Night-Vision Pivot Structure With Hall-Sensor Auto Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binocular night-vision devices with laterally flippable barrels face issues of power consumption when flipped away from the user's field of view, risking damage to image intensifier tubes and compromising mission effectiveness due to manual power management delays.
Innovation Solution
An automatic power-on/off structure using Hall sensors and magnets in a non-rigid contact configuration, enabling seamless power control during barrel rotation, with adjustable damping and waterproof sealing to ensure reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wire harness is introduced into each barrel through the pivot shaft and directly connected to the intensifier, then the barrel can be powered independently, but the flipped barrel cannot be powered off individually and both intensifiers must be powered off simultaneously through the main power switch
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pivot shaft's rotational position to automatically control power delivery. When the barrel is flipped away from the viewing position, the pivot shaft's movement automatically opens the circuit and powers off the intensifier without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate power switches for each barrel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional electrical switch mechanism with a mechanical pivot shaft system that inherently controls power delivery. The pivot shaft's physical position (rotated or not) directly determines whether power is delivered to the intensifier, substituting complex electrical switching with simpler mechanical motion-based control.
2Reliability
If the flipped barrel continues to receive power, then the intensifier remains operational, but the image intensifier tube may be damaged by excessive bright ambient light
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically cutting power to the intensifier before the user can potentially damage it. When the pivot shaft rotates to the flipped position, the circuit opens immediately, preventing any risk of damage from ambient light exposure before the user becomes aware of the barrel's position.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot shaft's position serves as feedback to the power delivery system. The rotational position of the pivot shaft directly controls whether power is delivered to the intensifier, creating a feedback loop where the mechanical position automatically regulates electrical power delivery to protect the image intensifier tube.
3Productivity
If the main power switch is turned off, then both eyes lose low-light observation capability, but reactivating power in dimly lit conditions causes delay that may compromise mission effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically reactivates power when the barrel is flipped back to the viewing position. The pivot shaft's return to the operational position automatically closes the circuit and restores power to the intensifier, eliminating the need for manual power reactivation and ensuring immediate operational readiness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The power delivery system maintains continuity by automatically transitioning between powered and unpowered states based on barrel position. Power is continuously delivered when the barrel is in the viewing position and automatically cut when flipped away, ensuring the system is always ready for immediate use without manual intervention delays.
4Extent of automation
If hard contact between electrical contacts and metallic contact piece is used, then automatic power-on/off is achieved, but structural failure may occur after long-term use due to contact breakage and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hard mechanical electrical contacts with a magnetic field-based control system. Magnets mounted on the pivot shaft interact with magnetic sensors to control power delivery, eliminating wear-prone mechanical contacts while maintaining automatic power control functionality and improving long-term reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control mechanism from mechanical contact (binary on/off) to magnetic field interaction (continuous control). By using magnets and magnetic sensors, the system achieves automatic power control through parameter changes in the magnetic field rather than physical contact, reducing wear and improving durability.
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 solution provides automatic power management, enhancing operational safety and efficiency by preventing damage to the image intensifier tubes and reducing maintenance needs, while allowing rapid mode switching in varying lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The Hall sensors are provided on the frame, and the magnets are mounted on the top portions of the pivot arms. The magnets and respective Hall sensors form a non-rigid contact structure to control the powering on and off of the night-vision scopes.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic power-on/off structure for rotation-and-flip operations of a night-vision device includes a frame, two pivot arms, two night-vision scopes, two magnets, and two Hall sensors. Through the interaction between the magnets and the Hall sensors, i.e., a non-rigid contact, the structure enables automatic powering on of a night-vision scope when in use and automatic powering off when not in use. Specifically, when a pivot arm drives the corresponding night-vision scope to rotate to a certain angle, the magnet enters the sensing range of the Hall sensor, thereby triggering a signal to power on that night-vision scope. Conversely, when the pivot arm drives the night-vision scope away from the sensing range, that scope is automatically powered off. In addition, the pivot shaft connecting the pivot arm and the frame includes an adjustable damping feature, and sealing rings are provided at the contact portions to ensure dustproof and waterproof performance.