Compact Digital Night Vision Goggles Eyepiece Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital night vision goggles (DNVG) often cause neck strain due to their weight when mounted on headgear, as they typically require a larger and heavier eyepiece to provide effective imaging.
Innovation Solution
A compact DNVG design featuring a smaller eyepiece with either a lens assembly and reflector or waveguide optics, which reduces the overall size and weight, including the use of a digital light sensor, processing electronics, and a digital display to enhance image processing and delivery without increasing the device's bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a larger and heavier eyepiece is used to provide effective imaging, then imaging capability is improved, but weight increases causing neck strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional bulky optical eyepiece systems with a digital imaging system comprising a digital light sensor, processing electronics, and a compact display. This substitution of mechanical optical components with electronic components achieves effective imaging while dramatically reducing the weight and size of the eyepiece assembly, thereby eliminating neck strain.
2Weight of moving object
If a compact eyepiece design is used to reduce weight, then neck strain is reduced, but imaging capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the operating parameters and principles of the imaging system by transitioning from passive optical magnification to active digital sensing and electronic display. The digital light sensor captures light in the visible and near-infrared spectrum, converts it to digital signals, which are then processed and displayed. This parameter change enables compact design while maintaining or even enhancing imaging capability through digital processing advantages.
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
The compact eyepiece design minimizes neck strain on users by reducing the weight and size of the DNVG, while maintaining effective imaging capabilities through digital light detection and processing.
Implementation Method 1
The digital light sensor is arranged to detect visible and near infrared light from an object and provide a digital signal based on the detected light
Implementation Method 2
The lens assembly images light from the digital image via the reflective surface to the eye of the user
Implementation Method 3
The eyepiece includes waveguide optics transporting imaging light from the digital image to the eye of the user
Data Source
AI summary
The DNVG includes a digital light sensor, a digital display, and an eyepiece. The digital light sensor is arranged to detect visible and near infrared light from an object and provide a digital signal based on the detected light. The digital display is arranged to provide a digital image of the object based on the digital signal provided by the digital light sensor. The eyepiece is configured to provide the digital image from the digital display to an eye of a user of the night vision goggles. The eyepiece includes a lens assembly and a reflector having a reflector surface, the lens assembly imaging light from the digital image via the reflective surface to the eye of the user. Alternatively, the eyepiece includes waveguide optics transporting imaging light from the digital image to the eye of the user.