Adaptor for night vision goggles

• US 5,760,953 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Air Force
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Task, Harry L., Marasco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US08/667,185
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 359/353, 359/400, 359/408, 359/409, 359/410, 359/421, 359/827, 2/10, 2/209.13
• US Class Current: 359/409
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted

Abstract

An adaptor detachably mounted on an ocular of night vision goggles for quly adjusting the objective lens focus to clearly view far and near objects. The adaptor includes a positive optical power or close-up lens mounted in a holder pivotally mounted between a stowed, inoperative position and an operative position locating the close-up lens in axial alignment with the objective lens of the ocular. The close-up lens has an effective diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the objective lens to raise the F/number of the objective lens/close-up lens combination for increasing the depth of focus for enhanced near viewing. Auxiliary illumination is provided by a battery powered infra-red Light Emitting Diode (LED) mounted in the adaptor and energized by a switch as the lens holder moves toward its operative position.

Claims

1. An adaptor for use with a night vision goggle assembly including at least one ocular having a distal end and an objective lens mounted in said ocular adjacent the distal end thereof comprising:

a housing detachably mounted on said distal end of said ocular, a pivotal member mounted on said housing for movement between a stowed position and an operative position, a positive lens mounted in said pivotal member, said positive lens having an effective viewing diameter substantially smaller than the viewing diameter of said objective lens, said positive lens in axial alignment with said objective lens upon disposition of said pivotal member in said operative position to significantly increase the focal depth of viewing.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1 including a shroud in said pivotal member forward of said positive lens and formed with a small aperture to define said effective viewing diameter of said positive lens.

3. An adaptor according to claim 1 including a lens holder detachably secured to said pivotal member, a collar mounted in said lens holder, said positive lens secured to said collar, a shroud mounted in said collar forward of said positive lens and having a small aperture therein in axial alignment with said positive lens.

4. An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein said positive lens has a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of said objective lens.

5. An adaptor according to claim 1 including a lens holder detachably secured to said pivotal member and adapted to partially shroud said objective lens in the operative position of said pivotal member, said positive lens rigidly secured in said holder and having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of said objective lens.

6. An adaptor according to claim 1, including a leg member depending from said housing and having an opening therein conforming to the periphery of said ocular for attachment thereabout with a friction fit.

7. An adaptor for use with a night vision goggle assembly including at least one ocular having a distal end and an objective lens mounted in said ocular adjacent the distal end thereof comprising:

a housing detachably mounted on said distal end of said ocular, a pivotal member mounted on said housing for movement between a stowed position and an operative position, a positive lens mounted in said pivotal member, said positive lens having an effective viewing diameter substantially smaller than the viewing diameter of said objective lens, said positive lens in axial alignment with said objective lens upon disposition of said pivotal member in said operative position to significantly increase the focal depth of viewing, an auxiliary illumination means located in said housing for increasing the forward light intensity upon movement of said pivotal member toward said operative position, said illumination means incorporated in an electric circuit mounted in said housing and including a battery and a switch having a spring biased plunger disengagable from said pivotal member upon movement toward said operative position to close said switch for energizing said illumination means.

8. An adaptor for use with a night vision goggle assembly including at least one ocular having a distal end and an objective lens mounted in said ocular adjacent the distal end thereof comprising:

a housing detachably mounted on said distal end of said ocular, a pivotal member mounted on said housing for movement between a stowed position and an operative position, a positive lens mounted in said pivotal member, said positive lens having an effective viewing diameter substantially smaller than the viewing diameter of said objective lens, said positive lens in axial alignment with said objective lens upon disposition of said pivotal member in said operative position to significantly increase the focal depth of viewing, a shaft extending transversely through said housing and having adjacent flat portions, said pivotal member having laterally spaced arms secured to the opposite ends of said shaft, a spring loaded plunger mounted in said housing and biased against said shaft to engage said flat portions in said operative and stowed positions, respectively.

9. An adaptor for use with a night vision goggle assembly including at least one ocular having a distal end and an objective lens mounted in said ocular adjacent the distal end thereof comprising:

a housing detachably mounted on said distal end of said ocular, a pivotal member mounted on said housing for movement between a stowed position and an operative position, appositive lens mounted in said pivotal member, said positive lens having an effective viewing diameter substantially smaller than the viewing diameter of said objective lens, said positive lens in axial alignment with said objective lens upon disposition of said pivotal member in said operative position to significantly increase the focal depth of viewing, an auxiliary illumination means located in said housing for increasing the forward light intensity upon movement of said pivotal member toward said operative position.

10. An adaptor for use with a night vision goggle assembly including at least one ocular having a distal end and an objective lens mounted in said ocular adjacent the distal end thereof comprising:

a housing detachably mounted on said distal end of said ocular, a pivotal member mounted on said housing for movement between a stowed position and an operative position, a positive lens mounted in said pivotal member, said positive lens having an effective viewing diameter substantially smaller than the viewing diameter of said objective lens, said positive lens in axial alignment with said objective lens upon disposition of said pivotal member in said operative position to significantly increase the focal depth of viewing, an auxiliary illumination means located in said housing for increasing the forward light intensity upon movement of said pivotal member toward said operative position, said auxiliary illumination means comprising an infra-red light emitting diode.