Night vision system
First Claim
1. A hands free night vision system comprising:
- an image intensifier tube having a first end and a second end, said first end having an objective lens that accepts photons from a low light image of an object of interest and converts said photons into an electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest, an output arranged at the second end of the image intensifier tube that outputs the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest, said image intensifier including a protective case;
a power source coupled to the image intensifier and providing power thereto to convert the photons into the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest;
a control unit coupled to the second end of the image intensifier tube and comprising a memory that accepts and stores the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest;
a mounting device for mounting the image intensifier tube onto a protective helmet; and
,a signal cable arranged between the image intensifier tube and the control unit that transmits the electronic signal there between.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A night vision system includes an image intensifier tube and circuitry coupled to a digital storage medium that periodically samples a signal provided by the image intensifier tube and stores the sampled image to be viewed in near real time or at a later date by a data analyst. The night vision system includes a casing surrounding the image intensifier tube and the associated circuitry along with a port for accepting a power and/or signal cable for providing power to the image intensifier tube and image signal data to the digital storage medium. The system may further include a daytime camera and a switch for toggling the image signal data input to the digital storage medium between the daytime camera and the image intensifier tube.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A hands free night vision system comprising:
-
an image intensifier tube having a first end and a second end, said first end having an objective lens that accepts photons from a low light image of an object of interest and converts said photons into an electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest, an output arranged at the second end of the image intensifier tube that outputs the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest, said image intensifier including a protective case; a power source coupled to the image intensifier and providing power thereto to convert the photons into the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest; a control unit coupled to the second end of the image intensifier tube and comprising a memory that accepts and stores the electronic signal representative of the low light image of the object of interest; a mounting device for mounting the image intensifier tube onto a protective helmet; and
,a signal cable arranged between the image intensifier tube and the control unit that transmits the electronic signal there between. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A hands free night vision system that comprises:
-
a helmet-mounted image intensifier tube having a first end comprising an objective lens that accepts photons and a second end that provides digital image signals that include digital images, said image intensifier tube converting a low light image into a plurality of digital image signals that are decoded to create surveillance images; a first power source that provides power to the helmet mounted image intensifier tube and being connected to the image intensifier tube; a casing in which the helmet-mounted image intensifier tube is housed, said casing including recesses with access openings for depositing batteries into the recesses to create a voltage potential in the first power source; a signal-power port arranged in said casing for accepting at least a signal end of a signal cable; a signal cable having a first signal end arranged in the signal-power port of the casing, said signal cable including a second signal end that transmits at least digital images there through; an electronic storage medium having a signal port for accepting the second end of the signal cable to receive digital images from said helmet-mounted image intensifier tube; and
,a second power source connected to said electronic storage medium and for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A night vision system that comprises:
-
a helmet-mounted image intensifier tube having a first end that accepts photons and a second end that provides digital image signals, said image intensifier tube converting a low light image into a digital image signal; a power source that provides power to the helmet mounted image intensifier tube and being remote from the image intensifier tube; a casing in which the helmet-mounted image intensifier tube is housed, said casing including recesses with access openings for depositing batteries into the recesses to create a voltage potential in the first power source; a signal-power port arranged in said casing for accepting at least a signal end of a signal cable; a signal cable having a first end arranged in the signal-power port of the casing, said signal cable including a second end that transmits at least digital images there through; and
,an electronic storage device having a database that stores images and a hardened exterior that includes a signal port for accepting the second end of the signal cable to receive digital images from said helmet-mounted image intensifier tube to save said images in the electronic storage device.
-
Specification