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:
Nov. 21, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1998
James H Bowen, Salem, VA (US);
Walter E Blouch, Roanoke, VA (US);
Mark A Bryant, Roanoke, VA (US);
Roger D Whiddon, Roanoke, VA (US);
Richard A Kominsky, Westfield, MA (US);
Ronald E Champagne, Blanford, MA (US);
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
K and M Electronics, Inc., West Springfield, MA (US);
Abstract
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.