Portable monocular night vision apparatus

• US 5,396,069 A
• Filed: 07/01/1993
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Craig, Jeffrey L., Bates, Charles Jr., Task, Harry L., Unger, Sheldon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIELDS, CAROLYN
• Application Number:
  US08/085,388
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 250/504 H, 250/330, 250/214 VT, 372/38
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

A monocular night vision apparatus employing an infrared energy spectrum source of illumination and a camera lens and night vision image intensifier combined receiver apparatus into a small hand-held portable package that is both low in cost and reliable in nature is described. The night vision transmitter apparatus includes a laser diode energy source that is coupled to an aperture controlled and focus controlled optical system and driven by an electronic closed-loop feedback energization circuit which employs self-contained battery sources of energy. Multiple operating modes and operating intensities of the light source are provided through a plurality of signal inputs to the closed feedback loop of the laser diode energy source. Disturbance of the closed feedback loop by reflected energy within the optical transmitter apparatus is precluded by the use of feedback prevention optical alignment in the transmitter'"'"'s optical system.

Claims

1. Portable, hand-held monocular night vision apparatus comprising the combination of:

an infrared spectrum responsive optical energy receiver apparatus including a variable focus photographic camera lens assembly optically coupled with a night vision image intensifier eyepiece assembly;

an infrared spectrum emitting selectable operating intensity, optical energy source apparatus disposed in physical connection with said receiver apparatus and boresighted therewith, said optical energy source apparatus further including;

a controllable aperture, controllable focus, multiple lens optical system enclosed at its output aperture by a protective window member and optically energized at a central optical axis focal point thereof by a laser semiconductor diode assembly;

said laser semiconductor diode assembly including a energy emitting laser diode member optically coupled with an input port of an optical energy responsive photodiode transducer member;

a closed-loop electronic circuit feedback apparatus including a series pass junction transistor connected in electrical series with said laser diode member and controlled in operating point by closed-loop electrical signals originating in an optical energy responsive electrical output signal of said photodiode transducer member;

said feedback apparatus further including adjustment means (410, U1) for determining an initial operating point of said laser diode member and control signal input means (416, U2) responsive to an analog intensity selection signal and to a digital on-off control signal for determining both an operating intensity level and on-off operation of said laser diode member;

analog intensity selection signal generating means including a first pair of operator selectively closeable electrical switch members and electronic decoding logic circuitry responsive thereto for generating said analog intensity selection signal;

digital on-off control signal generating means including a second pair of operator selectively closeable electrical switch members and electronic decoding logic circuitry responsive thereto and an electronic timing circuit for generating said digital on-off control signal;

said on-off control signal including a selectable one of a momentary on, a continuously on, a periodically-on and controlled by said timing circuit, and a continuously off laser operating mode options;

electrical energy sourcing means including an electrical battery and a regulator circuit for energizing said laser diode member and said electronic circuitry with electrical energy of a first operating potential and for energizing said feedback apparatus adjustment means and said feedback apparatus control signal input means with a constant voltage regulated second operating potential;

indicator means responsive to a digital control signal from said digital on-off control signal generating means for indicating present instant energizing of said laser diode member; and

angularly disposed mounting means for said optical system protective window member located at an infrared energy output port of said source apparatus for displacing a protective window interior surface originating reflected portion of said laser diode output energy away from said central optical axis of said multiple lens optical system and said photodiode transducer member input port of said closed loop electronic circuit feedback apparatus.