermal imaging assembly generates a thermal image representative of the radiation signatures, and a thermal image adjustment assembly is provided to adjust an amount of the thermal image which defines the output image. Similarly, the image intensification assembly generates an enhanced photon based image, a photon image adjustment assembly being provided to adjust an amount of the enhanced photon based image which defines the output image. An output image generation assembly is included to generate the output image from adjusted the thermal image and enhanced photon based image.

Claims

1. A low light imaging device comprising:

a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight;

b) a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within said line of sight;

c) an image intensification assembly responsive to photons at least within said line of sight;

d) said thermal imaging assembly structured to generate a real time thermal image representative of said radiation signatures;

e) said image intensification assembly structured to generate a real time enhanced photon based image;

f) an image adjustment assembly including a thermal image adjustment assembly and a photon image adjustment assembly;

g) said thermal image adjustment assembly structured to independently adjust an intensity of said thermal image;

h) said photon image adjustment assembly structured to independently adjust an intensity of said enhanced photon based image; and

i) an output image generation assembly structured to combine said thermal image and said enhanced photon based image to generate a real-time, direct view output image.

2. A low light imaging device as recited in claim 1 wherein said image intensification assembly comprises:

a) a response assembly responsive to said photons under extremely low light conditions and structured to emit at least one electron in response to each of said photons detected thereby and in generally aligned relation with a detection point of said photon;

b) an amplification assembly structured and disposed to receive said electron generated by said response assembly and to generate a plurality of electrons in response thereto and in substantially direct alignment with a generation point of said electron from said response assembly; and

c) a photon generation assembly responsive to said plurality of electrons generated by said amplification assembly and structured to generate an image photon in substantially direct alignment with an emission point of said plurality of electrons and of an increased intensity corresponding a quantity of said plurality of electrons generated by said amplification assembly so as to define said enhanced photon based image.

3. A low light imaging device as recited in claim 2 wherein said output image generation assembly includes at least one eye piece disposed in visually aligned communication with said photon generation assembly.

4. A low light imaging device as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermal image adjustment assembly and said photon image adjustment assembly are structured to be independently and separately adjusted relative to one another.