Modular panoramic night vision goggles

A modular panoramic vision assembly for enabling an observer to view an object under low light conditions, said assembly comprising:

• a first inner optical module comprising a first input end that receives light from said object and a first output end that receives light from said first input end, wherein said first output end defines a first optical axis along which light received from said first input end is transmitted;
• a second inner optical module comprising a second input end that receives light from said object and a second output end that receives light from said second input end, wherein said second output end defines a second optical axis along which light received from said second input end is transmitted;
• a third outer optical module comprising a third input end that receives light from said object and a third output end that receives light from said third input end, wherein said third output end defines a third optical axis along which light received from said third input end is transmitted,
• a fourth outer optical module comprising a fourth input end that receives light from said object and a fourth output end that receives light from said fourth input end, wherein said fourth output end defines a fourth optical axis along which light received from said fourth input end is transmitted, wherein light transmitted along said first, second, third and fourth optical axes is simultaneously transmitted from said modular panoramic vision assembly to said observer and forms a field of view comprising a vertical field of view of at least 35 degrees, each said optical module being removably separable from one another and from the assembly such that the removal of any one of said optical modules does not affect the optical performance of any remaining optical module;
• image intensifier means operably positioned in said optical modules for converting incoming infrared and/or visible light to an intensified visible image for presentation to the eyes of the observer;
• a bridge;
• first attachment means for enabling the removable attachment and detachment of said first and second inner optical modules to said bridge in spaced-apart parallel fashion;
• and
• second attachment means for enabling the removable attachment and detachment of said third and fourth outer optical modules, respectively, to said adjacently mating first and second inner optical modules,
• wherein said second attachment means includes electrical connector means provided between said optical modules for permitting free flow of electrical power and information between said optical modules with the mechanical attachment of said modules;
• wherein operational connection of only said first and second optical modules together yields a binocular vision assembly;
• wherein operational connection of said first, second, and third optical modules together yields a semi-panoramic vision assembly;
• and
• wherein operational connection of said first, second, third, and fourth optical modules together yields a panoramic vision assembly having a horizontal field of view of at least 80 degrees.

A modular panoramic vision assembly for enabling an observer to view an object under low light conditions, said assembly comprising:

• a first inner optical module comprising a first input end that receives light from said object and a first output end that receives light from said first input end, wherein said first output end defines a first optical axis along which light received from said first input end is transmitted;
• a second inner optical module comprising a second input end that receives light from said object and a second output end that receives light from said second input end, wherein said second output end defines a second optical axis along which light received from said second input end is transmitted;
• a third outer optical module comprising a third input end that receives light from said object and a third output end that receives light from said third input end, wherein said third output end defines a third optical axis along which light received from said third input end is transmitted,
• a fourth outer optical module comprising a fourth input end that receives light from said object and a fourth output end that receives light from said fourth input end, wherein said fourth output end defines a fourth optical axis along which light received from said fourth input end is transmitted, wherein light transmitted along said first, second, third and fourth optical axes is simultaneously transmitted from said modular panoramic vision assembly to said observer and forms a field of view comprising a vertical field of view of at least 35 degrees and a horizontal field of view of at least 80 degrees, each said optical module being removably separable from one another and from the assembly such that the removal of any one of said optical modules does not affect the optical performance of any remaining optical module;
• a bridge;
• image intensifier means operably positioned in said modules for converting incoming infrared and/or visible light to an intensified visible image for presentation to the eyes of the observer;
• attachment means operably positioned in said optical modules for interchangeably connecting each respective outer module to an inner module in an aligned and spaced-apart fashion;
• wherein said attachment means includes electrical connector means provided between said optical modules for electric communication therebetween when said connector means is actuated;
• wherein the third outer module is operationally connectable to either said inner optical module;
• wherein the fourth outer module is operationally connectable to either said inner optical module;
• wherein operational connection of only said first and second inner optical modules together yields a binocular vision assembly;
• and
• wherein operational connection of respective said outer optical modules to respective said inner optical modules yields a panoramic vision assembly having a horizontal field of view of at least 80 degrees.

A modular vision assembly for presenting a user with a panoramic view of low-lit objects, comprising in combination:

• a pair of parallel inner optical modules, each inner optical module having a respective first input end for receiving light from an object, a respective inner module output end for receiving light from the respective first input end, a respective first inner module mechanical connection port, a respective first inner module electrical connection port, a respective first outer module mechanical connection port, and a respective first outer module electrical connection port, wherein each respective first output end defines a respective inner optical axis along which light received from the respective first input end is transmitted, and wherein the respective inner optical axes are substantially parallel;
• a pair of outer optical modules, each respective outer module comprising a respective outer input end for receiving light from the object and a respective outer output end for receiving light from the respective outer input end, wherein each respective outer output end defines an outer optical axis along which light received from the respective outer input end is transmitted and wherein when connected to an inner optical module the respective outer optical axis is non-parallel with the inner optical axes;
• a bridge extending between each respective inner optical module;
• and
• an image intensifier operationally connected to at least one of the optical modules for converting incoming infrared and/or visible light to an intensified visible image for presentation to the eyes of the user,
• wherein each outer optical module is removably separable from the modular vision assembly and removably attachable to one of said pair of inner modules in an automatically aligned and spaced-apart fashion.