Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Itt Corporation

K and M Electronics, Inc.

Roger Douglas Whiddon

Mark Alan Bryant

John Carl Nelson

Harrison Lewis Buchanan, Jr

Lapthe Chau Flora

James Hoge Bowen

Bradley Todd Philippi

Earle N Phillips

Roy H Holmes

Richard Allen Kominsky

William H Jamison

Paul Thomas Schweitzer

Walter E Blouch

Ronald E Champagne

A method for providing user adjustable variable gain for a night vision device which utilizes an image intensifier tube, wherein the image intensifier tube has a given life expectancy, the image intensifier tube is subjected to factory calibration for providing an optimum output during operation, wherein the calibration undesirably differs from tube to tube and is adjustable by variable control means coupled to the tube, whereby when one tube is substituted for another the difference in calibration causes non-optimum performance, the method including the steps of: determining minimum and maximum gain limits associated with the optimum output of the night vision device; factory calibrating gain limiting means according to the determined minimum and maximum gain limits, wherein the gain limiting means are associated with the image intensifier tube and for limiting the variable control means; and, tethering the gain limiting means to the image intensifier tube.

Variable gain image intensifier

A light transmitting device for use in a viewing apparatus or optical device, particularly a night vision device. The device is composed of a material which is capable of transmitting light from a remote source. Light from a visible indicator such as an LED is transferred through at least one outer flat to an inner flat of the device. The inner flat provides a signal to the user that the power supply is low. An additional outer flat and inner flat provides a signal to the user that the infrared illuminator is in operation. A projection formed along the outer periphery of the device prevents rotation and aids in assembling the device in a viewing apparatus. With the light transmitting device, there is no need for a separate device attached to the housing of an optical device for indicating power supply. The device also avoids the presence of overlapping light signals in the user's eyes, by transferring separate channels of light from locations outside the field-of-view to specific locations inside the field-of-view of an optical device.

Light transmitting device

A battery cartridge holding a plurality of batteries for insertion into a battery cavity comprising a housing including first and second flexible holding members oppositely disposed with respect to one another on a first outer surface, the first and second holding members defining a cavity contoured to the shape of the batteries for receiving the batteries and securing thereto, a second inner surface having a recess formed therein, and a latching means coupled between the inner surface of the housing and a front cover portion and retractably extendable for engaging/disengaging slots positioned on a peripheral lip portion of the battery cavity for permitting insertion/ejection of the battery cartridge into/from the battery cavity.

Battery cartridge

Combined night vision monocular with head or helmet and small arms

A monocular night vision device comprising an objective lens assembly for receiving low intensity light; an image intensifier assembly comprising a variable gain image intensifier tube having an adjustable potentiometer mounted external to the tube for converting the low intensity light into a visible output image; a single eyepiece lens assembly for viewing the output image from the image intensifier assembly; and a non-metallic housing for receiving the objective lens assembly, image intensifier assembly, and eyepiece lens assembly, wherein the housing aligns the objective lens assembly with the image intensifier assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly along an optical axis.

Night vision monocular device

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

Growing community of inventors

Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Roger Douglas Whiddon