US 5,079,416 A · Compact see-through night vision goggles

Abstract

Compact night vision goggles apparatus (400, 500, 600) which provide the user with both a direct or unintensified image and an intensified image via first and second intersecting optical paths. The apparatus includes secondary image input means (490, 690) for incorporating symbology or other secondary images into the intensified optical path to be presented to the user along with the intensified and unintensified images. In addition, the apparatus includes peripheral imaging means (540) for providing the user with a large peripheral field of view notwithstanding obstructions on the apparatus which would normally interfere with the user's peripheral vision. The apparatus includes first and second goggle housings (422, 423, 522, 523, 622, 623) for the two eyes of the user, and, according to one embodiment, also includes optical means (497) in the bridge (424) of the goggles (400) for transmitting the intensified image from one housing (422) to the other (423) such that the intensified image from one image intensifying means (460) is presented to both eyes of the user.

Claims36

Dependent claims

Night vision goggles apparatus comprising light input means (430, 437, 530, 630, 637) for receiving incoming light from a viewed object and for directing the light along first and second intersecting optical paths to a user, said second optical path including a folded portion which is non-parallel to the first optical path, and image intensifying means (460,660) in the folded portion for converting the light therein to an intensified visible light;

and combining means (441,641) at the intersection of said first and second optical paths for combining the light in said first path with the intensified light in said second path and for directing the combined light to the user, characterized in that said second optical path includes optical components (491, 492, 691, 692) which are angularly offset at an acute angle so as to cause a rotation of said intensified light relative to said incoming light, and wherein said apparatus further includes light rotating means (666) in the second optical path for rotating the light in said second optical path by an amount necessary to compensate for the rotation of said intensified light caused by said angularly offset optical components (491, 492, 691, 692).

Night vision goggles apparatus comprising light input means (430, 437, 530, 630, 637) for receiving incoming light from a viewed object and for directing the light along first and second intersecting optical paths to a user, said second optical path including a folded portion which is non-parallel to the first optical path, and image intensifying means (460, 660) in the folded portion for converting the light therein to an intensified visible light;

and combining means (441, 661) at the intersection of said first and second optical paths for combining the light in said first path with the intensified light in said second path and for directing the combined light to the user, characterized in that said second optical path includes optical components (491, 492, 691, 692) which are angularly oriented so as to cause a rotation of said intensified light relative to said incoming light, and wherein said apparatus further includes a twisted fiber optic bundle (666) in said light intensifying means (460, 660) for rotating the light in said second optical path to correct for the rotation of said intensified light caused by said angularly oriented optical components (491, 492, 691, 692), said twisted fiber optic bundle (666) comprising a first, straight fiber optic bundle section (667) having a concave end surface (681) and a second, twisted fiber optic bundle section (668) having a convex end surface (682), said concave end surface (681) of said first, straight fiber optic bundle section (667) abutting said convex end surface (682) of said second twisted fiber optic bundle section (668) to define a curvilinear interface (669) therebetween for reducing image distortion normally caused by rotation of light by a twisted fiber optic bundle.

Night vision apparatus comprising light input means (430, 437, 530, 637) for receiving incoming light from a viewed object and for directing the light along first and second intersecting optical paths to a user, said first optical path comprising an unintensified light path and said second optical path comprising an intensified light path, said intensified light path including image intensifying means (460, 660) for converting the light therein to an intensified visible light;

and combining means (441, 641) at the intersection of said first and second optical paths for combining the unintensified light in said first path with the intensified light in said second path and for directing the combined light to the user, characterized in that said apparatus further includes a secondary image input means (490, 690) for receiving a secondary image and for injecting said secondary image into said intensified light path at a position between said image intensifying means (460, 660) and said combining means (441, 641).

Night vision goggles apparatus comprising first and second goggle housings (422, 423) for the first and second eyes, respectively, of a user, each of said housings (422, 423) including first light input means (430) for receiving light from a viewed object and for directing unintensified light along a first optical path to the user, characterized in that said first housing (422) further includes second light input means (437) for receiving light from a viewed object and for directing the light along a second optical path which intersects the first optical path in both said first and second housings (422, 423), said second optical path including image intensifying means (460) for converting the light therein to a visible intensified light;

means (491) in said first housing (422) for dividing said intensified light into first and second intensified light portions;
first combining means (441) in said first housing (422) for combining said first portion of the intensified light with the unintensified light in the first optical path in said first housing (422) and for directing the combined light to the first eye of the user;
and
second combining means (441) in said second housing (423) for combining the second portion of the intensified light with the unintensified light in the first optical path of the second housing (423) and for directing the combined light to the second eye of the user (495);
said dividing means (491) including means for directing said first portion of said intensified light to said first combining means (441) and the second portion of said intensified light to said second combining means (441).

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact see-through night vision goggles

Life of this patent

Compact see-through night vision goggles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36