MODULAR NIGHT VISION SYSTEM

• US 20150323777A1
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Teetzel, James W., Dalzell, Ned A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,778,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted

Abstract

A modular mounting system for a night vision device includes one or more night vision monoculars, each night vision monocular having an imaging tube, a housing, and a first mounting shoe at a first position on the housing. A power supply has a first fastener thereon. A helmet mount at a first location on a helmet has a second fastener thereon. A power supply interface is located at a second location on the helmet and a second mounting shoe is provided on the power supply interface. The first mounting shoe is interchangeably and removably attachable to the first fastener and the second fastener, and, the first fastener interchangeably and removably attachable to the first mounting shoe and the second mounting shoe. In a further aspect, a firearm rail interface is provided to allow the night vision monocular to alternatively be positioned on a firearm accessory rail.

Claims

1. A modular mounting system for a night vision device, comprising:

one or more night vision monoculars, each night vision monocular having an imaging tube, a housing, and a first mounting shoe at a first position on the housing;

a power supply having a first fastener thereon;

a helmet mount at a first location on a helmet, the helmet mount having a second fastener thereon;

a power supply interface at a second location on the helmet;

a second mounting shoe on the power supply interface;

the first mounting shoe interchangeably and removably attachable to the first fastener and the second fastener; and

the first fastener interchangeably and removably attachable to the first mounting shoe and the second mounting shoe.

2. The modular mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first set of electrical contacts on the first fastener, the first set of electrical contacts contacting a second set of electrical contacts on the first mounting shoe when the first fastener is attached to the first mounting shoe; and

a third set of electrical contacts on the second mounting shoe, the third set of electrical contacts contacting the first set of electrical contacts when the first fastener is attached to the second mounting shoe.

3. The modular mounting system of claim 2, further comprising:

a fourth set of electrical contacts on the second fastener the fourth set of electrical contacts contacting the second set of electrical contacts on the first mounting shoe when the second fastener is attached to the first mounting shoe.

4. The modular mounting system of claim 3, further comprising:

electrical conductors electrically coupling the third set of contacts to the fourth set of contacts.

5. The modular mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second mounting shoe at a second location on the housing.

6. The modular mounting system of claim 5, further comprising a firearm mounting system, the firearm mounting system including:

a rail clamp for removably attaching the firearm mounting system to a rail interface of a firearm; and

a third fastener attached to the rail clamp, the third fastener removably attachable to the second mounting shoe.

7. The modular mounting system of claim 6, further comprising:

a hinge pivotally attaching the third fastener to the rail clamp, the hinge pivotal about an axis parallel to an axis of the firearm.

8. The modular mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third fastener on the helmet mount adjacent the second fastener; and

the first mounting shoe interchangeably and removably attachable to the first fastener, the second fastener, and the third fastener.

9. The modular mounting system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first one of said one or more night vision monoculars removably attached to the second fastener; and

a second one of said one or more night vision monoculars removably attached to the third fastener.

10. The modular mounting system of claim 1 wherein the second fastener is adapted for interchangeably mounting one or more viewing devices selected from the group consisting of an optical device, opto-electronic device, sighting device, targeting device, night vision goggle device, enhanced night vision goggle device, thermal imaging device, infrared imaging device, short-wave infrared imaging device, and helmet-mounted display screen.

11. The modular mounting system of claim 1, wherein the helmet mount comprises a pivot assembly that allows the helmet mount to be pivoted between a lower position for use and an upper position for stowage of a night vision monocular device attached to the helmet mount.

12. The modular mounting system of claim 1, wherein the helmet mount comprises a vertical adjustment mechanism.

13. The modular mounting system of claim 1, wherein the helmet mount assembly comprises one or both of a tilt adjustment mechanism and a fore-and-aft adjustment mechanism.

14. The modular mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a breakaway connector which causes the helmet mount assembly to detach from the helmet upon the application of a predetermined force.

15. The modular mounting system of claim 1, wherein the power supply further includes an integral accessory device

16. The modular mounting system of claim 15, wherein the integral accessory device is selected from an IR illuminator and a friend-or-foe identification device.

17. The modular mounting system of claim 1, further comprising:

the helmet mount including a center bridge member attached to a sliding carriage, the sliding carriage slidable in a fore-and-aft direction;

a side mounting member removably attachable to the center bridge member; and

said second fastener pivotally attached to the side mounting member to allow pivoting movement of the night vision monocular about a pivot axis.

18. The modular mounting system of claim 17, wherein the pivot axis is parallel to a viewing axis of the night vision monocular.

19. The modular mounting system of claim 17, further comprising:

an IR illuminator on said center bridge member.

20. The modular mounting system of claim 17, further comprising:

a light sensor on said center bridge member operably coupled to the second fastener to provide a signal representative of an intensity of light impinging on the light sensor; and

circuitry for transmitting said signal to an auto gain circuit of the night vision monocular.