Litton Systems, Inc.

Marcus L Sutton

Terry D Morris

Timothy R Beystrum

Charles F Walmsley

A system and method for generating signals representing infrared radiation include the capability to provide a reference scene and an actual scene to a plurality of infrared detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, the detector elements being biased so that they produce a signal even when no infrared radiation is impinging thereon. The system and method further include the capability to receive a first signal representing the reference scene from one of the detector elements, receive a second signal representing the actual scene from the detector element, and remove the bias signal from the second signal. The system and method also include the capability to attenuate the remaining second signal, integrate the attenuated signal, and sample the integrated signal.

System and method for generating signals representing infrared radiation

A night vision device (NVD) includes a control circuit having an acceleration-responsive switch. When the NVD is in a generally horizontal use position, the acceleration-responsive switch enables a circuit allowing voltage to be applied to an image intensifier tube of the night vision device, so that night vision is provided. On the other hand, when the device is flipped up to a stowed position allowing the user of the device unobstructed natural vision, the acceleration-responsive switch senses the changed orientation of the gravitational acceleration vector, and turns off the image intensifier tube as well as other light-emitting sources of the night vision device. The acceleration responsive switch controls operation of voltage step-up circuit, which allows the NVD to be operated with a single one and on-half volt battery cell, and which also insures when it is turned off that not only is the image intensifier tube turned off, but also that all other possible sources of light emissions from the NVD are turned off.

Night vision device and method

An infrared line-scanning imager includes a scanner having an optical system, infrared linear photoconductive detector providing an analog image signal, cooler, and conversion electronics for converting the image signal from the detector to digital electrical and digitally-encoded optical formats, all on a moving scanning platform of the scanner. The digitally-encoded optical format of the image signal takes the form of an encoded light beam which is beamed off of the moving scanning platform to a receiver on the stationary portion of the scanner. From the scanner, the image signal is transmitted in the optical format over a fiber optic cable to a reformatting, processing, analysis, and display portion of the imager. This latter portion of the imager allows the image signal to be converted once again to digital electronic format for processing, pattern recognition, image enhancement, storage, delayed display and comparison, and display in near-real time if desired.

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Marcus L Sutton