Binocular night vision goggles, where one ocular could be moved

Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Telescope

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359411, 359480, G02B 2300, G02B 2702

Patent

active

059698594

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a compact light-amplifying viewer in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, with a lens and two eyepieces, but with the possibility in accordance with the characterizing clause of claim 1 to completely release, or at least fold down, one of the eyepieces from the light-amplifying viewer, whereby free and unobstructed sight in a wide field of view for one eye through the instrument results, viz. through the free opening which results in place of the removed eyepiece. The arrangement means that the same light-amplifying viewer can be used both binocularly and monocularly.
The invention solves thereby a problem, viz. to satisfy the all more frequently occuring need to be able to change freely between binocular and monocular vision.
Light-amplifying viewers of many different types are known in the prior art: certain are monocular with one lens, a light amplifier and an eyepiece of varying magnification (WO 85/00433). Others are binocular and magnifying observation viewers or head-worn "night viewer goggles" with unity magnification and a lens, a light amplifier and two eyepieces (U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,252 and SE 450 671). We refer to the latter of these patent documents for a detailed description of the existing categories and further references.
Compact binocular light-amplifying viewers for night observations, generally called night viewer goggles or "goggles" for short, are preferably used mounted on a user's supporting mask or helmet, in front of the eyes, whereby the hands are freed for other purposes, for example to steer a vehicle or to use tools at night. There are many advantages (among other things reduced fatigue during a long period of use) if such goggles are binocular, i.e. provided with two eyepieces but there are also situations when one prefers goggles with a single evepiece (monoculars), leaving the other eye free for simultaneous naked observation without light amplifying so that one can with one eye observe the scene light-amplified while the other eye remains naked.
It is therefore a main object of the invention to provide a compact light-amplifying viewer with a single light amplifier, which freely permits both of these two main applications and thus, in accordance with changing requirements, can be used either monocularly or binocularly.
Certainly there exists the other possibility to instead use a monocular light-amplifying viewer in front of each eye, thus a binary system consisting of two monocular amplifying viewers, each provided with a light amplifier, a lens and an eyepiece, where one of these viewers can be folded away or removed during monocular vision. However, since this system solution comprises in total two light amplifiers. which are expensive components, the constellation is uneconomical and also less attractive because all the functions and components are duplicated resulting in high weight, nose heaviness and ungainliness.
Since the distance between the eyes varies for the individual observer, it is a further advantage during binocular use if the distance between the axes of symmetrically of the two eyepieces on the goggles can be regulated so that they symmetrically coincide with the pupils of the observer, resulting in a sharper picture and less light loss (vignetting) at the edges of the field of view. Furthermore, the requirements on the size of the egress pupils (and therewith the dimensions and weight of the lens) are thereby reduced in the instruments which is especially advantageous with increasing fields of view with consequential pupil restrictions.
It is therefore an alternative object to be able to, when required, design it so that one eyepiece furthermore becomes laterally movable in the transverse direction, whereby the distance between the axes of symmetry of the two eyepieces can be varied. For example (but not as a limitation) the arrangement can be practically designed so that one evepiece moves transversely along a so-called dove-tailed groove, on which it consequently runs but in the outer position of which the eyepiec

REFERENCES:
patent: 4449787 (1984-05-01), Burbo et al.
patent: 4984879 (1991-01-01), Plunkett
patent: 5296962 (1994-03-01), Furuhashi
patent: 5307204 (1994-04-01), Dor
patent: 5331459 (1994-07-01), Dor
patent: 5446585 (1995-08-01), Morley et al.
patent: 5886814 (1999-03-01), Afsenius

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