News from The Night Vision Store

How Night Vision Works

2005-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

HOW NIGHT VISION WORKS

Author - C. J. Boedeker - The Night Vision Store & The
Opticstore

http://www.nightvisionstore.com

http://www.opticstore.com

During the history of warfare, operations at night have always
been degraded significantly, if not totally avoided. Typically,
soldiers fighting at night have had to resort to artificial
illumination, e.g., at first fire and later with light sources
such as searchlights. The use of light sources on the
battlefield had the detrimental result of giving away tactical
positions and information about maneuvers. The advent of new
technologies initially in the 1950's and continuing into the
present time has changed this situation. The engineers and
scientists at the Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate
(NVESD) have discovered ways to capture available
electro-magnetic radiation outside that portion of the spectrum
visible to the human eye and have developed equipment to enable
the American soldier to fight as well at night as during the day
in order to "Own the Night".

Image Intensification: Image intensifiers capture ambient light
and amplify it thousands of times by electronic means to display
the battlefield to a soldier via a phosphor display such as
night vision goggles. This ambient light comes from the stars,
moon or sky glow from distant manmade sources, such as cities.
A soldier can conduct his combat missions without any active
illumination sources using only image intensifiers. The main
advantages of image intensifiers as night vision devices are
their small size, light weight, low power requirements and low
cost. These attributes have enabled image intensifier goggles
for head-worn, individual soldier applications and resulted in
hundreds of thousands of night vision goggles to be procured by
the US Army. Research and development continues today on image
intensifiers in the areas of longer wavelength spectral
response, higher sensitivity, larger fields of view, increased
resolution, advanced displays and image fusion.

Night Vision technology consists of two major types: image
intensification (light amplification) and thermal imaging
(infrared). Most consumer night vision products are light
amplifying devices.

Light amplification technology takes the small amount of light,
such as moonlight or starlight, that is in the surrounding area,
and converts the light energy (scientists call it photons), into
electrical energy (electrons). These electrons pass through a
thin disk that's about the size of a quarter and contains over
10 million channels. As the electrons travel through and strike
the walls of the channels, thousands more electrons are
released. These multiplied electrons then bounce off of a
phosphor screen which converts the electrons back into photons
and let you see an impressive nighttime view even when it's
really dark. All image intensified night vision products on the
market today have one thing in common: they produce a green
output image. In the night vision world there are generations
that reflect the level of technology used. The higher the
generation, the more sophisticated the night vision technology.

Generation 0 - The earliest (1950's) night vision products were
based on image conversion, rather than intensification. They
required a source of invisible infrared (IR) light mounted on or
near the device to illuminate the target area.

Generation 1 - The "starlight scopes" of the 1960's (Vietnam
Era) have three image intensifier tubes connected in a series.
These systems are larger and heavier than Gen 2 and Gen 3. The
Gen 1 image is clear at the center but may be distorted around
the edges. (Low-cost Gen 1 imports are often mislabeled as a
higher generation.

Generation 2 - The microchannel plate (MCP) electron multiplier
prompted Gen 2 development in the 1970s. The "gain" provided by
the MCP eliminated the need for back-to-back tubes - thereby
improving size and image quality. The MCP enabled development of
hand held and helmet mounted goggles.

Generation 3 - Two major advancements characterized development
of Gen 3 in the late 1970s and early 1980s: the gallium arsenide
(GaAs) photocathode and the ion-barrier film on the MCP. The
GaAs photocathode enabled detection of objects at greater
distances under much darker conditions. The ion-barrier film
increased the operational life of the tube from 2000 hours (Gen
2) to 10,000 (Gen 3), as demonstrated by actual testing and not
extrapolation.

Thermal Imaging:

Most objects in natural scenes, as well as human beings and
manmade objects emit electro-magnetic radiation in the form of
heat. Thermal imagers or infrared viewers (also known as FLIRs)
gather the infrared radiation and form an electronic image for
the soldier. Since they do not rely on reflected ambient light,
thermal imagers are totally light-level independent. They also
have significant penetration capabilities through obscurants
such as fogs, hazes, and conventional battlefield smokes. There
are two varieties of thermal imaging systems: cooled and
uncooled. Cooled thermal imaging requires cryogenic cooling.
Lower performing uncooled thermal imaging systems require no
detector cooling but have sufficient performance to provide the
low to medium performance required by individual soldier sights,
infantry vehicles, navigation, robotics and missile seekers.
Present research and development in cooled thermal imaging are
pursuing multi-spectral imaging, improved sensitivity and
resolution, and embedded signal processing to aid the soldier in
target acquisition missions. Current uncooled research is
directed at smaller size packages and power consumption with
lower cost and increased sensitivity, resolution and field of
view. Small, palm-sized uncooled thermal imagers are now
available.

About the author:
C. J. Boedeker provides Night Vision equipment and Consulting
for both Professional and Hobbyist applications. He can be
reached at http://www.nightvisionstore.com or
http://www.opticstore.com

The ATN Voyager

2005-10-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Long range, crystal clear viewing is you get with the ATN Voyager.4.5x magnification combined with a top of the line 2nd generation mil. spec. light intensifier tube makes the Voyager one of the best surveillance night vision devices made. The Voyager comes standard with all of our proprietary "Smart" features such as digital controls, 100-yard infrared illuminator and a computerized proximity sensor that automatically turns the unit on or off.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/Voyager%20Gen%202%20Bi-Ocular%20specifications.htm

The ATN PS-14 Night Vision Monocular

2005-10-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Multi-use Night Vision monocular is a high performance modular, hand-held night vision monocular.It utilizes a single, Gen.3B intensifier tube to provide crisp, clear images under the darkest conditions. The PS-14 can be hand held or installed in a head-mount. The integrated IR illuminator enhances the ability of the user to read maps, and operate in confined spaces.Rugged and a top-notch performer the PS-14 is an exceptional choice for hands free usage.The PS-14 is available with a wide range of image intensifier options to meet a wide array of specification requirements.The PS-14 night vision monocular is a complex opticoelectronic system for individual use. The device consists of the objective lens assembly, eyepiece and the body. The body contains a image intensifier tube assembly with an integrated high voltage power source and the battery housing. Objective lens protective cover is intended to protect the objective lens from dust and scratches. It also will act as a daylight filter, allowing you to test the scope in daylight or other bright light situations. The pinhole in the center of the protective cover allows the user to check the operation ability of the device in daylight conditions.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20PS14%20Monocular.htm

The ATN Night Storm

2005-10-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

The NightStorm is the latest in technology and the newest addition to the ATN line of night vision products. Strict standards and precision manufacturing have brought to you a rugged, yet lightweight, waterproof night vision device, which provides superior optical calibration at an economical cost.Revolutionizing the night vision market was one of our top priorities. We accomplished our goal by combining a 6-element, F1.2 50mm, heavy-coated glass lens with the ability to be submersed under water. We also were able to include a number of other options to make this unit even more superior than it was already. The sleek body, with contoured finger rests, houses a powerful high-resolution first generation intensifier tube which allow a 35,000 max light amplification. Once you enter a completely dark where no ambient light is to be found, you can take advantage of our built-in Total Darkness Technology which our infrared illuminator will provide. The unit also has an optional camera adapter, which will allow you to turn a regular household camera into a night vision camera.If optimal picture is what you are in the market for, the Night Storm will satisfy you needs. The unit’s diopter adjustment of ±5 and 1’ to infinity range of focus will allow you to focus in on any object in range. If that’s not enough, the unbelievable 40 lp/mm makes the NightStorm one of the most accurate imaging devices on the market at a reasonable price.

see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/Night%20Storm%20Waterproof%20NV%20Monocular%20specifications.htm

The ATN Night Spirit

2005-10-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Night Spirit-2I is a lightweight night vision monocular. If versatility is what you are looking for in a night vision device then the Night Spirit-2I is the system for you. The Night Spirit system allows you to custom design your own personalized unit. By ordering different packages you can build a system that fits your specific night vision needs.To build the perfect system you must start with the perfect base unit to build upon. By utilizing a high resolution, 2nd generation intensifier tube the Night Spirit-2I has one of the brightest and sharpest images available. A built in illuminator allows you to see clearly even in total darkness. Combine this with all glass optics specially coated to absorb light and the Night Spirit-2I is an excellent compact pocket scope.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20Night%20Spirit%20NV%20Monocular.htm

ATN Night Shadow

2005-10-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

It is dark. You can barely see your hand in front of your face. You bring your Night Shadow night vision device up to your eyes and turn it on. Suddenly, in green-hued clarity, the entire scene is like day. For Camping, Boating, Nature study or Homeland Security, there is simply no better Bi-ocular night vision device on the market.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20Night%20Shadow%20B-Ocular%20specifications.htm

The ATN Night Leopard

2005-10-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

SEE LIKE A CAT IN THE DARK! OUR NEW NIGHT LEOPARD IS A TOP-NOTCH COMPACT NIGHT VISION MONOCULAR.A new super fast lens system combined with a high resolution Gen. 1-Plus light intensifier tube gives the user an unparalleled bright image in a 1st gen. night vision device. Easy push button controls, 3x magnification and a built-in infra-red illuminator for viewing in total darkness are just a few of the features this scope packs. If you want a compact, high quality night vision monocular then look no further then our new Night Leopard.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20Night%20Leopard%20Monocular.htm

The ATN Night Star

2005-10-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

When most people think night vision, they think expensive. That's why at ATN we are proud to have created the perfect night vision device, it's called the NightStar. Why it is perfect, you might ask. The answer is simple.The NightStar provides the user with superior clarity and the highest possible light gain of a first generation night vision device at minimal cost. Also the unit comes standard with TOTAL DARKNESS TECHNOLOGY which will power up a powerful infra-red illuminator when you come into an area with no ambient light. This NightStar is perfect for camping, boating, or home security. If you want to further the capabilities of the unit, you can add a camera adapter (fits 35mm and video) or doubler (doubles magnification).
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20Night%20Star%20Monocular.htm

The ATN MO-2 Night Vision monocular

2005-10-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

MO-2 is a compact, rugged, scope that provides good quality night viewing with many features to boot. Utilizing hard plastic for its outside body, the MO-2 still relies on all glass optics for high light gain and resolution.The MO-2 comes with a six elements all infra-red sensitive glass front lens system and an all glass three element eye-piece allowing wide field of view with excellent clarity. A powerful infra-red illuminator gives MO-21 "Total Darkness" capability. This is not just a infra-red light to read maps with. This is a professional IR illuminator allowing viewing up to 100 yards. It is a adjustable, built-in, and simple to use. Camera adaptable, the MO-2 will give everyone a chance to become a night vision photographer at an affordable price. The front lens is removable and C-mountable. (This is the standard mount for security cameras). This feature will give the user the option to place any front lens on to the MO-2 that he deems necessary. In essence, the consumer will decide on what magnification (zoom) will his/her MO-2 require. Easily mounting his camera lens instead of the stock lens system.
see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20MO-21%20Monocular.htm

The ATN MO-4 Night Vision Goggle

2005-10-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

Available in either 1st,2nd, 3rd or 4th generation, the MO-4 is so packed with features that it is unsurpassable by competitors in the same field. With high quality image intensifier tubes and fast lenses the MO-4 has very high brightness output. Not only does it have unbelievable light amplification, it also provides superior clarity and high magnification.

see:
http://www.nightvisionstore.com/ATN%20MO-4X%20Night%20Vision%20Monocular%20specifications.htm

New postings at the Night Vision Store

2005-10-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

Our friends at ATN have some great new products! And we are now offering both free UPS Ground shipping and a Free Gift with any ATN Night Vision purchase. Plus we beat ATN's list prices. See them all at http://www.nightvisionstore.com