Night vision goggle simulator and method with replaceable fiber optic lens assembly

• US 5,420,414 A
• Filed: 05/05/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Wentworth, Edwin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steady, Jacqueline M.
• Application Number:
  US08/238,609
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 385/120, 385/116, 385/117, 250/214 VT, 250/216, 250/227.20, 250/227.11
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/36 Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight

Abstract

Night vision goggles that is internally modified such as to provide a reatic simulator without activation of any night vision enhancement and includes a depth perception loss. An assembly is positioned after the objective assembly on the same optical axis for the transfer of the focused incoming light, which light is also color filtered. A fiber optic rod achieves the transfer of the focused incoming light without any use of an image intensifier tube.

Claims

1. A modified night vision image intensifier device for providing realistic simulation of night vision viewing conditions during daylight use, to include depth perception loss, wherein the device includes an assembly lens means positioned after an objective assembly on the same optical axis, for the transfer of focused incoming light which is modified, after which the modified light is collimated then accepted into one or more eyepieces for focusing onto the eye, the improvement including:

a fiber optic rod within the assembly lens means for providing a transfer of the focused incoming light; and

means for providing a color filtered scene placed on the optical axis such that a simulation of a night vision enhanced scene is achieved during daylight operational conditions wherein the image intensifier device may be returned to its intended image intensifier function by replacing the assembly lens means and means for providing a colored filtered scene within the device with an image intensifier tube.

2. A modified night vision image intensifier device for providing realistic simulation of night vision viewing conditions during daylight use, to include depth perception loss, the device including:

an objective lens assembly for the focusing of incoming incident light along an optical axis;

a fiber optic assembly located after the objective lens assembly on the same optical axis, the fiber optic assembly means further including a fiber optic rod within the assembly means for providing a transfer of the focused incoming light;

means for providing a color filtered scene on the optical axis for simulating night vision viewing conditions;

means for collimating the filtered light on the optical axis, after the assembly means;

at least one eyepiece for accepting the filtered collimated light, such that a simulation of a night vision enhanced scene is achieved during daylight operational conditions wherein the image intensifier device may be returned to its intended image intensifier function by replacing the fiber optic assembly and means for providing a color filtered scene within the device with an image intensifier tube.

3. A method of modifying a night vision image intensifier device for providing realistic simulation of night vision viewing conditions during daylight use, to include depth perception loss including the steps of:

providing an interchangeable fiber optic assembly and means for providing a color filtered scene in lieu of an image intensifier tube;

providing access to the body of the night vision image intensifier device;

removing the image intensifier tube from within the body of the night vision image intensifier device;

replacing each image intensifier tube with a fiber optic assembly that provides a transfer of focused incoming light and a means for providing a color filtered scene;

closing the access provided to the body of the night vision device, such that a simulation of a night vision enhanced scene is achieved during daylight operational conditions wherein the image intensifier device may be returned to its intended image intensifier function by replacing the fiber optic assembly within the device with an image intensifier tube.