Monocular mounting for multi-channel panoramic night vision goggle having a hot shoe connector

• US 6,493,137 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications SPD Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Insight Technology Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Choinere, Michael J., Solinsky, Kenneth S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/784,311
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 359/350-361, 359/399-410, 359/808-819, 396/126, 2/6--0, 242/2-4-4
• US Class Current: 359/409
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/12 Adjusting pupillary distance of binocular pairs

Abstract

There is disclosed a multi-channel panoramic night vision goggle (PNVG) system having two monocular subassemblies, each having a first channel and a second channel, each channel having an optical axis. A mounting structure, having a right and a left side, and having two angled mounting shoes may be used to mount the monocular subassemblies. The angled mounting shoes permit a single monocular subassembly to be attached to either side of the mounting structure, yet permit an optical axis of one of the first or second channels to be substantially coaxial with a user'"'"'s optical axis and permits the other of the first and second channels to be at an angle not coaxial or parallel with the user'"'"'s optical axis. In addition a hot shoe connector enables selective and repeatable attachment of the monocular subassembly to the angled mounting shoe, without the use of solder to complete the electrical contact.

Claims

1. A multi-channel Panoramic Night Vision Goggle (PNVG) system comprising:

at least one monocular subassembly, the subassembly comprising an inner channel and an outer channel and a mounting portion with first electrical contact;

an angled mounting shoe attached to the PNVG system, the angled mounting shoe capable of mating with the mounting portion of the at least one monocular subassembly, the angled mounting shoe comprising a second electrical contact that is in electrical connection with the first electrical contact when the angled mounting shoe mates with the mounting portion, said angled mounting shoe enabling at least one monocular sub-assembly to be positioned to enable a panoramic field of view wherein an optical axis of the inner channel is substantially coaxial with a user'"'"'s optical axis and an optical axis of the outer channel is at an angle not coaxial or parallel with the user'"'"'s optical axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are operably connectable without solder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the monocular subassembly once it is mounted on the mount.