The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1997
Terry Duane Morris, Buckeye, AZ (US);
Marcus Leslie Sutton, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Litton Systems, Inc., Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Abstract
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.