Image amplifying tube system for day and night combined use in observation equipment

• US 5,880,878 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Soo-Bong
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US08/777,140
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 359/353, 359/350, 359/402, 359/400, 359/405, 359/821, 359/399
• US Class Current: 359/353
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

An image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use in an observation equipment includes an image amplifying tube assembly mounted on the daytime periscope of the naked-eye sighting device, in which the image amplifying tube assembly swerves from the optical path during the daytime sighting and moves into the optical path during the nighttime sighting. Consecutively, the image amplifying tube is positioned at a specific focusing distance on the optical path by a vertical and horizontal moving mechanism. In this way, it may be possible to use the periscope both in the daytime and in the nighttime.

Claims

1. An image amplifying tube system, comprising:

an image amplifying tube assembly with an image amplifying tube for using a periscope of a naked-eye sighting device both during daytime and during nighttime, said image amplifying tube assembly being mounted on a frame of said periscope;

a first driving motor mounted on said frame, said first driving motor being engaged with a first driving gear of said image amplifying tube assembly accommodating movement of the image amplifying tube assembly approximately perpendicularly with respect to an optical path;

a second driving motor with a shaft bearing a first spur gear and a first bevel gear;

a first lead screw with a first lead screw gear engaged with said first spur gear;

a shaft gear with an end engaged with said first bevel gear;

a second bevel gear engaged with another end of said shaft gear;

a second spur gear mounted on a shaft of said second bevel gear, so as to allow said second spur gear to be engaged with a second lead screw gear of a second lead screw; and

said image amplifying tube being mounted on said first and second lead screws to reciprocate in a direction approximately parallel to said optical path.

2. The image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use according to claim 1, said image amplifying tube assembly further comprising:

a limit switch for controlling movement perpendicular to said optical path by applying and cutting-off a power; and

a stopper for stopping movement parallel to said optical path of said image amplifying tube at a predetermined position.

3. The image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet and a hook mounted on said frame for fixing the image amplifying tube assembly.

4. The image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use according to claim 1, wherein said first bevel gear and said first spur gear constitutes a double combination gear.

5. The image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use according to claim 1, wherein said first and second bevel gears rotate in a same direction with a forward or reverse rotation of said second driving motor;

and the gears of the lead screws engaged with the respective spur gears also rotate in a same direction, so as to allow said image amplifying tube to be movable in a direction parallel to said optical path.

6. The image amplifying tube system for a day and night combined use according to claim 1, wherein said second bevel gear and said second spur gear constitutes a double combination gear.

7. An image amplifying tube system, comprising:

an image amplifying tube;

a frame of a periscope;

a first driving motor mounted on said frame, said first driving motor being engaged with a first driving gear of said image amplifying tube assembly accommodating movement of the image amplifying tube assembly to move perpendicularly with respect to an optical path; and

a second driving motor with a shaft for moving said image amplifying tube assembly in a direction parallel to said optical path.

8. The image amplifying tube system of claim 7, said second driving motor further comprising a first spur gear and a first bevel gear mounted to said shaft of said second driving motor.

9. The image amplifying tube system of claim 8, said second driving motor further comprising a first lead screw with a first lead screw gear engaged with said first spur gear.

10. The image amplifying tube system of claim 9, said second driving motor further comprising a shaft gear with an end engaged with said first bevel gear.

11. The image amplifying tube system of claim 10, said second driving motor further comprising a second bevel gear engaged with another end of said shaft gear.

12. The image amplifying tube system of claim 11, said second driving motor further comprising a second spur gear mounted on a shaft of said second bevel gear, accommodating movement of said second spur gear to be engaged with a second lead screw gear of a second lead screw.

13. The image amplifying tube system of claim 12, said second driving motor further comprising said image amplifying tube mounted on said first and second lead screws so as to be movable in a direction parallel to said optical path.

14. The image amplifying tube system of claim 7, further comprising:

a ball bearing; and

a ball bearing shaft for said ball bearing, said ball bearing centers on said ball bearing shaft as said amplifier tube moves across said optical path.

15. The image amplifying tube system of claim 14, the movement perpendicular to said optical path of said image amplifying tube is stopped by a limit switch.

16. The image amplifying tube system of claim 13, the movement of said image amplifying tube in a direction parallel to said optical path is controlled and limited by a stopper mounted on the image amplifying tube assembly, and accommodates movement of the image amplifying tube to accurately be inserted into the optical path.

17. An image amplifying tube system, comprising:

a frame for a periscope;

an image amplifying tube mounted on said frame; and

a first driving motor and a second driving motor accommodating movement of said image amplifying tube in a direction perpendicular to an optical path and in a direction parallel to said optical path respectively, wherein said optical path passes through said image amplifying tube when said image amplifying tube system is used during conditions of low ambient light and in a substantially dark environment, and said optical path does not pass through said image amplifying tube when said image amplifying tube system is used in daylight.

18. The image amplifying tube system of claim 17, wherein said first driving motor accommodates the movement of said image amplifying tube causing said optical path to either pass through said image amplifying tube or not pass through said image amplifying tube.

19. The image amplifying tube system of claim 18, wherein said second driving motor accommodates the movement of said image amplifying tube causing said image amplifying tube to achieve optimum focus.