Clip-On Night Vision Sensor for Covert Laser Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional night vision goggles can be detected by enemy forces equipped with countermeasures, rendering covert operations impossible due to the visibility of aiming lights used for target engagement.
Innovation Solution
A target engagement system incorporating a night vision goggle system with a laser module operating outside the detectable wavelength band, utilizing a clip-on device with up-converting phosphors and fiber optics to convert invisible aiming light into a visible wavelength for the user, while maintaining covert operation by making the aiming light invisible to the human eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser aiming light is mounted on the weapon and boresighted to provide target engagement capability, then the soldier can aim and engage targets effectively, but the aiming light becomes visible to enemy forces equipped with countermeasure night vision goggles, compromising covert operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the laser aiming light from the conventional 532nm (visible green) to 1064nm (infrared). This parameter change makes the aiming light invisible to the human eye and undetectable by standard night vision goggles, while still allowing the soldier to see the target through the night vision system. The infrared wavelength operates outside the detectable range of enemy countermeasure equipment, thus resolving the visibility problem while maintaining target engagement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary infrared wavelength as a mediator between the soldier and the target. The 1064nm infrared laser serves as an intermediate carrier that the soldier cannot see directly but can detect through the night vision goggles, while enemy forces with standard countermeasure equipment also cannot detect it. This intermediary wavelength enables covert operation by mediating the targeting function without revealing the soldier's position.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the laser aiming light operates at a wavelength invisible to the human eye (such as 1064nm infrared), then covert operation is restored by making the aiming light undetectable to enemy forces, but the soldier cannot directly see the aiming light without assistance from night vision equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The night vision goggles serve multiple functions: they amplify natural light for nighttime navigation and target detection, and they also detect the 1064nm infrared aiming light for precise target engagement. This multi-functionality allows the soldier to use the same device for both covert observation and invisible laser detection, eliminating the need for separate equipment and maintaining ease of operation despite the infrared wavelength.
Solution Approach 2:
The night vision goggles automatically detect and display the 1064nm infrared aiming light without requiring additional equipment or complex procedures. The system serves itself by using the same sensor array that detects natural light to also detect the infrared laser, providing the soldier with direct visibility of the aiming point through the existing night vision interface.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the laser aiming light operates at 1064nm wavelength, then the light is invisible to both the human eye and standard night vision goggles, but the soldier needs additional equipment to see the converted light wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The night vision goggles are designed with multi-functionality to detect both natural light for navigation and the 1064nm infrared laser for targeting. By incorporating infrared detection capability into the standard night vision system, the patent eliminates the need for separate equipment, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the covert operation advantage of the 1064nm wavelength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables covert target engagement by allowing soldiers to see the aiming light and target without being detected, as the converted light is only visible through the night vision goggles, preserving operational secrecy.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a clip-on device with up-converting phosphors and fiber optics to convert invisible aiming light into a visible wavelength for the user
Data Source
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AI summary
A target engagement system includes a night vision goggle system operating within a predetermined wavelength band, and a laser module projecting light onto a target, where the light operates at a wavelength that is outside of the predetermined wavelength band. Also included is a receive system for receiving the light reflected from the target and converting the light into a wavelength within the predetermined wavelength band. In this manner, the receive system provides the converted light to the night vision goggle system, and the night vision goggle system amplifies the converted light for viewing by a user. The receive system includes a clip - on device for removably attaching the receive system between the target and the night vision goggle system. The receive system includes an up-converting phosphor layer for up-converting the received light into a wavelength detectable by the night vision goggle system.