Indicating desiccant in night vision goggles
First Claim
1. A goggle system comprising:
- a housing including an image amplifier configured to amplify an image of an object of interest and circuitry configured to operate the image amplifier;
an eyepiece forming a back end of the housing for viewing the object of interest;
an eyecup forming a portion of the eyepiece at the back end of the housing, the eyecup for positioning an eye of a user for viewing the object of interest;
an optical field-of-view (FOV), formed through the eyepiece and the image amplifier, the FOV defined by a cone having an apex formed adjacent to the eyepiece and tapering outwardly toward the object of interest; and
a desiccant disposed within the housing, and located outside the FOV;
wherein the desiccant is visible through the eyepiece, and not visible through the FOV.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A night vision goggle system includes a housing, and an eyepiece forming a back end of the housing for viewing an object of interest. An optical field-of-view (FOV) is formed through the eyepiece, where the FOV is defined by a cone having an apex formed adjacent to an exit pupil at the eyepiece and tapering outwardly toward the object of interest. A desiccant is disposed within the housing, and located outside the FOV. The desiccant is visible through the eyepiece when viewed from outside the FOV. In addition, when the eye of a user is placed within the FOV, the desiccant is not visible through the eyepiece; and when the eye of the user is placed outside the FOV, the desiccant is visible through the eyepiece.
62 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A goggle system comprising:
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a housing including an image amplifier configured to amplify an image of an object of interest and circuitry configured to operate the image amplifier; an eyepiece forming a back end of the housing for viewing the object of interest; an eyecup forming a portion of the eyepiece at the back end of the housing, the eyecup for positioning an eye of a user for viewing the object of interest; an optical field-of-view (FOV), formed through the eyepiece and the image amplifier, the FOV defined by a cone having an apex formed adjacent to the eyepiece and tapering outwardly toward the object of interest; and a desiccant disposed within the housing, and located outside the FOV; wherein the desiccant is visible through the eyepiece, and not visible through the FOV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A night vision goggle system comprising:
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a housing including an optical field-of-view (FOV) for viewing an object through an eyepiece of the goggle system, the FOV defined by an outward taper from the eyepiece toward the object of interest, the FOV including a peripheral boundary; circuitry for operating the night vision goggle system disposed within the housing; a desiccant disposed within the housing and located outside the FOV; a humidity sensor disposed adjacent the circuitry of the night vision goggle system; an indicating light emitting diode (LED) visible through the eyepiece; and
the humidity sensor electrically coupled to the LED;wherein the LED is activated when the humidity sensor senses that the desiccant becomes saturated with moisture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical device for viewing a subject of interest comprising:
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a housing containing optics for viewing the subject of interest, an image amplifier and circuitry for operating the image amplifier, an eyepiece forming a back end of the optics, an optical field-of-view (FOV), extending from the eyepiece, the FOV defined by a cone having an apex formed adjacent to the eyepiece and tapering outwardly, an eyecup forming a portion of the eyepiece at the back end of the housing, the eyecup for positioning an eye of a user for viewing the subject of interest; a desiccant disposed within the housing, and located outside the FOV, wherein the desiccant is visible through the eyepiece, and not visible through the FOV, and when an eye of the user is placed within the FOV, the desiccant is not visible through the eyecup, and when the eye of the user is placed outside the FOV, the desiccant is visible through the eyecup. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification