Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controlled circuit
Patent
1998-06-05
2000-09-19
Le, Que T.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controlled circuit
2502014, H01J 4014
Patent
active
061216011
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a night vision light amplifying viewer with a battery voltage driven light amplifier and where the operation of the focusing control (lens) and the electrical on/off-switch, and possibly further functions, are joined so that they take place by means of a single common operating device.
The invention thereby solves the problem of providing both good manipulation of operating devices and low weight and volume of the light amplifying viewer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A primary constructional objective for portable light amplifying viewers is to reduce weight and size and at the same time simplify their practical handling. This concerns in particular (but not only) so-called night viewer goggles, usually called goggles, which preferably are mounted in front of the eyes on a helmet or a supporting mask which leaves the hand free for other tasks during night observations. In order to handle such an instrument a number of control devices are usually required, among other things a focusing control for the lens, and an electrical on/off-switch for the light amplifier (and possibly IR-diodes for artificial illumination of the scene in near infared light).
Such light amplifying viewers are known from the patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,252 and SE-450 671, and we refer to the latter of these two patents for a more detailed description of the available light amplifying viewer categories and further references.
Traditionally, in this connection focusing and on/off-switching usually takes place with separate operating devices. Focusing occurs usually in that a lens, which is free and which is pointing in the direction towards the scene being observed, is rotated around its axis of symmetry, such as occurs on normally available commercial cameras, while on/off-switching is by means of separate rocker, twist or push switches with operating devices of varying appearance.
But as more compact light amplifying viewers are constructed and are available (SE-450 671) with short forwardly directed construction length, achieved through the beam path between the light amplifier and the scene being watched being bent by means of mirror elements, and where the lens normally is no longer equally accessible for focusing according to the above described method, the question occurs how focusing can suitably take place.
Operating can, on one hand, take place by means of, for example, a knob or handle of dimensions so well chosen that the user can easily find and grip it even under difficult night outside conditions, and where the "goggles" are mounted closely in front of the eyes where it is not possible to visually localize the operating device as a guide for the hand movements.
On the other hand, the present miniaturizing evolution of these light amplifying viewers means that the size and weight of the control means in relation to the total instrument become more significant, and even compromising. The balance between, on one hand, large "knobs" for simple and quick handling and, on the other hand, low weight/volume for easy portability therefore becomes more and more problematic. The problem can also be expressed so that while it naturally is important to reduce the weight and volume of these (preferably) head-mounted light amplifying viewers, the size of the operating devices should rather increase or at least not be reduced below a certain size, which is dictated by the invariable hand size of the operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the invention is therefore to help to find a possibility to avoid or at least minimize these system inconveniences in accordance with the following:
As in general the operation of a control knob/handle is simplified by increasing size, a generous size of the same knob/handle should be aimed at as far as possible, but on the other hand it should be designed so that more than one function is assigned to and controlled via the same operating device. In this way the total number of knobs, handles and the like on the instrument, and t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4554744 (1985-11-01), Huckenbeck
patent: 5130527 (1992-07-01), Gramer et al.
patent: 5158358 (1992-10-01), Maglica et al.
patent: 5204774 (1993-04-01), Owen, Jr. et al.
patent: 5345370 (1994-09-01), Murray et al.
patent: 5347119 (1994-09-01), Connors
patent: 5760953 (1998-06-01), Task et al.
Le Que T.
Simrad Optronics A/S
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