Night vision device localized irradiance attenuation

The method for enhancing low radiance object reproduction in the presence of a concurrent high radiance signal within the input image field of an automatic gain control-inclusive night vision device, said method comprising the steps of:

• examining an optical representation of said input image field for presence of optical signal portions exceeding a selected radiance level;
• optically attenuating from said input image field physical portions thereof corresponding to said high radiance level signal;
• generating a night vision device sensitivity-determining automatic gain control signal from lower radiance object portions of said input image field remaining after said optically attenuating step;
• transducing said lower radiance object portions of said input image field remaining after said optically attenuating step to electrical charge video signals;
• reproducing said remaining lower radiance object portions of said input image in an output image generator portion of said night vision device from amplified of said electrical charge video signals;
• and
• controlling an electrical charge video signal communicating portion of said night vision device and thereby a communicating of said electrical charge video signals relevant to said reproducing step with said sensitivity-determining automatic gain control signal.

Bright object repressed night vision apparatus comprising the combination of:

• a night vision device having a viewed-scene collecting optical input port, an electron signal generating retina member in optical communication with said viewed-scene collecting optical input port, an amplified electron signal transducing output image generator and an optical output port in communication with said amplified electron signal transducing output image generator;
• a liquid crystal matrix optical attenuation member having electrical density signal-controllable selectable pattern optical transparency and optical attenuation transmission characteristics;
• said liquid crystal matrix optical attenuation member being disposed intermediate said viewed-scene collecting optical input port and said electron signal generating retina member in an optical input portion of said night vision device;
• and
• an electrical density controlling signal generating electrical circuit responsive to a bright object portion of said viewed-scene and having an output signal connected in selectable pattern determining relationship with said liquid crystal matrix optical attenuation member.