A
night-vision device (NVD), also known as
night optical/observation device (NOD) and
night-vision goggles (NVG), is an
optoelectronic device that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. The image may be a conversion to visible light of both visible light and
near-infrared, while by convention detection of thermal infrared is denoted
thermal imaging. The image produced is typically
monochrome green, because it was considered to be the easiest color to look at for prolonged periods in the dark. NVDs are most often
used by the military and
law enforcement agencies, but are available to
civilian users. The term usually refers to a complete unit, including an
image intensifier tube, a protective and generally water-resistant housing, and some type of mounting system. Many NVDs include a protective sacrificial lens, or optical components such as
telescopic lenses or
mirrors. An NVD may have an
IR illuminator, making it an active as opposed to passive night-vision device. They are often used in conjunction with IR
laser sights which project a beam onto the target that is only visible through an NVD.
In
1929 Hungarian physicist
Kálmán Tihanyi invented an infrared-sensitive electronic television camera for
anti-aircraft defense in the UK.
AEG started developing the first devices in
1935.
Night-vision devices were first used in
WW2 and came into wide use during the
Vietnam War. Night-vision devices were introduced in the
German Army as early as
1939 and were used in
WW2. In
mid-1943, the German Army began the first tests with infrared
night-vision (
Nachtjäger) devices and
telescopic rangefinders mounted on
Panther tanks. Two different arrangements were constructed and used on Panther tanks. The Sperber FG 1250 ("Sparrow Hawk"), with a range of up to 600 m, had a 30 cm infrared searchlight and an image converter operated by the tank commander.
An experimental Soviet device called the PAU-2 was field-tested in
1942.
From
late 1944 to March 1945 the German military conducted successful tests of FG 1250 sets mounted on Panther Ausf. G tanks (and other variants). Before World War 2, ended in 1945, approximately 50 (or 63) Panthers had been equipped with the FG 1250 and saw combat on both the
Eastern and
Western Fronts. The
"Vampir" man-portable system for infantry was used with
StG 44 assault rifles.
Parallel development of night-vision systems occurred in the
US. The M1 and M3 infrared night-sighting devices, also known as the "sniperscope" or "snooperscope", saw limited service with the US Army in World War 2 and in the
Korean War, to assist
snipers. These were active devices, using a
large infrared light source to illuminate targets. Their image-intensifier tubes used an
anode and an S-1
photocathode, made primarily of
silver,
cesium, and
oxygen, and electrostatic inversion with electron acceleration was used to achieve gain.
The technology has evolved greatly since their introduction, leading to several "generations" of night-vision equipment with performance increases and price reductions. Consequently, they are available for a wide range of applications, e.g. for gunners, drivers and aviators.
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A
night-vision device (NVD), also known as
night optical/observation device (NOD) and
night-vision goggles (NVG), is an
optoelectronic device that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. The image may be a conversion to visible light of both visible light and
near-infrared, while by convention detection of thermal infrared is denoted
thermal imaging. The image produced is typically
monochrome green, because it was considered to be the easiest color to look at for prolonged periods in the dark. NVDs are most often
used by the military and
law enforcement agencies, but are available to
civilian users. The term usually refers to a complete unit, including an
image intensifier tube, a protective and generally water-resistant housing, and some type of mounting system. Many NVDs include a protective sacrificial lens, or optical components such as
telescopic lenses or
mirrors. An NVD may have an
IR illuminator, making it an active as opposed to passive night-vision device. They are often used in conjunction with IR
laser sights which project a beam onto the target that is only visible through an NVD.
In
1929 Hungarian physicist
Kálmán Tihanyi invented an infrared-sensitive electronic television camera for
anti-aircraft defense in the UK.
AEG started developing the first devices in
1935.
Night-vision devices were first used in
WW2 and came into wide use during the
Vietnam War. Night-vision devices were introduced in the
German Army as early as
1939 and were used in
WW2. In
mid-1943, the German Army began the first tests with infrared
night-vision (
Nachtjäger) devices and
telescopic rangefinders mounted on
Panther tanks. Two different arrangements were constructed and used on Panther tanks. The Sperber FG 1250 ("Sparrow Hawk"), with a range of up to 600 m, had a 30 cm infrared searchlight and an image converter operated by the tank commander.
An experimental Soviet device called the PAU-2 was field-tested in
1942.
From
late 1944 to March 1945 the German military conducted successful tests of FG 1250 sets mounted on Panther Ausf. G tanks (and other variants). Before World War 2, ended in 1945, approximately 50 (or 63) Panthers had been equipped with the FG 1250 and saw combat on both the
Eastern and
Western Fronts. The
"Vampir" man-portable system for infantry was used with
StG 44 assault rifles.
Parallel development of night-vision systems occurred in the
US. The M1 and M3 infrared night-sighting devices, also known as the "sniperscope" or "snooperscope", saw limited service with the US Army in World War 2 and in the
Korean War, to assist
snipers. These were active devices, using a
large infrared light source to illuminate targets. Their image-intensifier tubes used an
anode and an S-1
photocathode, made primarily of
silver,
cesium, and
oxygen, and electrostatic inversion with electron acceleration was used to achieve gain.
The technology has evolved greatly since their introduction, leading to several "generations" of night-vision equipment with performance increases and price reductions. Consequently, they are available for a wide range of applications, e.g. for gunners, drivers and aviators.
