NIGHT VISION INSTRUMENT FOCUS DEVICE

• US 20100187417A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phokus Research Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phokus Research Group, LLC
• Inventors: Gumbert, Jonathan M., Hanna, Robert J., Stein, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

Provided is a device for improving the focus of an object viewed using a night vision instrument.

Claims

1. A device for improving the focus of an object viewed using a night vision instrument, the night vision instrument comprising an instrument lens, a lens frame comprising a distal end, and night vision components, the device comprising:

a housing configured to couple to the distal end of the lens frame; and

a cover coupled to the housing,

wherein, when the housing is coupled to the lens frame, the cover is adjustable to define an aperture allowing light to the lens, the aperture being variable between having at least a first area and a second area, the first area being smaller than the second area;

wherein when the device is coupled to the night vision instrument, the visual clarity of the object viewed through the instrument and device is superior to the visual clarity of the object when viewed using the instrument without the device, when the object is within 3 feet of the device and the aperture has the first area; and

wherein the device does not comprise a device lens.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture having the first area is circular.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture having the first area is not circular.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is circular.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is not circular.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an opening having the first area, the cover further comprising at least one hinge coupling the cover to the housing, wherein the superior visual clarity is achieved by swinging the cover over the instrument lens frame to allow light to the instrument lens having the first area, and the aperture having the second area is achieved by swinging the cover away from the lens frame, and

wherein the second area is equal to the area of the instrument lens without the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises at least two sections, each section comprising a hinge coupling the section to the housing, wherein the superior visual clarity is achieved by swinging the sections over the lens frame to allow light to the instrument lens having the first area.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a ring and the cover comprises an iris diaphragm that forms the aperture, the iris diaphragm comprising thin flat opaque tongues fastened to the ring that contracts or enlarges the aperture when the ring is rotated.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is a liquid crystal display and the aperture is formed by liquid crystal modifying the opacity of the liquid crystal display.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first area has a maximum diameter of about 13/64″

or less.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the first area has a maximum diameter of about ⅛

″

or less.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the second area has an area of the lens.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is about 10/16″

or less from the instrument lens.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is about 3/16″

or less from the instrument lens.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is disposed at the distal end of the lens frame.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover is manually adjustable between aperture areas.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the manual adjustment is by electronic switch, lever, knob, spring release, hinge, latch, or rotating bezel.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a component that automatically adjusts the cover between aperture areas.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the component that automatically adjusts the cover between aperture areas uses ultrasonic sound waves or infrared light to detect the distance of the object from the device.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising an infrared light source.

21. A night vision instrument comprising the device of claim 1.

22. The night vision instrument of claim 21, wherein the lens frame incorporates the housing.

23. The night vision instrument of claim 21, wherein the housing is permanently affixed to the lens frame.