Binocular night vision device and method of making and using the device

A binocular night vision device (BNVD) comprising:

• a pair of monocular night vision scopes each having a respective one of a pair of image intensifier tube modules, a central housing portion carrying said pair of night vision scopes, said central housing portion defining an outwardly-opening recess configured to receive a single battery providing the only source of power for said pair of image intensifier tube modules, a single voltage step-up circuit received in said central housing portion receiving power from said single battery at a first voltage and providing power to said pair of image intensifier tube modules at a second voltage higher than said first voltage;
• wherein each of said central housing portion and said pair of monocular night vision scopes defines cooperating structure for adjustably connecting pivotally one to the other;
• wherein cooperating structure for adjustably connecting said central housing portion and said pair of night vision scopes to one another includes said central housing portion defining a pair of outwardly protruding ears, each of said night vision scopes similarly defining a respective outwardly extending ear congruent with a respective one of said pair of ears of said central housing portion, and a pair of pivot shaft members each respectively received through a respective one of said pair of ears of said central housing portion and pivotally extending through the congruent ear of one of said pair of night vision scopes;
• further including a pair of sealing members each interposed between a respective one of said pair of ears of said central housing portion and the respective ear of a night vision scope, and said pair of pivot shaft members each including sealing means for pivotally and sealingly engaging said ear of the respective one of said pair of night vision scopes, whereby a substantially closed chamber of said central housing portion is communicated via said ears with a substantially closed chamber within each of said pair of night vision scopes.

A binocular night vision device (BNVD) comprising:

• a pair of monocular night vision scopes;
• each monocular night vision scope including one of a respective pair of monocular housing portions each having an objective lens and an eyepiece lens, each defining a substantially closed chamber therein, and each having an outwardly-protruding monocular housing ear defining a singular opening from said substantially closed chamber therein;
• a pair of image intensifier tube modules received respectively one in each substantially closed chamber of said pair of monocular housing portions:
• a central housing portion defining an outwardly-opening recess and a substantially closed cavity, said central housing portion further defining a pair of opposite outwardly-extending central housing portion ears, each one of said pair of central housing portion ears defining a respective opening from said cavity and including means for pivotally coupling sealingly with a respective one of said pair of monocular housing portions at said monocular housing portion ear thereof to communicate said cavity of said central housing portion with each substantially closed chamber of said pair of monocular housing portions;
• a voltage step-up circuit received in said central housing portion cavity for providing power to said pair of image intensifier tube modules, said recess being configured to accept a single battery powering said voltage step-up circuit, and means for electrically connecting power from said battery to each of said pair of image intensifier tube modules via said voltage step-up circuit;
• whereby said central housing portion both pivotally carries and electrically powers said pair of monocular night vision scopes with pivotal movement of the monocular night vision scopes providing for interpupillary distance adjustment.

A method of making a binocular night vision device (BNVD), said method comprising steps of:

• providing a pair of monocular night vision scopes each having an image intensifier tube module;
• providing a central housing portion, and using said central housing portion to carry said pair of night vision scopes;
• providing an outwardly opening battery recess on said central housing portion, which battery recess is configured to receive a single battery providing the only source of power for said pair of image intensifier tube modules;
• configuring said central housing portion and said pair of monocular night vision scopes to cooperatively defining a closed chamber communicating within said central housing portion and said pair of night vision scopes and separate from ambient and also sealingly separated from said outwardly-opening battery recess of said central housing portion;
• providing a single voltage step-up circuit received in said central housing portion and within said chamber and receiving power from said single battery at a first voltage and providing power to said pair of image intensifier tube modules at a second voltage higher than said first voltage.

A method of making a binocular night vision device (BNVD), said method comprising steps of:

• providing a pair of monocular night vision scopes each having a substantially closed chamber;
• providing a pair of image intensifier tube modules each received into one of said chambers of said monocular night vision scopes;
• providing a central housing portion carrying said pair of night vision scopes and defining a substantially closed cavity, defining an outwardly-opening recess on said central housing portion which recess is configured to receive a battery providing power for said image intensifier tube modules;
• providing each of said central housing portion and said pair of monocular night vision scopes with cooperating means for adjustably connecting one to the other;
• and
• providing each of said central housing portion and said pair of monocular night vision scopes with means for communicating said substantially closed cavity with each of said substantially closed chambers of said of said pair of monocular night vision scopes.