Night Vision technology

‘Night Vision’ itself means the ability to see in low light conditions.We all might have a question in our mind that is this really possible to see in the dark night? The answer is……..YES.We can see in the dark night using the proper equipment made by using Night Vision Technology.

Night Vision Technology, literally allows one to see in the dark.We can see a person standing over 200 yards 183 m away on a moonless, cloudy night.
The first night vision devices (NVD) were created during World war-II.It was Functioned by placing an infrared filter over a searchlight.Fighters would use special binoculars to see using the light from the searchlights.

                                         A tank from World War II equipped with a search light used for night combat

#How Night Vision technology works?

Infrared light is used to visualize the things in the dark.The amount of energy in a light wave is related to its wavelength: Shorter wavelengths have higher energy. Of visible light, violet has the most energy, and red has the least. Just next to the visible light spectrum is the infrared spectrum.

Infrared light spectrum can be split into three categories as shown in figure.

1) Near-infrared (near-IR)- Closest to visible light, near-IR has wavelengths that range 0.7 to 1.3 micron. 

2) Mid-infrared (mid-IR)- Mid-IR has wavelengths ranging from 1.3 to 3 microns.

Both near-IR and mid-IR are used by a variety of electronic devices, including remote controls.

3) Thermal-infrared (thermal-IR) – Occupying the largest part of the infrared spectrum, thermal-IR has wavelengths ranging from 3 microns to over 30 microns.

#Thermal Imaging Process

•A special lens focuses the infrared light emitted by all of the objects in view. 

•The focused light is scanned by infrared-detector and create temperature pattern. 

•The pattern created is translated into electrical impulse.

•The impulses are sent to a circuit board that translate the information into data for the display.

Thermal Imaging Technique

ImageEnhancement#

• An image-intensifier tube is used to collect and amplify infrared and visible light. 
• Conventional lens, called the objective lens, captures ambient light and some near-infrared light. 
• The gathered light is sent to the image-intensifier tube. 
• The image-intensifier tube has a photo-cathode, which is used to convert the photons of light energy into electrons.

Image Intensifier

• These electrons enter micro channel plate and bounces off and generate more electron. 
• Thousand of other electron to be released in each channel. 
• Original electrons collide with the channel, exciting atoms and causing other electron to emit 
• The energy of the electrons release photons and create green image on the screen while passing the electron from phosphor screen. 
• The green phosphor image is viewed through another lens.

       #Night Vision Devices

Night vision devices are basically divided into three categories:

A)  Scopes

They are monocular normally handheld or mounted on a weapon and equipped with one or more reticle pattern.These are sometimes called starlight scopes. Night Vision Scopes just like most other night vision optics can be equipped with different types of night vision tubes ranging from Gen 1 to Gen 3 FLAG.Night vision manufacturers are always working on improving their devices. As a result in recent years digital night vision rifle scopes have become very popular. These devices, unlike the analog Gen 1 night vision scopes, can be used both during the day and at night. There are multiple lines of digital night vision rifle scopes such as Sightmark Photon, Armasight Drone, ATN X-Sight and Pulsar Digisight. Another recent technological development is the Ceramic Core technology. This technology brings very high resolution to Gen 1 tubes. This results in superb image quality at a very low price. Armasight Vampire 3x is an example of the CORE tech. There have been improvements in the higher generation tubes as well. In particular both Armasight and ATN offer high quality Gen 2 white phosphorous tubes which offer better contrast and are easier on the eyes due to the grey color instead of the traditional green. In Gen 3 space, things are pretty stable. Pinnacle tubes are still dominating the space. Night vision rifle scopes with Gen 3 tubes offer shooting range of over 300 yards under average lighting conditions

B) Goggles
This is the best device for wild life loves and bikers.

C) Camera

Used for transmission or recording of images mostly if the location is fixed.

          #Best Uses and Applications

• This Night vision technology breaks the barriers for the reason which restrict the time for a wild life observer. We can go out of the black box. 
• The main use of night vision is to see things that your eye wouldn't normally be able to see in the dark or in low light. 
• The application of night vision technology is very essential to combat terrorism which is a major problem faced by Mankind. Many hobbies, and even some jobs, require night vision like Observing nocturnal wildlife, night hunting or fishing, boating in foggy weather or at night, professional security or neighborhood watch programs, camping, ghost hunting and paranormal research,Search and Rescue, many more activities. 
• Night vision devices are basically designed for utmost defensive purposes and are also been used in automobiles(Self Driving Cars).