KR960002316B1 - Night vision goggle - Google Patents

Abstract

No content.

Description

Night vision

1 is a condensation diagram of a mounting apparatus of a night vision head gear showing the separation detecting means.

2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fluoroscopic stud and receptacle, showing the relative position of the proximity sensing means.

3 is an electrical schematic of a battery control circuit switchably connected for normal use.

4 is an electrical schematic of the battery control circuit of FIG. 3 after the viewing glasses are separated from the head gear.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of the battery control circuit of FIG. 3 showing the cycling of the on-off switch for reconnecting the battery to the amplifier tube.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: night vision 12: head gear

18: manual switch 20: battery

22: infrared lamp 26: sight frame

34: magnet 40: video amplifier

42: diode 52: latching relay coil

74: diode

The present invention relates to night vision, and more particularly to a battery control circuit associated therewith.

Although night vision can also be used for commercial purposes, the primary use of the sight is military. The use of night vision allows people to see objects in the dark that are not visible to the naked eye. The principle that night vision is operated is generally because there is an external light source that can illuminate an object, such as a star or moon. Since such illumination reflected from an object cannot be detected by the naked eye, the reflection needs to be amplified in order to be visible to the observer's eye.

Therefore, the principle that makes night vision visible in the dark is to electro-amplify the reflected light. The image of the object is displayed on a fluorescent screen in night vision. Battery Power Source A photomultiplier or image amplifier has conventionally been used to electro-amplify an optical signal for display on a green phosphor coated screen. The image is monochromatic with the intensity of the phosphor indicating the amount of light reflected from the object.

The night vision is usually equipped with an on-off switch to remove the battery power from the photomultiplier in order to supply the cell power to the photomultiplier during use and to conserve battery power during non-use. Since the night vision goggles can be worn for an elapsed time, a headgear is provided in which the night vision goggles can be detachably mounted, allowing the wearer to use both hands freely. Night vision is usually detachably mounted on the headgear and can be quickly removed if an emergency occurs.

Although the device is quite readily used by soldiers at night, there are several disadvantages. For example, if the battery is not interrupted even after the night vision is removed from the head gear, the battery life is actually shortened. More importantly, if the night vision go off the headgear, the green fluorescent light emitted from the exposure backside of the goggle is quickly and easily detected by others wearing the night vision goggles, putting the wearer at risk.

It can be seen from the above that there is a need for a mechanism that automatically removes battery power from the night vision circuit when peeled from the head gear. Since this automatic power removal mechanism itself uses battery power, the important thing is that the power consumption is extremely low. It is also important to note that subsequent reattachment of the sight and headgear does not automatically re-power the sight without intentional operation to provide this power. This is suitable for field use that can cause unnecessary power consumption by supplying power to the sight glasses when the sight glasses are recombined to the head gear for storage purposes.

According to the present invention, the night vision electric circuit substantially reduces or eliminates the drawbacks of conventional night vision. According to the present invention, the battery control circuit responds to the departure of the night vision from the head gear to separate the battery. The battery control circuit responds to a manual switch that will reconnect the battery to the appropriate circuit. In order to detect the deviation of the night vision glasses, the magnet is fixed to the head gear, and the magnetic reed switch is attached to the night vision glasses. The magnet and the magnetic reed switch are magnetically coupled when the night vision lens is attached to the head gear.

A battery on-off switch is provided on night vision, manually activated to control the use of battery power for the photomultiplier. A bistable magnet latching relay is connected between the battery and the on-off switch to disconnect the battery from the tube by switching to the open state at the same time as the night vision go off. The magnet latching relay is positioned in a different state, and the contacts therein are closed when the manual switch is cycled from the off position to the on position.

The double coil of the magnet latching relay is switchably coupled to the battery by each capacitor, so that the support dc current is not required since the relay coil is pulsed in the desired state.

The invention is best understood with reference to FIG. The night vision glasses, generally indicated at 10, are detachably mounted at the head gear 12. Night vision includes a pair of eyepieces 13 and 14 optically coupled to an internal image amplification device, similar to binoculars. The dim light reflected from the object is projected through the lens assembly 16 and is also optically coupled to the image amplification device. Night vision glasses of the type described above are well known in the art, in particular such vision glasses are described in US Pat. No. 4,463,252.

The night vision lens used in the present invention includes a multi-position switch 18 which switchably connects the battery 20 to an image amplification tube (not shown) or other essential vision circuitry. The manual switch 18 includes an off position for disconnecting the battery 20 from all circuitry and an on position for connecting the battery 20 to a suitable circuit for the user to observe an object in the dark. The manual switch 18 also includes an IR position for activating the small infrared lamp 22 to provide a very small amount of light for close observation of the object, such as reading a map.

The male coupling member 24 is secured to the fluoroscopic frame 26 and has a form for engaging in the coupling receptacle 28 on the frame 30 cast as part of the head gear 12. The male engagement member 24 includes a latching device 32 that works with the catch (not shown) in the receptacle 28.

According to a basic feature of the invention, means are provided for detecting the detachment of the see-through 10 at the head gear 12. The detachment detecting means has a ferromagnetic material, such as magnet 34, which is shown mounted on the top side of the receptacle 28. For clarity, the magnetic read switch 36 is cast in the male coupling member 24 at a position close to the magnet 34 when the male coupling member 24 is fully engaged in the receptacle 28. It is shown as being. As will be described in more detail below, the magnetic reed switch 36 operates to shut off the battery 20 when the night vision lens is disconnected from the head gear 12 to operate another circuit. Magnet 34 may be secured to receptacle 28 by cement bonding, or other mechanical hardware. Similarly, the magnetic reed switch 36 is inserted into the male coupling member 24 or is fixed by the use of cement bonding or other hardware.

In a preferred form of the invention, the relative position of the magnet 34 and the reed switch 36 is shown in FIG. The reed switch 36 is fixed with an adhesive in the hole of the viewing frame 26. The reed switch 36 is located just below the magnet 34 in the frame 26. The two proximity sensing elements 34 and 36 have been specially inserted so that they are not exposed to the surroundings.

The space between the magnet 34 and the lid 36 switch depends on the strength of the magnet. In a preferred form of the present invention, the viewing frame 26 and the head gear reservoir 28 are configured such that the space between the proximity sensing elements is about 16 inches. The sight frame 26 and the reservoir 28 are constructed of plastic material so that the magnetic field is not severely attenuated near the reed switch 36. Many types of reed switches and magnets with proximity sensing described herein are readily available on the market.

Referring to FIG. 3, a battery control circuit is shown with various switches for controlling the path of battery current for use in a fluoroscopy circuit. The battery 38 is a power source for the photomultiplier tube or the image amplification tube 40. Typically, two 1.5 volt batteries are connected in series to provide 3 volts. The power supply creates supply power for the diode 42 that emits infrared light.

The diode 42 corresponds to the IR lamp 22 described above. With respect to the circuit connection, the positive terminal of the battery 38 is connected to one pole 44 labeled "Det" while the magnetically actuated reed switch 36 moves to both sides. The switch contact 44 operates to remove power from the tube 40 when the sight glasses 10 are separated from the head gear 12. The contact 46 of the magnetic switch 36, labeled "Att", is connected to circuit ground via a 1000 ohm resistor 48. The pole 50 of the magnetic reed switch 36 is connected to the latching relay coil 52 through a 1000 microfarad capacitor 54. The value of capacitor 54 is selected with 2 to 5 ms current pulses through the coil along with the resistance of relay coil 52.

The positive terminal of the battery 38 is also connected to a pole 56 of a single pole which is twice the latching relay K1. The connection 58 labeled "Rst" is associated with the K1 reset coil 52 and is connected to the connection 60, "off" of the three-position manual-operation switch 18. The contact 62 of the latching relay K1, denoted "Set", is associated with the K1 coil 64 and is connected via a 100 microfarad capacitor 66. The other terminal of the latching relay coil 64 is connected to the circuit ground. The contact 62 of the K1 latching relay is also connected to the pole 68 of the manual-operated switch. As referenced in the diagram above, the pawl of the manual-operated switch 18 is rotationally switchable to contact 60 " off ", contact 70 " On " or contact 72 " IR ". It is connected to the plate of the image amplifier tube 40 on the contact portion 70 of the manual-operation switch 18. The cathode of the tube 40 is connected to circuit ground. On contact 70 is also connected to the cathode of diode 74. The IR contacts 72 are connected in parallel to the anodes of the diodes 42 and 74. The cathode of the infrared light emitting diode 42 is connected to the circuit ground.

With respect to the operating surface of the device with the battery control circuit, when the sight glasses 10 are interlockedly attached to the receptacle 28 of the head gear 12, the pole 50 of the magnetic reed switch 36 is It is connected to the Att contact 46. This switch device is the result of the magnetic coupling of the magnet 34 and the reed switch 36. When the sightglass 10 is detached from the head gear 12, the magnetic coupling is removed and the pawl 50 is switched to the Det contact 44. The switchable connection of the latching relay K1 pole 56 is regulated by energization of the K1 coil 52 or 64. When about three volts are applied across the K1 latching relay coil 52, pawl 56 is switched to Rst contact 62. Conversely, when three volts are applied across the K1 relay coil 64, the pawl 56 is switched to the set contact 62.

For the detailed function of the battery control circuit, FIG. 3 shows the positions of the various switches and relays when the night vision 10 is attached to the head gear 12 in an interlocked manner. The manual-operated switch 18 is also set by the operator in position to view the object in the dark. According to the operating mode, the image amplification tube 40 is the same as through the manual-operated switch pawl 68 and the contact 70, and via the latching relay pawl 56 and the set contact 62 the battery 38. From the power supply.

When the pole 56 of the K1 relay is connected to the Rst contact 58, charging the capacitor 66 that the manually operated switch pole 68 switches to the off contact 60 causes the K1 relay coil 64 to pass through. This is because a corresponding current flows. As a result, the K1 latching relay pole 56 is switched back to the set contact 62. Eventually when switched to the on position, the battery current flows back from the battery 38 to the image amplification tube 40 via the K1 set contact 62. Thus, regardless of the state of the magnetic latching relay K1, the battery circuit for the tube 40 is configured when the manual actuated switch is switched to the on position.

In the case of deactivating the night vision 10, it is only necessary to turn the manual actuation switch 18 to the off position. As such, the current path from the battery 38 to the image amplifier tube 40 is short-circuited, and battery power is consumed by the circuit. With this switch device, the battery 38 is connected to the capacitor 66 and the K1 latching relay coil 64. However, because capacitor 66 blocks dc current flow, no support current flows in the control circuit.

Assuming again that the switch structure is as shown in FIG. 3, the night vision 10 should be separated from the engagement receptacle 28 of the head gear 12 and the magnetically actuated reed switch 36 is It is removed from the magnetic field of the magnet 34. As a result, the pole 50 of the magnetic reed switch 36 is in contact with the Det contact 44. The operation of the magnetic reed switch 36 allows charging of the capacitor 54 and allows a transient current pulse to pass through the K1 relay coil 52. Regardless of the switched position of the manual actuated switch 18, the current pulse causes the pole 56 of the latching relay K1 to be switched to the Rst contact 58. The K1 switch pole 56 thus connected to the battery 38 is operated in an open circuit. As a result of separating the night vision 10 from the head gear 12, the battery 38 is disconnected from the image amplifier 40. As mentioned above, this not only conserves battery energy, but also dissipates the internal light emission of the fluorescent screen exhibited by others with night vision.

4 shows a battery control circuit with switches and relays connected after the switched on sight 10 is disconnected from the head gear 12. As described above, the battery 38 is completely disconnected from the image amplifier tube 40, and the reed switch pole 50 is switched to the Det contact 44. Moreover, with the switch and relay in the position shown in FIG. 4, capacitor 54 interrupts the dc current flow, thereby removing the supporting dc current from battery 38 to circuit ground. By adding a bistable latching relay K1, the battery current is operated only while charging capacitors 54 and 66 to put such relays in their respective reset and set states. In addition, since the relay K1 remains latched without continuous excitation of the coils 52, 64, an energy efficiency circuit is provided. This is very important in outdoor control facilities when the battery is not immediately available.

Subsequently, if it can be attached to the receptacle 28 of the head gear 12 of the night vision 10, the pole 50 of the magnetic reed switch 36 is activated by the magnet 34 and the Att contact 46. Is contacted again. The branch of this switch operation is to connect the capacitor 54 to the resistor 48. The capacitor is thereby discharged. The latching relay K1 remains in the reset position and the battery power is removed from the image amplifier tube 40. This feature is very important as it couples to the head gear 12 of this diameter 10 and eliminates the possibility of discharging the battery 38 so that it is stored without rotating the manual operation switch 18 to the off position. In order to reactivate the night vision 20, the manual operation switch 18 must be rotated to the off position and back to the on position as indicated by arrow 71 in FIG.

5 illustrates the battery control circuit before the pole of the manual switch 18 is contacted with the off contact 60. The pole 68 of the manual switch 18 is in contact with the off contact 60, the battery current is through the pole 68 of the manual switch 18 and the off contact 60, and the Rst contact of the K1 latching relay ( 58 flows through the capacitor 66. Charging of the capacitor 66 by battery current causes a current pulse to flow to the set contact 62 through the K1 latching relay coil 64 switching the pole 56.

After the manual operation switch 18 is rotated, the pole 68 is connected on the on contact 70, thereby providing an electrical circuit from the battery 38 to the image amplification tube 40. The conventional night vision scope is provided with a manual operation on-off switch 18. No additional actuation switch is required, which confuses operation or increases the knowledge required. In addition, the battery control circuit is not disturbed and the function of the on-off switch can be changed as is known. For example, the night vision 10 can be mounted to the head gear 12, and the arrangement of the manual switch 18 in the off position can be removed from the image amplifying tube 40. Similarly, when the manual switch 18 is in the on position, the image amplifier tube 40 is powered by the battery 38. The additional operation that the user will learn is the recirculation of the manual switch 18 in the off-on sequence to perform the function of the fluoroscope upon reattachment to the head gear 12.

The third position of the manual switch 18 is also IR. This IR switch position acts exactly as the on position in addition to the power supply of the image amplification tube 40 and the infrared rays are emitted from the diode 42. Referring to FIG. 3 of the figure, when the pole 68 of the manual switch 18 is switched to the IR contact 72, current flows through the infrared light emitting diode 42 in the battery 38. In addition, a current flows through the diode 74, thereby supplying power to the image amplifier tube 40. The infrared diode 42 is positioned in front of the viewing lens and directed to scan an object in front of the viewing lens 16.

As described above, a high efficiency battery control circuit is provided. This circuit provides an electrical coupling between the viewing goggles and the headgear and responds to their separation. The battery control circuit includes bi-stable latching means that do not require power in any state, which includes a latching relay, a coil capacitively coupled to the battery, and pulses when connected by them to connect or disconnect the image amplifier from the battery. Is generated. The on-off switch provided in the night vision glasses controls the battery supplied to the image amplifier when the sight glasses are attached to the head gear. In addition, the on-off switch is simply cycled to reactivate the fluoroscopy amplification tube when the fluoroscopy is reattached to the headgear.

Only preferred embodiments have been described. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible.

Claims (22)

In a night vision glasses, a head gear frame, a sight glasses with on-off switch control electric circuits, a bracket on the head gear frame to remove attachment of the sight glasses, and the brackets to automatically deactivate the electric circuits. Night vision glasses, the circuit means being responsive to the separation of the viewing glasses from the camera. 2. A night vision goggle according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means comprises a proximity degree detecting means for detecting that said sight glasses are separated from said head gear. 3. A night vision goggle according to claim 2, wherein said proximity detection means comprises a magnetically actuated circuit. 4. A night vision goggle according to claim 3, wherein said proximity detection means comprises a magnet and a magnetically operated relay. 2. A night vision glasses according to claim 1, comprising means for preventing reactivation of the electrical circuit when reattaching the sight glasses to the head gear. 6. A night vision goggle according to claim 5, further comprising latching means responsive to reattaching the fluoroscope to the headgear and responsive to cycling of the on-off switch to reactivate the electrical circuit. . 7. A night vision goggle according to claim 6, wherein said latching means comprises a bistable circuit element operable to direct a current to said electrical circuit in one state and to remove said current from said circuit in another state. . 8. A night vision goggle according to claim 7, wherein said bistable circuit element does not induce energy in any one of said states. 9. A night vision glasses according to claim 8, wherein the bistable element has a magnetic latching relay. 10. A night vision glasses according to claim 9, further comprising means for pulsating said relay. 11. A night vision goggle according to claim 10, wherein said means for pulsating comprises a capacitor that is switchably connected to a power source. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the means for activating the bistable element to deactivate the electrical circuit when the fluoroscope is removed from the head gear, and when the fluoroscope is reattached to the head gear and the on-off switch is circulated. Night vision glasses, further comprising means for pulsating the bistable element to activate the electrical circuit. A night vision circuit having a battery mounted with a detachable head gear and operating a video amplifier, comprising: an on-off switch operative to selectively supply battery current to the video amplifier and between the sight and the head gear. And magnetic response means responsive to the proximity of the magnetic coupling means and the magnetic coupling means for interrupting a current through the switch when the perspective lens is separated from the head gear. 14. A night vision goggle according to claim 13, further comprising a switch means connected between said on-off switch and said magnetic response means for maintaining a shut-off of battery current after reattaching said goggles to said head gear. Dragon circuit. A battery for deactivating a night vision circuit that can be detachably attached to a head gear, the battery comprising: switch means for switchably connecting the battery to an image amplifying tube, and from the head gear to operate the switch means; Bistable means for responsive to a first signal upon disconnecting said battery from said image amplifying tube and for operating said switch means and for responding to another signal for connecting said battery to said image amplifying tube. Deactivation battery, characterized in that it comprises. 16. The deactivated battery according to claim 15, wherein said first signal is automatically generated by magnetic coupling means connected between said sightglass and said head gear, and said other signal is generated manually. 16. The inactive battery according to claim 15, wherein said bistable means do not consume battery power in a stable state. 18. The inactive battery according to claim 17, wherein said bistable means comprises a magnetic latching relay. Night vision; A head gear detachably mounted to the viewing glasses; A magnetic switch mounted to the viewing mirror; A magnet attached to the head gear and magnetically coupled to the magnetic switch when the sightglass is attached to the head gear; A latching relay having contacts, the latching pole having first and second coils responsive to electrical excitation to switch each reset contact and a set contact of the latching relay; A first coil coupled in series with a first capacitor and switchable to a battery by the magnetic switch when the sightglass is detached from the headgear, the first coil by the magnetic switch when the sightglass is attached to the headgear; A first parallel circuit comprising a capacitor and a resistor switchable to said first coil; On the see-through mirror, a manual on off switch including an on contact and an off contact; An image amplifier tube connectable to the on contact portion; A second capacitor coupled in series with said second coil and switchable to said battery by a contact of said latching relay, said on contact being connected to said battery via said latching relay contact and said first means; And a second parallel circuit comprising a second capacitor and said second coil comprising means for connecting to said battery via said off contact and contact of said latching relay. A method of automatically controlling a battery-powered image amplification tube in a night vision telescope with a detachable attachment to the head gear and a manually operated on / off switch, wherein the image amplification tube is automatically removed when the sight is removed from the head gear. Separating the battery from the battery; Re-attaching the night vision to the head gear; And a step of connecting the battery to the image amplification tube by a manually rotating on-off switch. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said separating step is performed by sensing the proximity of night vision to the head gear. 22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the sensing step is performed by sensing a magnet that couples between the viewing goggles and the headgear.

Images