Friday, November 15, 2013

NVG - Night Vision Goggles, Scopes

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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 silvercesium, 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.
Night Vision - Has the US Lost the Advantage at Night? - CoCa > . skip > .
British Army's New Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) - Forces > .
Why the US Military No Longer Owns the Night - Task > .

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 silvercesium, 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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