Night Vision

Development through Military History into Modern Daily Use.

Night vision technology has shaped history.

Pre 1940’s: Flares and spot lights were used for operations at night.

Due to the nature of these early night vision devices (NVD), they gave away tactical positions.

Military scientists began to think of ways to improve night vision to gain a strategic advantage.

A tank from World War II

equipped with a search light used for night

combat.

The first Night vision devices (NVD) were created during World War II.

Functioned by placing an infrared filter over a searchlight.

Fighters would use special binoculars to see using the light from the searchlights.

The actual searchlight was massive and had to be mounted on a truck or tank.

Military scientists began planning a revised design.

Post WWII NVD technology focused on the ability to see without creating additional light.

During this time period the first “Generation” of NVD began using intensified natural lighting.

Military scientists created a two-stage cascade image tube.

This tube intensified the natural lighting and created a superior image for the viewer.

There were two major developments in NVD technology.

The first was a new micro-channel plate (MPC) that was light weight, and more effective at focusing light into clear images.

The second major development was the invention of thermal imagining.

Thermal imaging allowed for NV through smoky, dusty, foggy and at low natural lighted conditions.

The currently generations of NVS are generations 3 and 4.

Generation 3 is much like generation 2 except for it has a substantially longer life, as well as more defined images.

Generation 4 has less noise than generation 3, however it has shorter life.

Here is a chart comparing the life in hours of the intensification tube for generations 1-3

Generation 1 Generation 2 Generation 3

2,000 hours 2,500- 4,000 hours

10,000 hours

Development of NVD up until the 1980’s was completely focused around military purposes.

In the 1980’s, companies in the US and Europe took NVT and found ways to improve everyday civilian life.

There are many practical everyday uses for NVD, some of which are:

Hunting

Surveillance

Security

Navigation

Hidden-Object detection

Entertainment

Advantages

It is Mainly used in military.

It is also used for security purposes in Industries, Offices, etc.

CONCLUSION

Unknown author, “Night Vision Devices”. BookRags. 11/12/2008

<http://bookrags.com>

Unknown author, “Night Vision Goggles”. GlobalSecurity. 11/10/2008

<http://www.global securities.org>

Unknown author, “How Night Vision Works”. How Stuff Works. 11/11/2008

<http://electronics.howstuffworks.com>

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