Night vision goggles, which utilize electro-optical imagers to aid observation, provide clear vision at night or in low-light conditions. They come in a variety of types, including low-light-level night vision goggles, infrared night vision goggles, and those designed specifically for automotive use.
1. Overview of Night Vision Goggles
1.1. Types of Night Vision Goggles
Night vision technology, an optoelectronic technology that uses electro-optical imaging devices to enable nighttime observation, encompasses two main areas: low-light-level night vision and infrared night vision. Low-light-level night vision, also known as image intensification technology, uses night vision goggles equipped with image intensifier tubes to enhance the image of dim targets illuminated by night skylight, enabling clearer observation. This technology is widely used in various night vision equipment, such as night vision scopes and weapon sights. Infrared night vision technology is categorized into active and passive methods. Active infrared night vision utilizes infrared light reflected from a target to achieve observation, while passive infrared night vision utilizes infrared radiation emitted by the target itself. Furthermore, night vision goggles for automotive use are gaining increasing attention, providing safety for nighttime driving. Different types of night vision goggles are suitable for different environments. For example, low-light-level night vision goggles perform particularly well in starlight or moonlight, while infrared night vision goggles can detect targets in any environment.
1.2. Low-light-level and Infrared Night Vision Technology
Currently, low-light-level night vision devices are widely used by foreign militaries. This technology is divided into two types: image-intensified low-light-level night vision and low-light-level television. Image-intensified low-light-level night vision technology uses night vision goggles equipped with an intensifier tube to enhance the image of dim targets illuminated by night skylight, allowing for clear observation. Its operating principle involves multiple steps, including photoelectric conversion, electronic signal enhancement, and electro-optical conversion.
2. The Evolution of Low-Light-Level Night Vision Technology
2.1. Stages of Development of Low-Light-Level Night Vision Technology
During the 1950s and 1960s, with the advent of multi-alkali photocathodes, fiber optic panels, microchannel plates (MCPs), and negative electron affinity (NEA) photocathodes, low-light-level night vision technology experienced rapid development. This technology successfully overcame the limitations of active infrared night vision, becoming a research focus in the night vision field and gradually replacing it, becoming the dominant technology. Today, this technology has reached its third generation. Low-light-level night vision technology is divided into three generations, each with progressively improved performance and widespread military use.
The first generation of low-light-level night vision products began development in the early 1960s, utilizing a cascaded image intensifier tube (IIT) coupled to a photocathode and a fiber-optic faceplate. The US military first used this product in Vietnam in 1966, with mass production and deployment beginning in the 1970s. The second generation, utilizing a multi-alkali photocathode and microchannel plate (MCP), was introduced in the early 1970s. Currently, production is available in the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, and other countries. Starting in the 1980s, these countries gradually replaced the first generation with the second generation.
Research on the third generation of low-light-level night vision products began in the early 1970s, and the US military began deploying them in the late 1980s. Currently, US sales of third-generation products are limited to allies such as NATO, South Korea, Japan, Israel, and Australia. Low-light-level night vision technology is being deployed in military units around the world, and new technologies are being developed continuously.
2.2. Application and R&D in Various Countries
Furthermore, low-light-level night vision technology not only provides excellent nighttime observation capabilities but also undergoes continuous technological innovation. For example, the introduction of new night vision equipment such as the NVG-30 pilot night vision goggles and the NVG-M night vision goggles demonstrates the technology's commitment to improving performance and adapting to new combat requirements. Low-light-level televisions, combined with television camera tubes, provide multi-purpose observation, and color night vision technology is a current research hotspot.
2.3. Low-light-level televisions and color night vision technologies
Low-light-level televisions are a low-light-level night vision system that combines image intensifier tubes with television camera tubes. Since its introduction in the 1940s, they have experienced rapid development in the 1970s. With advantages such as a wide imaging area, strong visual quality, continuous observation, and the ability to observe multiple points and multiple people at long distances, they have been widely used in various fields, including surveillance, reconnaissance, detection, guidance, and tracking. Currently, over 30 types of these products are in use abroad. However, current low-light-level night vision devices only provide monochrome images, which to some extent limits their target identification efficiency and accuracy. Therefore, color low-light-level night vision technology has become a research hotspot and is gradually replacing low-light-level television technology.
3. Infrared Night Vision Technology and Applications
3.1. Development of Infrared Night Vision Technology
Infrared night vision technology has evolved from active infrared to passive infrared, with its sensitivity and resolution continuously increasing. The high resolution and detection advantages of infrared night vision equipment make it crucial in shipboard tracking and missile launch. Electro-optical fire control systems equipped with thermal imaging devices can more effectively identify targets and shorten weapon system response times.
3.2. Infrared Thermal Imagers and Military Applications
Thermal imagers, with their high resolution and detection advantages, are widely used in military reconnaissance and combat. Nighttime and adverse weather account for a significant portion of the year, and the advent of night vision equipment has made the nighttime transparent, significantly extending effective combat time. Electro-optical fire control systems equipped with thermal imaging devices play a key role in the military.
3.3. Safe Applications of Night Vision Technology
Night vision equipment improves nighttime combat effectiveness and creates a transparent nighttime environment for safer driving. For example, equipping aircraft with forward-looking infrared cameras can enhance the performance of navigation pods and ensure flight safety. Night vision goggles can effectively reduce the harmful effects of strong light on the human body, particularly in aviation, providing pilots with additional protection and significantly reducing the risk of aviation accidents. Their application in the driving field also provides practical solutions for nighttime driving safety.
onick Optics (Wuhan) Co., Ltd., located in the Creative World Park in Hongshan District, Wuhan, is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, development, and sale of rangefinders, binoculars, night vision goggles, thermal imaging devices, surveillance cameras, and speedometers. Our products are used in security and police applications, fire safety and supervision, military and police counterterrorism, border defense, emergency rescue, power generation, communications, forestry, water conservancy, environmental monitoring, key universities, and scientific research institutions.