Itt Corporation

Earle N Phillips

Richard E Forkey

Brian E Volk

Charles Naselli

Mark Alan Bryant

Roy H Holmes

Roger Douglas Whiddon

William H Jamison

Robert A Gallagher

Albert F Tien

A telescopic sight which can be used for either nighttime or daytime operation and is particularly adaptable for use on weapons ranging from rifles to anti-tank weapons. A first embodiment includes a single objective and two parallel light paths, one for day viewing and one for night viewing. The objective forms the beginning of the night path. Separating mirrors transmit light from the objective along the night path and reflects light from the objective to the day path. The night path includes an image intensifier assembly. A mirror at the end of the night path reflects the light from the image intensifier assembly to a beamsplitter/combiner on the day path. The beamsplitter/combiner transmits the light from the day path and reflects the light from the night path along the same path to an ocular assembly for viewing. A second embodiment of the telescopic sight is similar to the first embodiment but contains two objective lens assemblies for collecting light, one for the night path and one for the day path. Because the sight has two separate objective lens assemblies, separating mirrors are not included. A third embodiment includes a projected aiming reticle and a direct view capability for day viewing which replaces one of the objective lens assemblies. The direct view channel includes a beamsplitter/combiner.

Telescopic sight for day/night viewing

Reticle apparatus that is affixed to the output surface of an image intensifier tube fiber optic element in a night vision goggle system. One embodiment provides for an illuminated reticle pattern. The reticle pattern is etched into a glass substrate which is then filled by a light reflective material. At least one light emitting diode (LED) is positioned adjacent to the edge of the substrate. Light from the LED is then received by the edge of the substrate which then illuminates the reticle pattern. An alternate embodiment provides for a reticle pattern that is affixed to an output surface of a fiber optic element wherein the output surface is curved. The reticle pattern is formed on a clear, flexible substrate that is able to conform the curvature of the output surface. The substrate is affixed to curved output surface by an adhesive that is coated on the flexible substrate.

Reticle apparatus for night vision devices

The present invention is an image intensifier assembly that includes a Generation III image intensifier tube and an inverter lens arrangement, such that the present invention image intensifier assembly can be substituted for a Generation II image intensifier tube in a given application. The inverter lens arrangement is adjustably positionable relative to the Generation III image intensifier tube so the image relayed can be focused to optimize the resolution of the complete tube assembly.

Replacement assembly for an image intensifier tube

A night sight for a missile launcher has an objective lens with a field of view of at least 22 degrees. The output image of the objective lens is intensified by a variable gain light intensifier tube and the output of the intensifier is viewed through an eyepiece. A reticle pattern etched on a glass substrate and filled with titanium dioxide is illuminated by adjustable brightness LED's positioned at points on the periphery of the substrate. The reticle is disposed between the light intensifier and the eyepiece and substantially duplicates the function of reticles used in daysights.

Night sight for a missile launcher comprising an image intensifier tube,

An external compass module for use with a night vision device. The module includes an annular ring which is adapted to fit a portion of the night vision device which contains the objective lens. The module further includes an enclosure having an internal chamber. A compass sensor having an angular scale for indicating direction is positioned within the chamber. Optical elements are positioned adjacent to the scale which relay and collimate an image of the scale to a reflecting lens element. The reflecting lens element then reflects the scale image toward the objective lens which results in the superimposition of the scale image on a scene being viewed by the user.

External compass module for night vision devices

The present invention relates to an improved collimator assembly that includes two separate optical paths. Each optical path passes through a corrector lens arrangement substantially centered and aligned with one of two eyepiece lens assemblies. Each corrector lens arrangement is constructed so as to selectively refract light passing through it, in such a manner so as to counteract and reduce the axial chromatic aberrations that occur in the eyepiece lens assemblies.

Collimator for binocular viewing system

A fiber optic elment is used to correct or reverse a field curvature distortion in an optical system having two imaging elements. The fiber optic element has fibers arranged in parallel with their first ends along a curvature corresponding to the expected field curvature of the image from the first imaging element, and second ends along another curvature for producing a correct output image. In the two-element optical system, the fiber optic array has its second ends arranged to provide an input object to the second imaging element with a reversed field curvature such that a correct output image is obtained from the second imaging element.

Optical system using fiber optic element for field curvature reversal

A device for intensifying light images which includes an image intensifier tube assembly that is retrofittable to two different existing housings. There is a first electrical contact for electrically connecting to electrical supply contacts when positioned in the first different housing and a second electrical contact for electrically connecting to electrical supply contacts when positioned in the second different housing. The tube assembly has first spacer for effecting a predetermined spacing between the tube assembly and the first housing when positioned in the first housing, and a second spacer for effecting a predetermined spacing between the tube assembly and the second housing when positioned therein. The first spacer is inactive to control spacing when in the second housing and the second spacer is inactive for controlling spacing when in the first housing.

Universal image intensifier tube

An image intensifier tube having a photocathode, a microchannel plate and an anode. The anode includes a lens element with a phosphor screen deposited thereon as an output window. The lens element may take the form of either a plano-convex or plano-concave element and has either a spheric or aspheric curved surface. In a modified version a plano glass element is affixed to the plano surface of the lens element. Methods of forming the tube with the lens element are at the time the finished tube is assembled in the intensifier device or at the time the tube is constructed.

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Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Earle N Phillips