EXPANDABLE NIGHT VISION GOGGLES

• US 20100177201A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kollsman Incorporated (Elbit Systems Limited), Night Vision Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kollsman Incorporated (Elbit Systems Limited), Night Vision Corporation
• Inventors: Ziv, Robert O., Filipovich, Danny, Fiore, Jack C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/217.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

A night vision goggle system is shown, including optical modules, a heads-up display (HUD) module, and a camera module. Each module may be added to and removed from the system without structural, electrical, or optical damage to itself or the remaining modules. Each optical module takes input light at one end and provides an intensified image at the other. A heads-up display module (HUD) can provide an informational display in any of at least two of the optical modules or both. A camera module is capable of recording both the intensified image produced by a particular optical module, as well as the HUD information shown through that module with substantially no offset from the original display. Both the camera module and the HUD module are installable onto the same optical module at the same time, and can be installed on either (or in some embodiments, any) optical module.

Claims

1. A night vision goggle system, comprising a bridge, a first optical module, and a second optical module, wherein:

each of the first and second optical modules comprises

a housing having a first end and a second end;

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to an eye of an observer;

a first mechanical connector for repeatedly removably connecting the housing to the bridge a predetermined alignment relative to the bridge; and

a first electrical connector for providing electric communication between the optical module and the bridge whenever the first mechanical connector is connecting the housing to the bridge; and

wherein the two optical modules are each attached to the bridge by their respective first mechanical connector to provide the user an intensified binocular view.

17. The night vision goggle system of claim 1, wherein the optical path through the housing of each optical module from the first end through the image intensifier to the second end is folded.

2. A night vision device, comprising an optical module, the module comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end;

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to the eye of an observer; and

an attachment mechanism configured for removable attachment of an outer optical module in a position that adds to the horizontal field of view of an eye at the second end of the night vision optical module.

6. The night vision device of claim 2, further comprising:

an outer optical module, removably attached to the attachment mechanism and comprising;

a housing having a first end and a second end; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives an image through the first end and passes an intensified version of the image out through the second end;

wherein when the outer optical module is attached to the optical module, it expands the horizontal field of view of that optical module.

12. The night vision device of claim 6 wherein, when the outer optical module is attached to the optical module, the outer optical module receives a power signal from that optical module.

15. The night vision device of claim 6, wherein the combination of the outer module and the optical module to which it is attached provides a horizontal field of view that extends laterally at least fifty degrees from the center line of the optical module.

16. The night vision device of claim 6, wherein the combination of the outer module and the optical module to which it is attached provides a horizontal field of view of at least sixty-five degrees.

18. The night vision device of claim 2, wherein the optical path through the housing from the first end through the image intensifier to the second end is folded.

3. A night vision device, comprising an optical module, the module comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end and defining a camera port; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to the eye of an observer;

wherein the optical module is configured to deliver substantially identical intensified images at the camera port and at the second end of the optical module.

5. The night vision device of claim 3, wherein:

the housing defines a display port; and

the optical path between the image intensifier, the display port, and the second end of each optical module is configured so that the second end receives an overlaid combination of the intensified image and an image entering the housing through the display port.

7. The night vision device of claim 3:

further comprising a camera module removably attached proximately to the camera port, and

wherein the camera module receives and converts the intensified images delivered at the camera port into electrical signals.

9. The night vision device of claim 5:

further comprising a camera module attached proximately to the camera port, and

a display module attached proximately to the display port,

wherein the camera module receives and converts the intensified images delivered at the camera port into electrical signals, and

the display module generates the image entering through the display port.

19. The night vision device of claim 3, wherein the optical path through the housing from the first end through the image intensifier to the second end is folded.

4. A night vision device, comprising an optical module, the module comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end and defining a display port; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to the eye of an observer;

wherein the optical path between the image intensifier, the display port, and the second end of each optical module is configured so that the second end receives an overlaid combination of the intensified image and an image entering the housing through the display port.

8. The night vision device of claim 4:

further comprising a display module removably attached proximately to the display port,

wherein the display module generates the image entering through the display port.

20. The night vision device of claim 4, wherein the optical path through the housing from the first end through the image intensifier to the second end is folded.

10. A night vision goggle system, comprising a bridge, a first inner optical module, a second inner optical module, and an outer module, wherein:

each of the first inner optical module, the second inner optical module, and outer module comprises;

a housing having a first end and a second end; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to an eye of an observer;

the housing of each of the first and second inner optical modules also includes an attachment mechanism configured for removably attaching the outer optical module to that inner optical module in a position that adds to the horizontal field of view of an eye at the second end of that inner optical module; and

the outer optical module, the first inner optical module, and the second inner optical module are configured so that the outer optical module is removably attachable to the attachment mechanism of either the first inner optical module or the second inner optical module at any given time.

11. A night vision goggle system, comprising a bridge, a first inner optical module, a second inner optical module, a first outer optical module, and a second outer optical module, wherein:

each of the optical modules comprises;

a housing having a first end and a second end; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to an eye of an observer;

the first and second inner optical modules combine to provide a stereoscopic intensified view to the eyes of a user; and

the housings of the first inner optical module and the second inner optical module each also include an attachment mechanism configured for removably attaching one of the outer optical modules to that inner optical module in a position that adds to the horizontal field of view of an eye at the second end of that inner optical module.

13. A night vision goggle system, comprising a bridge, a first optical module, a second optical module, and a camera module, wherein:

each of the first optical module and the second optical module comprises;

a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing being attached to the bridge and defining a camera port; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to an eye of an observer;

each of the first and second optical modules is configured to deliver substantially identical intensified images at its camera port and at its second end;

the camera module is removably attachable proximately to the camera port of either the first optical module or the second optical module at any given time; and

when attached to a particular one of either the first optical module or the second optical module, the camera module receives and converts into electrical signals the intensified images received at the camera port of that optical module.

14. A night vision goggle system, comprising a bridge, a first optical module, a second optical module, and a display module, wherein:

each of the first optical module and the second optical module comprises;

a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing being attached to the bridge and defining a display port; and

an image intensifier situated in the housing that receives energy through the first end and passes an intensified image out through the second end for presentation to an eye of an observer;

the optical path between the image intensifier, the display port, and the second end of each optical module is configured so that the second end receives an overlaid combination of the intensified image and an image entering the housing through the display port;

the display module is removably attachable proximately to the display port of either the first optical module or the second optical module at any given time; and

when attached to a particular one of either the first optical module or the second optical module, the display module generates the image entering through the display port of the optical module to which it is attached.