Night Vision Device Using Zonal Fiber-Optic Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional night vision systems are heavy and cause neck strain due to their protruding design, which affects field-of-view and spectral bandwidth, and there is a need to reduce weight and torque on the neck while maintaining or improving these aspects.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fiber-optic zonal inversion bundle, comprising sub-bundles that invert images and reduce the length of the optical device, combined with planar objective and eyepiece arrays using multi-level diffractive lenses, and specialized thin image intensifier tubes to minimize weight and moment arm, allowing for improved field-of-view and spectral bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional night vision systems use traditional objective arrays and fiber-optic inverters, then image quality and spectral bandwidth are maintained, but weight and moment arm increase causing neck strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into multiple zones with separate objective lenses and fiber-optic sub-bundles for each zone. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining optical performance across the full field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point optical path to a distributed zonal architecture where multiple objective lenses and eyepieces are arranged in arrays. This dimensional change from 1D to 2D/3D spatial distribution reduces the moment arm distance from the user's eye while maintaining comprehensive light collection
2Length of moving object
If the optical device length is reduced to minimize moment arm, then neck strain is reduced, but field-of-view and spectral bandwidth may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is divided into multiple zones, each with its own objective lens and fiber-optic sub-bundle. This allows the system to achieve a wide total field of view through the composite action of multiple shorter optical paths rather than requiring a single long optical path
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple zonal channels are merged at the eyepiece array to provide the user with a composite wide-field view. The individual narrow fields of view from each zone combine to create the overall wide field of view, enabling short optical paths to achieve long effective field coverage
3Shape
If traditional fiber-optic inverters are used, then image inversion is achieved, but device thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a separate inverting element after the objective lens, the patent inverts the image directly within each fiber-optic sub-bundle by reversing the fiber arrangement. This eliminates the need for additional inverting components, reducing device thickness and weight while maintaining the image inversion function
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
This configuration reduces the weight and torque on the neck, maintains or improves field-of-view, and spectral bandwidth, providing a more comfortable and effective night vision experience.
Implementation Method 1
a fiber-optic zonal inversion bundle, comprising sub-bundles that invert images and reduce the length of the optical device
Implementation Method 2
a zonal objective array comprising an array of objectives
Implementation Method 3
The image intensifier has a photocathode. When photons strike the photocathode, electrons are emitted through a vacuum tube, and directed towards a microchannel plate to amplify the electrons
Implementation Method 4
The amplified electrons strike a phosphor screen. The phosphor screen is typically chosen such that it emits human visible light when the amplified electrons strike the phosphor screen
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device. The optical device includes a zonal objective array comprising an array of objectives. The optical device further includes a zonal fiber-optic inversion bundle. The zonal fiber-optic inversion bundle includes a plurality of sub-bundles, each sub-bundle having an input coupled to a corresponding objective in the zonal objective array. The optical device further includes a zonal eyepiece array comprising an array of eyepieces. Each of the eyepieces in the zonal eyepiece array is coupled to an output of a corresponding sub-bundle in the zonal fiber-optic inversion bundle.