Night Vision Devices

Background
Description
Equipment
Patents
Related
References
Links

Background

On web pages for specific night vision devices the patents are overlapping. So I'm going to put consolidate them on this page.

Description

There are a number of ways to see better in low light conditions. So the equipment will be grouped in that way. They are:
1. Optical Aids such as binoculars where the exit pupil is matches to a night adapted eye, i.e. about 5 mm.
2. Electro-Optical visible light enhancement devices
3. Near infrared to visible light devices
4. Far infrared to visible light devices

Equipment

Patents

Class 313: Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices/
524: With Optical device
525: Photosensitive Having a phosphor screen
529 Photosensitie with Control electrode

Class 250 Radiant Energy

1936514 Discharge tube, Tomas C Lengnick, Philadelphia, PA, app: 1928-11-21, 250/332; 313/329; 250/214LA; 250/214.1; 367/7; 102/418; 250/333; 313/524; 348/164 - This is the key to night vision devices! Oldest patent in class 250/333.

The Wiki page for Night Vision Device History says "Hungarian physicist Kálmán Tihanyi invented an infrared-sensitive electronic television camera for anti-aircraft defense in the UK". He filed an application for a "Radioskop" in 1926 but this was for a television device.

His UK patent 352,035 with application date of Dec 21, 1929 came about a year after the "Discharge Tube" patent. Also this is a patent for guiding and uses 4 or 5 "cells" where each cell is a pixel. That's to say this patent does not cover a device that displays an image that can be seen by an eye.

2131185 Electro Optical Device, M. Knoll (Telefunken), Sep 27 1938, 250/214VT ; 313/524; 315/10; 348/164; 348/832- IR amplification

2189321 Electro Optical Device, G.A. Morton , RCA, Feb 6 1940, 313/529 ; 250/333; 315/213 - visible light amplifier only?
2490740 Image Tube, F.H. Nicoll (RCA), Dec 6 1949 (filed Sep 6 1946), 313/526 ; 250/333; 250/368; 313/146; 313/249; 313/286; 348/164; 348/335; 445/14 -

Near IR Schmidt Optical System (Wiki: Corrector, Schmidt–Cassegrain)

2506018 Image tube, Flory Leslie E, Morton George A, Ruedy John E, Rca Corp, May 2, 1950, 313/524, 313/110, 313/529, 313/250 - 1P25 (Datasheet.jpg) Patent (14) is output lens.

Fig 1

Top:
One Electron Tube 1P25A
Type No. ~~JAN 1225A~~
Mfr. Capehart Farnsworth Corp.
Contract No. DA-11-164-ENG-+190
Serial J1458?
Front:
One Electron Tube
Processed for Export
Manufacturer Part No. Description Qty
919 D5637 7 6 Tube 1 ea
Columbus A.S.F. Depot Engineer Section Columbus, O.
End:
~~1P25A~~

Fig 2

Fig 3

2692341 Electron-Optical Image Converter, Schagen Pieter, Bruining Hajo (Hartforn National Bank), Oct 19 1954, 250/214VT ; 313/541

Single accelerating voltage, not multiple anodes, hemispherical input -

2739244 Infrared Sensitive Tube, E.E. Sheldon, Mar 20 1956, 250/214VT ; 250/330; 252/301.6R; 313/380 -

Instead of using an input optical system like the prior art tubes this one has about 1,000 times gain inside the tube.

2903596 Image Transducers, W.O. Reed, Sep 8 1959, 250/214VT ; 250/333 - longer than 1.2 micron IR
2946255 Combined day and night viewing device, Combined day and night viewing device, Bolay Errol, Siemens, app: 1955-06-02, -
2994798 High Voltage Image Tube, G.L. Krieger, George A Morton, (Army), Aug 1 1961 (filed Dec 26 1946), 313/529 ; 250/214VT; 252/301.6S -

Four accelerating anodes at up to 16 kV, maybe M3 Sinper-Scope, very similar to the 1P25.

3215842 Optical Communications System, Numa E Thomas, 398/170 ; 359/290; 359/529; 398/131; 398/169; 398/201 - amplitude modulation on visible, UV, IR or uW.

3280356 Image tube with truncated conical anode and a plurality of coaxial shield electrodes, Moor Joseph C, Stoudenheimer Richard G, Rca Corp, filed: Jul 17, 1958, Pub: Oct 18, 1966, 313/529, 313/107, 250/214.0VT, 313/530 - 10,000 Volts, 2.95" long, 1.88" dia.? model?

Hemispherical input at ground, one other potential of 16 k, flat output window. very much like the 6929 tube in the PAS-6

Calls:
2535708 X-Ray Generator
2666864 Image Intensifier Tube, R.L. Longini (Westinghouse), Jan 1954, 313/527 ; 250/214VT; 313/107; 427/107; 427/109; 427/122; 427/124; 427/64; 427/74; 445/11; 445/12 -

Hemispherical input, but output is a much smaller flat screen
2555545 Image Intensifier, Hunter (Westinghouse), Jun 1951 - designed for X-Rays

2686885 Insulated Coated Grid for Electron Discharge Devices, Bailin (Sylvania) - tetrode power tube
2752519 Method and Apparatus for use in Chemical Evaporation Process, Ruedy (Navy), -

method of making image converter tube like the 2506018
2774002 Image Tube, D.R. Carlo (International Telephone and Telegraph, aka ITT), Dec 11 1956, -

Hemispherical input, flat smaller output, 2.3 kV& 16 kV to tube

2834889 Electronic Camera, Fries, May 13 1958, - image amplification then to film
2839601Visualize Electric & Magnetic Fields
2851625 Image Tube, Ruedy (RCA), Sep 9 1958 - hemispherical input, multiple anodes, 1,000 times gain
2857589 Adapter Device for Image Tubes, S.G. Fong (International Telephone and Telegraph, aka ITT), Oct 21, 1958, -

Fits on front of tube and contains voltage divider to provide 2.3 kV from 16 kV Sniper-Scope type tube.

2928969 Image Device, Schneeberger (Westinghouse), - maybe for TV use

3280356 Image tube with truncated conical anode and a plurality of coaxial shield electrodes, Richard G Stoudenheimer, Joseph C Moor, RCA, Oct 18 1966 (filed: Jul 17, 1958), 313/529 ; 250/214VT; 313/107; 313/530 -
3376421 Quantum Counters, E. Snitzer (American Optical Co), Apr 2 1968, 250/333 ; 385/115 - fiber optic bundle
3415990 Invisible Light Sensor Tube and Faceplate Material R.T. Watson, (ITT), R. Dec 10 1968, 250/338.1 ; 250/214VT; 250/330; 250/363.01; 250/367; 250/484.4; 313/103R - uses UV light to be more sensitive to IR
3454773 Binocular night telescope with single image tube, Henricus Wilhelmus Bulthuis, Abraham Groeneweg (NV Optische), Jul 1969, - Cited By (30) - is designed to operate with infrared light, the image converter comprises a single image conversion tube.
3728545 Infrared imaging apparatus, Honeywell Inc, Apr 17, 1973, 250/334, 348/E03.1 - early mirror scanning, not this device
3737667 Electro-optical viewing device, B Babb, E Byer, G Giffin, R Rife, ITT Corp, 1973-06-05
3744872 BINOCULAR WITH IMPROVED PRISM MOUNT, Akin (Bushnell), Jul 1973, - molded plastic body
4030047 Opto-mechanical subsystem with temperature compensation through isothermal Design, F.E. Goodwin (NASA), - Beryllium
4037132 Image Tube Power Supply, A.W. Hoover, ITT, Jul 19, 1977, - for microchannel plate Image Intensifiers
4041343 Electron Multiplier Mosaic Structrue, R.K. Orthuber (ITT), Aug 9 1977, fiber optic micro channel plate - visible
4131818 Night Vision System, M. Wilder (Varian), Dec 26 1978, 250/214VT ; 250/333; 313/528; 313/534- micro channel plate
4173727 Electron Image Device, J. Vine (Westinghouse), Nov 6, 1979 (filed Jun 23, 1966), 313/529 ; 250/214VT; 313/537 -
4205894 Hermetically sealed binoculars, (Bell & Howell) - single objective
4463252 Night vision goggle system, Thomas M. Brennan, Robert M. Burley (Baird Corp), - single objective, two oculars
4658139 Night vision reflex sight, Thomas M. Brennan, W. Michael Glasheen, Baird Corp, 1987-04-14, - to be used with NVG (see 4658139)
4794246 Universal passive night vision system, William A. Kastendieck, Varo Inc, 1988-12-27, - single objective, two oculars
5029963 Replacement device for a driver's viewer, Charles Naselli, Albert F. Tien (ITT), - upgrades the AN/VVS-2 to a Gen III device = MX-9644/UV

Patent Citations (5)

Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title

US3244921A *1962-02-14 1966-04-05 Itt Optical fiber face-plate assembly for image tubes

US3475076A *1967-05-10 1969-10-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Fiber optic window and method of mounting same

US3712986A *1969-04-03 1973-01-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electron imaging device utilizing a fiber optic input window

US4374325A *1979-07-11 1983-02-15 English Electric Valve Company Limited Image intensifier arrangement with an in situ formed output filter

US4898457A *1984-12-20 1990-02-06 Alexeev Viktor N Optical system of television camera

Cited By (45)

Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title

US5125064A *1991-04-22 1992-06-23 Itt Corporation Optical system using fiber optic element for field curvature reversal

US5305142A *1992-03-06 1994-04-19 Itt Corporation Replacement assembly for an image intensifier tube

US5315126A *1992-10-13 1994-05-24 Itt Corporation Highly doped surface layer for negative electron affinity devices

US5444568A *1992-09-30 1995-08-22 Itt Corporation Consumer night vision viewing apparatus

US5448671A *1994-01-31 1995-09-05 Itt Corporation Replacement assembly for an image intensifier device including fiber optic inverter expander

US5470266A *1994-07-06 1995-11-28 Itt Corporation Low temperature process and apparatus for cleaning photo-cathodes

US5487689A *1994-08-15 1996-01-30 Itt Corporation High throughput assembly station and method for image intensifier tubes

US5563653A *1994-05-09 1996-10-08 Itt Corporation Focussed output microchannel plate for an image intensifier tube

US5585871A *1995-05-26 1996-12-17 Linden; Harry Multi-function display apparatus

US5630788A *1994-08-12 1997-05-20 Imagyn Medical, Inc. Endoscope with curved end image guide

US5733246A *1994-05-13 1998-03-31 Precision Optics Corporation Viewing scope with image intensification

US6040000A *1998-03-24 2000-03-21 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Method and apparatus for a microchannel plate having a fissured coating

EP1011002A1 *1998-12-11 2000-06-21 International Technologies (Lasers) Ltd. Night vision monocular

US6118474A *1996-05-10 2000-09-12 The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York Omnidirectional imaging apparatus

US6288839B12000-07-05 2001-09-11 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Replacement assembly for an image intensifier tube utilizing an input relay lens

US6416960B11996-08-08 2002-07-09 Prolume, Ltd. Detection and visualization of neoplastic tissues and other tissues

US6458547B11996-12-12 2002-10-01 Prolume, Ltd. Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying infectious agents

US6747258B22001-10-09 2004-06-08 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Intensified hybrid solid-state sensor with an insulating layer

US20040189166A1 *2003-03-25 2004-09-30 Smith Arlynn Walter Image intensifier and electron multiplier therefor

US20050167575A1 *2001-10-09 2005-08-04 Benz Rudolph G. Intensified hybrid solid-state sensor

US20070000033A1 *2005-04-18 2007-01-04 Dixon Philip A Periscope swim goggles

US7940005B1 2007-11-08 2011-05-10 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Cooled photocathode structure

US20110227812A1 *2010-02-28 2011-09-22 Osterhout Group, Inc. Head nod detection and control in an augmented reality eyepiece

US8467133B2 2010-02-28 2013-06-18 Osterhout Group, Inc. See-through display with an optical assembly including a wedge-shaped illumination system

US8472120B2 2010-02-28 2013-06-25 Osterhout Group, Inc. See-through near-eye display glasses with a small scale image source

US8477425B2 2010-02-28 2013-07-02 Osterhout Group, Inc. See-through near-eye display glasses including a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element

US8482859B2 2010-02-28 2013-07-09 Osterhout Group, Inc. See-through near-eye display glasses wherein image light is transmitted to and reflected from an optically flat film

US8488246B22 010-02-28 2013-07-16 Osterhout Group, Inc. See-through near-eye display glasses including a curved polarizing film in the image source, a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element and an optically flat film

US8638387B2 2012-01-25 2014-01-28 Optex Systems, Inc. Multiple spectral single image sighting system using single objective lens set

US9091851B2 2010-02-28 2015-07-28 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Light control in head mounted displays

US9097890B2 2010-02-28 2015-08-04 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Grating in a light transmissive illumination system for see-through near-eye display glasses

US9097891B2 2010-02-28 2015-08-04 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc See-through near-eye display glasses including an auto-brightness control for the display brightness based on the brightness in the environment

US9128281B2 2010-09-14 2015-09-08 Microsoft Technology Licensing, LlcEyepiece with uniformly illuminated reflective display

US9129295B2 2010-02-28 2015-09-08 Microsoft Technology Licensing, LlcSee-through near-eye display glasses with a fast response photochromic film system for quick transition from dark to clear

US9134534B2 2010-02-28 2015-09-15 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc See-through near-eye display glasses including a modular image source

US9182596B2 2010-02-28 2015-11-10 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc See-through near-eye display glasses with the optical assembly including absorptive polarizers or anti-reflective coatings to reduce stray light

US9223134B2 2010-02-28 2015-12-29 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Optical imperfections in a light transmissive illumination system for see-through near-eye display glasses

US9229227B2 2010-02-28 2016-01-05 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc See-through near-eye display glasses with a light transmissive wedge shaped illumination system

US9285589B2 2010-02-28 2016-03-15 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc AR glasses with event and sensor triggered control of AR eyepiece applications

US9341843B2 2010-02-28 2016-05-17 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc See-through near-eye display glasses with a small scale image source

US9366862B2 2010-02-28 2016-06-14 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc System and method for delivering content to a group of see-through near eye display eyepieces

US9420202B12015-04-01 2016-08-16 Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. Compact intensified camera module

US9759917B2 2010-02-28 2017-09-12 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc AR glasses with event and sensor triggered AR eyepiece interface to external devices

US10180572B2 2010-02-28 2019-01-15 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc AR glasses with event and user action control of external applications

US10539787B2 2010-02-28 2020-01-21 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Head-worn adaptive display

5084780 Telescopic sight for day/night viewing, (ITT), - rifle scope, single objective, single eyepiece, two internal paths

4822994 Small arms sight for use during daylight and nighttime conditions, (ITT) - removable image intensifier

Photoelectricity and Its Applications", 1949, John Wiley & Sons Chapter 18 Light Beam Signalling & Infared Detection

4629295 Night vision instrument with electronic image converter (Simrad Optronics A/S) - beam splitter
3509344 DEVICE WITH A NIGHT TELESCOPE (NV Optische) - two objectives one eyepiece
4467190 Night-vision equipment, Aug 21, 1984
4576432 Aiming or sighting apparatus with synchronously rotating thermal imager and aiming head Mar 18, 1986
4629295 Night vision instrument with electronic image converter Dec 16, 1986
4653879 Compact see-through night vision goggles Mar 31, 1987
4655562 Objective lens system, relay lens system, and eyepiece lens system for night-vision goggles Apr 7, 1987
4775217 Night vision viewing system Oct 4, 1988
4828378 Night vision viewing systems May 9, 1989
4863269 Weapon sights Sep 5, 1989
4867549 Re-imaging optical system Sep 19, 1989

5157553 Collimator for a Binocular Viewing System, ITT, - single input objective with 2 eyepieces
5204774 Night vision goggle with improved optical system, R. Calvin Owen, Jr., Robert A. Gallagher, Robert M. Burley, L3 Varo Inc, 1993-04-20 - single objective,, two oculars
5223974 Collimator for a Binocular Viewing System, ITT, - single input objective with 2 eyepieces
5301060 Optical element (Minolta) - laser scanner

5347397 Diopter cell assembly for a binocular viewing system (ITT) - splitter for single objective two eyepiece systems
5444568 Consumer night vision viewing device, ITT, single input objective with 2 eyepieces
5455711 Magnification lens coupling device for a night vision assembly (ITT) - two adapter rings to add accy lens to NVD
5495364 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - waterproof single objective two eyepieces
5471374 Illuminator bracket for a night vision device (ITT) - breaks easily - looks like penlight
5495364 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - waterproof single objective two eyepieces
5537261 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - commercial low cost single objective two eyepiece waterproof
5595435 Flashlight illuminator for a night vision device (ITT) -LED or Laser Diode - fits the easily broken bracket (viewer may be the 160/260?) Sources: xenon bulbs (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B), halogen bulbs, visible LED's, and visible LASER diodes. Examples of some preferred non-visible light sources include infrared light illuminating diodes (shown in FIG. 3A), and IR LASER diodes (shown in FIG. 3B).
5737131 Night vision monocular (ITT) - PVS-14?
5847868 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - single objective two eyepieces low cost

6069557 Automatic long-life infrared emitter & locator system - flashing IR LED beacon (like the one that fits a 9V battery - many circuits
6219250 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - single objective two eyepieces low cost
6456497 Night vision binoculars (ITT) - single objective two eyepieces low cost
6570147 Color night vision apparatus (ITT) - RGB are split like for a TV camera, seperate Intensifiers work on the three paths where the output phosphor is the same color as the path color and then combined H1599 Synthetic-color night vision - blends a visible color image and an IR image into a single false color image

7880962 Optical and infrared periscope with display monitor, Robert Tartaglia, Seiler Instrument And Manf, 2011-02-01, - uses TV instead of direct optical system. Conversion kit for VVS-2.

Aerial Photography
Aircraft
Binoculars
DigitalPhotography101 Digital Photography 101: The Basics
Digital Photography 201 Stacking Images
Digital Photography 202: Close-Up, Macro & Micro
Digital Photography 203: Color Management
Digital Photography 204: Studio Flash
Digital Photography 205: Astrophotography
Digital Photography 206 Micro Photography
Electro Optical Gadgets
Exotech 100BX Radiometer -
Flashlights
GR Strobotac, Sonar & Krytron
Harold "Doc" Edgerton - Development of strobe flash & Etc.
HP 8702B Lightwave Component Analyzer, Electro Optical Network Analyzer
Hughes Probe Eye far IR viewer
Infrared (IR)
IR Gun Sight
LM631A Amprobe (Meterman) LM631A Digital Light Meter
Laser Guided Missile
Lights
M18 M18 IR Binocular
M227 M-227 Signal Lamp Equipment SE-11 - Gun shaped flashlight, trigger, relay, IR Filter option
MD-1 Automatic Astro Compass - also can see stars in the daytime
Nikon Cameras
Optics
Optical Bench
Optical Patents
Optical Spectrum Analyzers
PAS-6 Metascope IR viewer and source
Photoflash - includes Graflex Stroboflash IV
PVS-4 Starlight Scope, Night Vision Sight, Individual Served Weapon
PVS5 NVG PVS-5A Night Vision Goggles
T3C - Russian monocular Image Intensifier (star light scope)
TVS-2 Crew Served Weapon Sight
UAS-4 Infrared Surveillance System
Ultraviolet
US Navy Infrared IR Signaling Telescope US/C-3
VVS-2 Tank Driver's Night Viewer
Weston Model 594 Photronic Cell & Light Meters

References

Ref 1. TM 8000-10/1D Principal Technical Characteristics of U.S. Marine Corps Ordnance Equipment, April 2010, Ch4 Optical & Misc. Equipment (Army manuals)
Ref 2. Veritasium: World's Best Night Vision vs World's Darkest Room, 27:15 - Excellent overview of strengths and weakness of the three types of NV devices: Active, Image Intensifier & Thermal IR

Links

PRC68, Alphanumeric Index of Web pages, Contact, Products for Sale
Page Created 2020 March 19

	2506018 Image tube, Flory Leslie E, Morton George A, Ruedy John E, Rca Corp, May 2, 1950, 313/524, 313/110, 313/529, 313/250 - 1P25 (Datasheet.jpg) Patent (14) is output lens.
Fig 1	Top: One Electron Tube 1P25A Type No. ~~JAN 1225A~~ Mfr. Capehart Farnsworth Corp. Contract No. DA-11-164-ENG-+190 Serial J1458? Front: One Electron Tube Processed for Export Manufacturer Part No. Description Qty 919 D5637 7 6 Tube 1 ea Columbus A.S.F. Depot Engineer Section Columbus, O. End: ~~1P25A~~
Fig 2
Fig 3