Panoramic Night Vision Binoculars Using Folding Mirrors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional night vision binoculars face challenges in increasing the binocular field without compromising resolution or significantly altering the interpupillary distance, which affects the natural stereoscopic effect.
Innovation Solution
The use of internal plane folding mirrors in the eyepieces and objectives allows for maintaining the size of the optics while achieving a dichoptic binocular field, with optical axes being angled to increase the binocular field without increasing the distance between lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the optical axes of the two binocular bodies are tilted to increase the binocular field of view, then the binocular field of view is increased, but the distance between the entrance pupils of the two lenses increases significantly, altering the natural stereoscopic effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces folding mirrors to fold the optical path in additional spatial dimensions. Instead of simply tilting the optical axes in one plane, the light path is folded back using mirrors arranged at specific angles, allowing the optical axis to deviate from the mechanical axis while keeping the entrance and exit pupils aligned with the mechanical axis. This dimensional folding resolves the contradiction by achieving wide field of view without increasing the distance between lenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds folding mirrors within the binocular body structure, nesting the mirror assemblies inside the existing optical path. The mirrors are positioned within the body housing, allowing the optical axis to be angled relative to the mechanical axis while maintaining a compact form factor. This nested arrangement enables the optical axis to make a non-zero angle with the mechanical axis without increasing the overall dimensions of the binoculars.
2Length of stationary object
If conventional folding optics using internal mirrors are used to reduce the distance between objective lenses, then the distance between lenses is reduced, but the solution has inherent limitations in achieving both compact size and wide field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic optical path where the light travels through multiple segments with different orientations. The optical axis is divided into multiple parts by the folding mirrors, allowing each segment to be optimized independently. This dynamic segmentation of the optical path enables the system to achieve both compact dimensions and wide field of view by allowing the optical axis to angle away from and return to alignment with the mechanical axis at different points in the path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical path into multiple distinct segments separated by folding mirrors. The optical axis is split into a first part before the mirrors, a second part between the mirrors, and a third part after the mirrors. Each segment can be independently optimized for its specific function, allowing the overall system to achieve compact size while maintaining wide field of view capability through the segmented, multi-directional optical path.
3Area of stationary object
If the optical axis is angled to increase binocular field, then the binocular field increases, but the optics distortion at the edge of the field increases and resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial angulation of the optical axis only where necessary to expand the field of view, rather than maintaining a constant angle throughout. The folding mirrors are positioned to create angular deviations in specific segments of the optical path while keeping other segments aligned. This partial angulation approach allows the system to achieve expanded field of view while minimizing the cumulative distortion and resolution loss that would result from continuous angular deviation throughout the entire optical path.
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 enables a larger binocular field while preserving the natural stereoscopic effect and maintaining a reasonable size for the binoculars, allowing for enhanced visual coverage without distorting the image at the edges.
Implementation Method 1
The first eyepiece comprises at least two parallel folding plane mirrors such that the optical axis of the eyepiece is in three parts
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The field of the invention is that of night vision binoculars comprising two first identical optically assembled bodies (CD, CG), each first body comprising a first lens (10), a first light intensifier device (11) and a first eyepiece (12), each body comprising a mechanical axis, the two mechanical axes being parallel to each other and separated by an interpupillary distance. In the binoculars according to the invention, the first lens can comprise a folding mirror (M11) and the eyepiece can comprise two or three folding mirrors (M1, M2, M12, M13, M14) depending on the configuration that is used and the binocular fields to be reached. The night vision binoculars can comprise two second identical bodies (C2D, C2G), each second body being assembled with one of the two first bodies, each second body comprising a second lens (21), a second light intensifier device (22) and a second eyepiece (23) so as to attain the wide binocular fields.