Head-Mounted Night Vision Pods Using Counterweight Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing night vision systems worn on a user's head or helmet lack stability during movement, leading to inertial disturbances and user fatigue, which is critical in military or law enforcement applications requiring rapid, ergonomic use.

Innovation Solution

A counterweight power or control pack is worn on the user's head, providing stability through customizable pod actuation and features that minimize inertial disturbances, along with independent pod rotation and adjustable interpupillary distance settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a night vision system is worn on a user's head or helmet, then portability and hands-free operation are improved, but stability during movement deteriorates due to inertial disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidstability during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A counterweight mechanism is integrated into the head-mounted night vision system to offset inertial disturbances during movement. The counterweight adjusts to balance the system's mass distribution, reducing instability and improving stability during movement while maintaining hands-free operation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Weight of moving object

If the night vision system is made lightweight for comfort, then ease of use is improved, but stability and resistance to inertial disturbances worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of night vision systemVSAvoidresistance to inertial disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight mechanism compensates for the lightweight design by dynamically balancing the system during movement. This allows the night vision system to maintain low weight for comfort while the counterweight provides the necessary resistance to inertial disturbances through active mass distribution adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Ease of operation

If rapid effective ergonomic use is prioritized for military or law enforcement applications, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverapid effective ergonomic useVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The night vision system incorporates self-adjusting mechanisms that automatically optimize ergonomic parameters based on user movement and head position. This self-service capability enables rapid effective ergonomic use without requiring complex manual adjustments or increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that adapt to real-time user needs and movement patterns. This allows the system to maintain simplicity while providing rapid effective ergonomic use through automatic adaptation rather than fixed complex configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12449650B2Night vision system

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 NOCTURN IND LLC

AI summary

A night vision system having one or more pods to permit a user to see in reduced light or evening conditions. The night vision system can include one or more pod(s) and the pod(s) can be actuatable between an “up” position and an active “down” position, wherein the pod is automatically powered and controlled when in the active position. A wearable power and/or control pack is further described, as is the use of an interpupillary stop feature.