Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Itt Corporation

Maranon, Inc.

Other

Exelis Inc.

Nils Ian Thomas

Warren David Vrescak

Rudolph G Benz

Thomas M Meisel

James G Kane

Arlynn Walter Smith

David Anthony Richards

William Eric Garris

Todd Michael Neff

Robert J Field, Jr

Donald John Janeczko

Thomas Theodore Mabry

Robert A Gallagher

Albert F Tien

Benjamin Ryan Brown

James K Thomas

Peter L Toch

Kevin Patrick Hines

Kevin Schlirf

Thomas N Peck

Daniel M Thorsen

Larry Dee Kiser

Rawlin Heath Brown

George A Hambro

Walter E Blouch

Daniel Brown Vest

Kenneth A Brown

Thomas E Sisneros

Nelson C Devoe

Joseph P Estrera

Stanley J Clower

Mark L Oyler

James W Harris

Kevin P Hines

The present invention is a lightweight lens cell assembly forming a nightvision eyepiece. The lens cell has an integral focusing mechanism and at least one lens element manufactured from a polymer. Because the lens cell is manufactured from a material thermally matched to the polymer and the lens element is integrally connected to the lens cell or connected to the lens cell by an interference fit, the assembly provides significant benefits to both weight and error reduction.

Night vision eyepiece

The present invention is a lightweight night vision device (NVD) sealed from environmental conditions, shielded from electromagnetic interference (EMI), and having mechanisms for easy adjustment and fixation of collimation and interpupillary distance. The NVD monocular housing is integrated with the eyepiece, image intensifier tube module, and objective, allowing collimation to be fixed via an optical alignment of the monocular housing to its eyepiece, tube module, and objective. Certain components from existing NVDs may be reused in assembling the present invention to provide cost savings.

Systems and method for improved night vision

An optical assembly allows video imagery to be imported into a night vision device and exported therefrom. The assembly can be an insert that is installed between the image tube and eyepiece of an existing night vision device to retrofit the device for superimposing images. Images imported&#x2014;e.g., images captured by thermal detectors, maps, compass information, training video, etc.&#x2014;are received wirelessly and injected into the optical train of the night vision device such that both the night vision scene from the goggle and the injected imagery can be simultaneously observed at the eyepiece. Combined images can be transmitted to external systems for observation purposes such as real-time active mission feedback. The insert provides sensor fusion and interconnection to the digital battlefield for presently-fielded night vision goggles. It receives power and optical information from the existing goggle. Goggles using this device can have full functionality and performance.

Optical assembly for superimposing images from two or more sources

A target engagement system includes a night vision goggle system operating within a predetermined wavelength band, and a laser module projecting light onto a target, where the light operates at a wavelength that is outside of the predetermined wavelength band. Also included is a receive system for receiving the light reflected from the target and converting the light into a wavelength within the predetermined wavelength band. In this manner, the receive system provides the converted light to the night vision goggle system, and the night vision goggle system amplifies the converted light for viewing by a user. The receive system includes a clip-on device for removably attaching the receive system between the target and the night vision goggle system. The receive system includes an up-converting phosphor layer for up-converting the received light into a wavelength detectable by the night vision goggle system.

Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles

An optical system includes an optical assembly frame having an input portion, an output portion, and an objective lens assembly disposed at the input portion of the optical assembly frame. The objective lens assembly has an objective lens central optical axis. An eyepiece lens assembly is disposed at the output portion of the frame. The eyepiece lens assembly has an eyepiece lens central optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and offset from the objective lens central optical axis by a distance. An inverting image intensifier is disposed between the objective lens assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly. The image intensifier has an image intensifier optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and parallel to the eyepiece lens central optical axis. The image intensifier optical axis is offset from both the objective lens central optical axis and the eyepiece lens central optical axis by about half the distance.

Collimated intensified vision system and method of collimating

A sealing structure for an optical device, such as an image intensifier device, is provided. The optical device includes an evacuated housing and an anode positioned within the evacuated housing. An interior sealing member extends from the anode. An exterior sealing member extends from a component of the image intensifier device, wherein the exterior sealing member is positioned to extend adjacent to and substantially parallel with the interior sealing member such that a gap is defined between the sealing members. A seal cup is positioned for sealing engagement with both the interior sealing member and the exterior sealing member to substantially maintain a vacuum condition within the housing.

Apparatus and method for sealing an image intensifier device

An image intensifier tube is provided. The image intensifier tube has a microchannel plate (MCP), a photocathode and phosphor screen deposited on a fiber optic substrate. A first spacer is positioned between the microchannel plate and the fiber optic substrate. A second spacer is positioned between the fiber optic substrate and the photocathode. The first and second spacers cooperate to provide a spatial relationship among the MCP, phosphor screen and photocathode for effective operation of the image intensifier tube.

Low cost planar image intensifier tube structure

An electron sensing device for receiving electrons from an output surface of an electron gain device includes a silicon die having an active surface area for positioning below the output surface of the electron gain device. An array of first bond pads is disposed on a periphery of the active surface area of the silicon die. A ceramic carrier is positioned below the silicon die, including a second array of bond pads disposed on the ceramic carrier and arranged in a substantially vertical alignment to the first array of bond pads. A plurality of conductive via holes is disposed in the ceramic carrier for electrically connecting the first array of bond pads to the second array of bond pads. When the imager is positioned below the electron gain device, a tight vertical clearance is formed between the output surface of the electron gain device and the active surface area of the electron sensing device.

Low profile wire bond for an electron sensing device in an image intensifier tube

An electron sensing device for receiving electrons from an output surface of an electron gain device has a silicon die including an active surface area for positioning below the output surface of an electron gain device. The silicon die also includes a silicon step formed below and surrounding the active surface area, and a first array of bond pads formed on the silicon step for providing output signals from the silicon die. When the electron sensing device is positioned below the electron gain device, a tight vertical clearance is formed between the output surface of the electron gain device and the active surface area of the electron sensing device.

An intensified solid-state imaging sensor includes a photo cathode for converting light from an image into electrons, an electron multiplying device for receiving electrons from the photo cathode, and a solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels for receiving the electrons from the electron multiplying device through a plurality of channels of the electron multiplying device. The solid-state image sensor generates an intensified image signal from the electrons received from the electron multiplying device. The plurality of channels are arranged in a plurality of channel patterns, and the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of pixel patterns. Each of the plurality of channel patterns is mapped to a respective one of the plurality of pixel patterns such that electron signals from each of the plurality of channel patterns is substantially received by the single respective one of the plurality of pixel patterns.

Intensified hybrid solid-state sensor

A fiber optic faceplate for protecting photosensitive material from high light levels which comprises an optical structure which optically acts like a solid window at low light levels, but which at least one of attenuates or diffuses light incident on the photocathode as a function of light amplitude. A method of operation and of manufacturing the faceplate, and devices incorporating the faceplate are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for laser protection of photosensitive material

An image intensifier tube which obviates problems with stray reflections caused by bright lights utilizes an antireflection coating in the form of an interference filter on the cathode window. An image intensifier&mdash;which is protected against laser damage utilizes a laser reflecting coating on the cathode window. The image intensifier is disposed between an optical input element and an optical utilization element. The cathode window is a glass plate having a photocathode on the side away from the optical input element and an antireflection or laser reflecting coating on the side which faces the optical input element.

Night vision device with antireflection coating on cathode window

A firearm including a barrel having a combustion chamber for receiving propellant and at least one projectile, includes an electrically switched propellant igniting element disposed within the chamber for igniting propellant dispensed into the combustion chamber. A trigger switching assembly, electrically coupled to the igniting element, applies an electrical current pulse to the igniting element when the trigger assembly is operated in a firing mode, the pulse having a duration which causes the igniting element to ignite propellant dispensed into the combustion chamber.

Firearm having an electrically switched ignition system

An improved image intensifier tube has electrically operative components that include a photocathode having a photoemissive layer, a microchannel plate (MCP) having a conductive input surface and a conductive output surface, and a vacuum housing for retaining the photocathode, microchannel plate and a fiber optic inverter and screen within an evacuated environment. The fiber optic inverter has a circumferentially extending flange portion extending toward the housing to accommodate a sealing material which sealingly engages an inner surface of an output flange with the inverter flange portion to form an air impervious vacuum seal and where the output flange is supported by the fiber optic inverter flange portion. The improved intensifier includes a photocathode having a flat faceplate conductively engaging the photocathode along the entire surface of the faceplate. The photocathode is operable so as to directly engage a conductive support ring for providing electrical contact to the photocathode external to the vacuum housing. The improved intensifier further includes a support assembly disposed in the housing for supporting the microchannel plate. The assembly includes a ceramic ring having a first metalized surface in conductive contact with the microchannel plate and a second metalized surface operable to provide an electrical contact external to the housing, and where the ceramic ring is soldered to the plate at a position on the first metalized surface to conductively join and retain the plate within the housing. A non-evaporable getter is disposed in the housing between the metalized ceramic ring and a getter tab to absorb gas generated during operation of the image intensifier tube.

Growing community of inventors

Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Nils Ian Thomas