HOW NIGHT VISION WORKS

Night vision technology consists of two major types: light amplification

(or intensification) and thermal(infrared).

Most consumer night vision products are light amplifying devices. All ITT
Night Vision products use light-amplifying technology. This technology
takes the small amount of light that's in the surrounding area (such as
moonlight or starlight), and converts the light energy (scientists call it photons) into electrical
energy (electrons).

These electrons pass through a thin disk that's about the size of a quarter and contains more
than 10 million channels. As the electrons go through the channels, they strike the channel walls
and thousands more electrons are released. These multiplied electrons then bounce off of a
phosphor screen which converts the electrons back into photons and lets you see an impressive
nighttime view even when it's really dark.

How Night Vision Works Video --

Click to view "How it works"

Differences in Night Vision Technology

Generation (Gen) 3 is the most sophisticated night vision technology available. The
photocathode is coated with sensitive gallium arsenide, which allows for a more efficient
conversion of light to electrical energy at extremely low levels of light.

Generation 3 provides the clearest, sharpest night vision image available. The units have a
higher-performing image intensifier tube with a minimum 51 lp/mm resolution, compared to the 45
lp/mm minimum of a standard Generation 3 unit. Line Pairs per Millimeter (lp/mm) are units used
to measure image intensifier resolution; the higher they are, the clearer the image becomes.

Generation 2 marked the development of a microchannel plate, which multiplies the number of
electrons by the thousands. This produces a clear image in nighttime situations without the
distortion of Gen 0 and Gen 1.

Generation 1 has problems with distortion and short-lived intensifier tubes. It uses materials that
are better than Gen 0 to convert light to electrons. These units were able to operate at lower light
levels than the Gen 0 and became known as "starlight scopes." Imported night vision viewers
usually use Gen 1 image intensifiers even though they may be advertised as Gen 2.

1
 Generation 0 technology depended on external light to increase available light energy.
After the light was converted to electrons, electrical components focused these electrons through
a cone-shaped device (anode) and accelerated them so they hit the phosphor screen with greater
energy, creating the visible image. Unfortunately, accelerating the electrons in this manner
caused distortion in the image and decreased the tube's life.

All Generation 3 products sold internationally require an export license from the U.S. Department
of State, Office of Defense Trade Controls, in accordance with International Traffic in Arms
(ITAR), Title 22, Code of Federal Regulation. Most Generation 2 products are controlled by the
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration, Commodity List Number 6A002.

Performance Attributes

There are three important attributes for judging performance. They are: sensitivity, signal and
resolution. As the customer, you need to know about these three characteristics to determine
the performance level of a night vision system.

Sensitivity, or photoresponse, is the image tube's ability to detect available light. It is usually
measured in "uA/lm," or microamperes per lumen. ITT's advanced technology and processing
enable us to give our customers products with outstanding sensitivity. That's why many of our
products do not come with standard IR illuminators. With many applications, illuminators are not
necessary. Our competitors put IR illuminators on their products to obtain acceptable
performance under low light conditions.

Signal plays a key role in night vision performance. ITT's microchannel plate technology is
unsurpassed in its ability to transfer a strong signal from input to output. Just as high-end stereo
equipment gives you quality sound, ITT Night Vision gives you a quality output image without
"noise."

Resolution is the third major consideration when purchasing night vision. This is the ability to
resolve detail in your image. High-quality optics and the latest processing methods give ITT Night
Vision the edge. Some of our competitors put magnified optics in their systems to give the illusion
that they have high resolving systems. In the trade-off, field of view is sacrificed. ITT gives the
option of higher magnification only so you can have it if you want it. The system does not need
higher magnification to function effectively. Our technology offers a uniquely formulated phosphor
screen to create the highest contrasting images, thereby generating the highest resolution
products available to the consumer.

ITT Night Vision provides you with the best night vision performance on the market. That's
because we have highly trained engineers dedicated to continuous process improvement in

2
 state-of-the-art development of night vision image tubes and systems. We
are the world's leader for Gen 3 image intensified (amplified) night vision
products for the U.S. military. Ensuring that our military remains the best in
the world requires excellence in product and technology development, and
we pass that excellence on to all our customers. You get the latest
technology and the assurance that our products meet or exceed all others
on the market.

Technical Characteristics of Night Vision

Using intensified night vision is different from using regular binoculars and/or your own eyes.
Below are some of the aspects of night vision that you should be aware of when you are using an
image intensified night vision system.

Textures, Light and Dark

Objects that appear light during the day but have a dull surface may appear darker through the
night vision unit than objects that are dark during the day but have a highly reflective surface. For
example, a shiny dark colored jacket may appear brighter than a light colored jacket with a dull
surface.

Depth Perception
Night vision does not present normal depth perception.

Fog and Rain

Night vision is very responsive to reflective ambient light; therefore, the light reflecting off of fog or
heavy rain causes much more light to go toward the night vision unit and may degrade its
performance.

Honeycomb*
This is a faint hexagonal pattern, which is the result of the manufacturing process.

Spots*
A few black spots throughout the image area also are inherent characteristics of all night vision
technology. These spots will remain constant and should not increase in size or number. See the
example below of an image with black spots.

* Do not be concerned if you see this feature. It is an inherent characteristic found in light
amplification night vision systems that incorporate a microchannel plate in the intensifer.

3
Night Vision Equipment for the Military

Solutions for the Warfighter

ITT Night Vision manufactures a variety of multifunctional night vision binoculars and other
equipment for both aviation and ground systems. View our Military Night Vision Equipment
Product List for a complete listing of everything we offer.

Army introduces first unit equipped

with ITT’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle

The U.S. Army has completed its First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT)
Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG), helping the service meet its goal of fielding the first
sensor-fused, helmet-mounted monocular. ITT’s ENVG optically combines an image
intensification (I2) image and next-generation infrared (IR) image, allowing for improved mobility
and situational awareness—through clear target identification (I2) and improved target detection
(IR).

"As the sole provider of the Army’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, we are pleased with this
major milestone in equipping our warfighters with high-quality, head-mounted sensor-fused night
vision," said ITT Night Vision’s President & General Manager, Mike Hayman. "Giving the men
and women of our military the advantages of two night vision technologies fused into one system
for the first time should help preserve their edge on the battlefield." Read the ITT Night Vision
press release...

ITT Night Vision (ITT) is in fact the leading manufacturer of night vision binoculars, goggles and
other night vision systems for the U.S. armed and allied forces, producing more Generation (Gen)
3 night vision devices per year than all of its combined worldwide competitors. Our manufacturing
climate provides the framework for ensuring the very best night vision systems while offering
maximum performance at the lowest overall cost of ownership.

4
US Military Products
Aviation Systems

AN/AVS-9
• Set with various objective lens filter options and for various helmet
configurations
• Class A,B,C and UK 645 Minus blue objective lens filters available to suit all
types of cockpit lighting
• Flip-up/flip-down capability

AN/AVS-6
• Offers the popular Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System (ANVIS).
• Clip-on power source allows use without helmet and is adaptable to SPH-4B,
HGU-56P, and Alpha aviator helmets.

Ground Systems

AN/PVS-14
• Variable gain control for enhanced performance in altering light conditions
• Hand-held, helmet-mountable, weapon-mountable

AN/PSQ 20 - ENVG
• ENVG provides fusion (via optical overlay) of image intensified (I²) and
infrared (IR) imagery.

AN/PVS-23
• Combines benefits of AN/PVS-7D and AN/AVS-6 ANVIS
• Employs either its internal battery source or
an external battery pack
• Contains a selectable (spot/flood) IR illuminator

AN/PVS-7
• Lightweight
• Helmet-mounted or head-mounted for hands-free operation

F7001
• For weapon aiming, observation, and target acquisition
• 6X night vision weaponsight

5
 Modular Day/Night Weaponsight
• Day or Night - one weapon, one scope!
• Easily manipulated turret knobs for windage and elevation

Image Intensifier Tubes

Image Intensifier Tube 18mm

• Equipped with automatic brightness control (ABC)
• Photoresponse from 1200 to 1500 micro-amps per lumen
• Resolution from 57 to 64 line pairs per millimeter

Image Intensifier Tube 18mm

• Tube for ANVIS goggles, F5050, F7000, and the F6010 pocketscope.
• Photoresponse from 1200 to 1800 micro-amps per lumen
• Resolution from 57 to 64 line pairs per millimeter

AN/AVS-9 (F4949)

Domestic, International

ITT Night Vision, the world's leading producer of Generation (Gen) 3 night vision devices, offers
the AN/AVS-9 (F4949 Series) Night Vision Goggles/Image Intensifier Set with various objective
lens filter options and for various helmet configurations - all designed to meet individual customer
requirements.

Key Features

• Generation 3
• Class A,B,C and UK 645 Minus blue objective lens filters available to suit all types of cockpit lighting
• Helmet mount configuration adaptable to most aviator helmets
• 25mm eye-relief eyepieces
• Flip-up/flip-down capability
• Interpupilary adjustment
• Tilt

6
 • Vertical and fore-aft adjustments to fit all aviators

AN/AVS-6 (F4210)

Domestic, International

ITT Night Vision, the world's leading producer of Generation (Gen) 3 night vision devices, offers
the popular Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System (ANVIS) with various image intensifier tube
options all designed to meet individual customer performance requirements.

Key Features

• Generation 3
• Available in a wide range of tube performance levels
• Adapts to SPH-4B, HGU-56P, and Alpha aviator helmets
• Clip-on power source allows use without helmet
• Uses AA batteries
• Accomodates eyeglasses

AN/PVS-14 (F6015)

Domestic, International

The versatile Generation 3 AN/PVS-14 allows the user to adjust the gain control in varying light
conditions. This unit can be handheld, as well as head-mounted, or adapted to a camera or
camcorder. This unit can also be weapon-mounted.

Key Features

• Generation 3
• Hand-held, helmet-mountable, weapon-mountable
• Variable gain control for enhanced performance in altering light conditions
• Lightweight- Single-battery: 355 grams
• Uses universally available "AA" battery

Accessories

7
 3X Military Lens
A high performance Galilean afocal telescope, the 3X Military F/1.5 lens mounts to
the objective lens of many of ITT's night vision devices. This lens comes with a
flexible, durable carrying case.

Camera Adapter Assembly

Enables you to adapt the 6015 or AN/PVS-14 night vision unit to any 35mm SLR
camera or camcorder with 46mm lens.

Mount for PASGT helmet

Allows the user to attach the 6015 or PVS-14 directly to PASGT helmets. includes
flip-up/flip-down capability and fore-and-aft adjustment. Other helmet mount
assemblies are available. Call for details.

AN/PSQ 20 - ENVG (F6023)

Domestic

Key Features

• Easy-to-use controls similar to proven AN/PVS-14

• Greater situational awareness
• Expanded viewing capability from highlight conditions to total darkness (no light) and through
battlefield obscurants. Increases capability for urban operations
• Non-exit pupil forming eyepiece allows the soldier to maintain full field of view even as helmet shifts
during vigorous physical movements

AN/PVS-23 (F5050)

Domestic, International

8
This unit is derived from the proven design of the AN/AVS-6 (ANVIS), but is substantially more
rugged, employs either its internal battery source or an external battery pack, and contains a
selectable (spot/flood) IR illuminator. A new helmet mount that attaches to a variety of helmets is
available for use with the goggle (item sold separately). The F5050 has been designed to meet
the need for a rugged night vision binocular in ground and sea-based applications that require
increased depth perception.

Key Features

• Combines benefits of AN/PVS-7D and AN/AVS-6 ANVIS

• Vertical, horizontal, and tilt adjustments
• Mounts to a variety of helmets
• Built-in power pack; uses AA battery
• Optics and image tube common to AVS-6 ANVIS
• Binocular detaches easily from mount

AN/PVS-7 (F5001)

Domestic, International

ITT's AN/PVS-7D (F5001) night vision goggles enable military ground forces to conduct critical
missions during the darkest nights of the year. Extremely lightweight, the AN/PVS-7D has been
human engineered for long-wearing comfort. It can be hand-held, helmet-mounted, or head-strap
mounted for hands-free operation.

Key Features

• Generation 3
• Helmet-mounted or head-mounted for hands-free operation
• Uses universally available "AA" batteries
• Equipped with "momentary" IR switch
• Lightweight-680 grams

Accessories

3X Military Lens
A high performance Galilean afocal telescope, the 3X Military F/1.5 lens mounts to
the objective lens of many of ITT's night vision devices. This lens comes with a
flexible, durable carrying case.

9
 Mount for PASGT helmet
Allows the user to attach the 6015 or PVS-14 directly to PASGT helmets. includes
flip-up/flip-down capability and fore-and-aft adjustment. Other helmet mount
assemblies are available. Call for details.

F7001

Domestic, International

This unit is a rugged, 6X magnification night vision weaponsight which provides excellent
observation, target acquisition and aiming capabilities at night. Most importantly, this weaponsight
provides superior range performance, accuracy and stability.

Key Features

• For weapon aiming, observation, and target acquisition

• 6X magnification
• Mounts to a variety of weapons
• Illuminated reticle

Modular Day/Night Weaponsight F7201

10
Domestic, International

Generation 3 weaponsight features interchangeable daytime and night vision modules, enabling
your weapon to remain at zero day or night.

Key Features

• 2.3X-10X variable magnification

• Retains weapon zero day or night
• Large 56mm diameter objective
• Adjustable objective focus
• Unique triplex reticle with mil dots
• Easily manipulated turret knobs for windage and elevation
• 0.25 +/-.02 minute-of-angle adjustments
• Uses AA alkaline batteries
• Lightweight
• Detachable glare shield

Image Intensifier Tube 18mm MX-10130

11
Domestic

ITT's MX-10130 Gen 3 18-mm image intensifier is completely self-contained with an integral high-
voltage power supply. Equipped with automatic
brightness control (ABC), this power supply provides constant output image brightness as light
levels increase. It also provides bright-source protection to guard the tube against exposure to
high levels of light.

Key Features

• Photoresponse from 1200 to 1500 micro-amps per lumen

• Resolution from 57 to 64 line pairs per millimeter
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio from 16.2 to 19.2 (mm)
• Sensitivity to near infrared
• 10,000-hour tube life

Image Intensifier Tube 18mm MX-10160

12
Domestic

ITT continues to improve Generation 3 MX-10160

image intensifier tubes for use in the AN/AVS-6 "ANVIS" and AN/AVS-9 (F4949) aviator night
vision goggles, as well as ground systems, including the F7000 Weaponsight, F5050 Night Vision
Binocular, and the F6010 pocketscope. Combined improvements in resolution, signal-to-noise
ratio and photocathode sensitivity have increased operational range and situational awareness
for the user.

Key Features

• Photoresponse from 1200 to 1800 micro-amps per lumen

• Resolution from 57 to 64 line pairs per millimeter
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio from 16.2 to 21
• Sensitivity to near infrared
• 10,000-hour tube life

Image Intensifier Tube 18mm MX-11769

13
Domestic

ITT''s Gen 3 F9815 Series (MX-11769) image intensifier tubes are designed for use in the
AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device. ITT offers a selection of tubes, providing different
performance levels, to satisfy a wide range of customer specifications and to comply with the
U.S. DOS and DOD guidelines for Gen 3 export.

Key Features

• Photoresponse from 1200 to 1500 micro-amps per lumen

• Resolution from 57 to 64 line pairs per millimeter
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio from 19.2 to 19.2
• Sensitivity to near infrared
• 10,000-hour tube life

Night Vision Equipment for the Military

Solutions for the Warfighter

ITT Night Vision manufactures a variety of multifunctional night vision binoculars and other
equipment for both aviation and ground systems. View our Military Night Vision Equipment
Product List for a complete listing of everything we offer.

Army introduces first unit equipped

with ITT’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle

The U.S. Army has completed its First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT)
Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG), helping the service meet its goal of fielding the first
sensor-fused, helmet-mounted monocular. ITT’s ENVG optically combines an image
intensification (I2) image and next-generation infrared (IR) image, allowing for improved mobility
and situational awareness—through clear target identification (I2) and improved target detection
(IR).

"As the sole provider of the Army’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, we are pleased with this
major milestone in equipping our warfighters with high-quality, head-mounted sensor-fused night
vision," said ITT Night Vision’s President & General Manager, Mike Hayman. "Giving the men
and women of our military the advantages of two night vision technologies fused into one system

14
for the first time should help preserve their edge on the battlefield." Read the ITT Night Vision
press release...

ITT Night Vision (ITT) is in fact the leading manufacturer of night vision binoculars, goggles and
other night vision systems for the U.S. armed and allied forces, producing more Generation (Gen)
3 night vision devices per year than all of its combined worldwide competitors. Our manufacturing
climate provides the framework for ensuring the very best night vision systems while offering
maximum performance at the lowest overall cost of ownership.

Image Intensifier Specialty Products

ITT Night Vision offers a variety of specialty image intensifier products, components and services
including high-performance inverting image intensifier tubes, non-inverting image intensifier
tubes, photomultiplier tubes, sensors and components.

Image Intensifier Applications

Image intensifier technology has applications that extend beyond use by the military and law
enforcement personnel. The use of image intensifier products has grown in fields such as
astronomy, scientific research and biotechnology. View a complete listing of more image
intensifier applications.

APPLICATIONS
USES

• Microscopy
• Fluorescence
• High Speed, Ballistics
• Astronomy
• Surveillance-Reconnaisance
• Low-Light Imaging Cameras
• Video Based Pilotage
• X-Ray
• Laser Imaging
• Target Recognition
• NIR Imaging of Tissue

15
TUBE CONFIGURATIONS

• 18mm

Night Vision Leaders

ITT Night Vision is the leading producer of Generation 3 Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) image
intensifiers. Learn more about specialty image intensifier products.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
ITT has a proven record of developing and utilizing a variety of processing technologies to
manufacture high-quality, high-performance image intensifier devices. These include:
Photocathode (Crystal Growth) Processing; Microchannel Plate (Electron Multiplier) Processing;
Ultra-High Vacuum Processing; Power Supply/Electronic Component Manufacturing.

Photocathode Processing

ITT's production of gallium arsenide (GaAs) photocathodes involves two state of the art
organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy (OMVPE) growth reactors with the high level of flexibility
needed to grow multilayer epitaxial structures-- without time-consuming and expensive "up-front"
calibration growths. This process creates a high-purity GaAs crystal able to withstand very high
processing temperatures. Our crystal growth processing capabilities are unmatched, and perfect
for applications such as GaAs devices and IC's (microwave, RF, optoelectronics, solar cells,
etc.), as well as wafer bonding.

Microchannel Plate Processing

Electron multipliers, in the form of microchannel plates (MCPs), have been manufactured at our
facility for years. We recently updated our technology with new, advanced draw towers that
produce the ultra-thin fibers necessary for our high resolution image tubes--and hundreds of other
high-tech products. Co-located Class 10,000 clean rooms enable consistent product flow from the
single-fiber draw operation to chemical processing with a minimum of handling, resulting in a
precise, uniform product with superior quality and virtually no contamination. Applications include
analytical instrumentation, x-ray imaging, microchannel heat exchangers, substrate for photonic
crystals, fiber optics, and optical fibers.

16
Ultra-High Vacuum Processing

ITT Night Vision's ultra-high vacuum processing equipment offers the purity of a total vacuum, not
unlike that of outer space. Contaminants as small as a single atom could damage the sensitive
surfaces of our image tubes. We use fully automated vacuum (or "exhaust") stations. Obtaining
the latest generation of vacuum processing technology has allowed our facility to greatly increase
efficiency and production levels. We recently obtained a new vacuum system that has been
dedicated solely to engineering development of advanced processes.

Power Supply/ Electronic Component Manufacturing

Our Power Supplies facility (formerly K & M Electronics) provides substantial design,
development, and manufacturing expertise in the area of supporting electronics. These include
everything from simple components to customized electronics systems. Power Supplies'
miniaturized high-voltage power supplies, developed initially for image intensification devices are
also used with mass spectrometry. It also provides channel electron multiplier (CEM) detectors
and other high-reliability electronic components for a wide range of commercial and military
applications.

How Night Vision Works

by Jeff Tyson
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

Tyson, Jeff. "How Night Vision Works." 27 April 2001. HowStuffWorks.com.

<http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/nightvision.htm> 26 February 2009.
Inside this Article
1. Introduction to How Night Vision Works
2. Infrared Light
3. Thermal Imaging
4. Image Enhancement
5. Generations
6. Night Vision Equipment and Applications

17
 7. See more »
Top Sniper: Night Training

• More Electronics Videos »

Night Vision Image Gallery

Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company
Gyro-stabilized day/night binoculars manufactured by B.E. Meyers Company. See more
night vision pictures.
The first thing you probably think of when you see the words night vision is a spy or action movie you've
seen, in which someone straps on a pair of night-vision goggles to find someone else in a dark building on a
moonless night. And you may have wondered "Do those things really work? Can you actually see in the
dark?"
The answer is most definitely yes. With the proper night-vision equipment, you can see a person standing
over 200 yards (183 m) away on a moonless, cloudy night! Night vision can work in two very different ways,
depending on the technology used.
• Image enhancement - This works by collecting the tiny amounts of light, including the lower
portion of the infrared light spectrum, that are present but may be imperceptible to our eyes, and
amplifying it to the point that we can easily observe the image.
• Thermal imaging - This technology operates by capturing the upper portion of the infrared light
spectrum, which is emitted as heat by objects instead of simply reflected as light. Hotter objects,
such as warm bodies, emit more of this light than cooler objects like trees or buildings.
In this article, you will learn about the two major night-vision technologies. We'll also discuss the various
types of night-vision equipment and applications. But first, let's talk about infrared light.

Infrared Light
In order to understand night vision, it is important to understand something about light. The amount of
energy in a light wave is related to its wavelength: Shorter wavelengths have higher energy. Of visible light,

18
violet has the most energy, and red has the least. Just next to the visible light spectrum is the infrared
spectrum.

Infrared light is a small part of the light spectrum.

Infrared light can be split into three categories:
• Near-infrared (near-IR) - Closest to visible light, near-IR has wavelengths that range from 0.7 to
1.3 microns, or 700 billionths to 1,300 billionths of a meter.
• 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.
• Thermal-infrared (thermal-IR) - Occupying the largest part of the infrared spectrum, thermal-IR
has wavelengths ranging from 3 microns to over 30 microns.
The key difference between thermal-IR and the other two is that thermal-IR is emitted by an object instead
of reflected off it. Infrared light is emitted by an object because of what is happening at the atomic level.
Atoms
Atoms are constantly in motion. They continuously vibrate, move and rotate. Even the atoms that make up
the chairs that we sit in are moving around. Solids are actually in motion! Atoms can be in different states of
excitation. In other words, they can have different energies. If we apply a lot of energy to an atom, it can
leave what is called the ground-state energy level and move to an excited level. The level of excitation
depends on the amount of energy applied to the atom via heat, light or electricity.
An atom consists of a nucleus (containing the protons and neutrons) and an electron cloud. Think of the
electrons in this cloud as circling the nucleus in many different orbits. Although more modern views of the
atom do not depict discrete orbits for the electrons, it can be useful to think of these orbits as the different
energy levels of the atom. In other words, if we apply some heat to an atom, we might expect that some of
the electrons in the lower energy orbitals would transition to higher energy orbitals, moving farther from the
nucleus.

An atom has a nucleus and an electron cloud.

Once an electron moves to a higher-energy orbit, it eventually wants to return to the ground state. When it
does, it releases its energy as a photon -- a particle of light. You see atoms releasing energy as photons all
the time. For example, when the heating element in a toaster turns bright red, the red color is caused by
atoms excited by heat, releasing red photons. An excited electron has more energy than a relaxed electron,
and just as the electron absorbed some amount of energy to reach this excited level, it can release this
energy to return to the ground state. This emitted energy is in the form of photons (light energy). The photon
emitted has a very specific wavelength (color) that depends on the state of the electron's energy when the
photon is released.
Anything that is alive uses energy, and so do many inanimate items such as engines and rockets. Energy
consumption generates heat. In turn, heat causes the atoms in an object to fire off photons in the thermal-
infrared spectrum. The hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of the infrared photon it releases. An

19
object that is very hot will even begin to emit photons in the visible spectrum, glowing red and then moving
up through orange, yellow, blue and eventually white. Be sure to read How Light Bulbs Work, How Lasers
Work and How Light Works for more detailed information on light and photon emission.
In night vision, thermal imaging takes advantage of this infrared emission. In the next section, we'll see just
how it does this.

Thermal Imaging
Here's how thermal imaging works:
1. A special lens focuses the infrared light emitted by all of the objects in view.
2. The focused light is scanned by a phased array of infrared-detector elements. The detector
elements create a very detailed temperature pattern called a thermogram. It only takes about one-
thirtieth of a second for the detector array to obtain the temperature information to make the
thermogram. This information is obtained from several thousand points in the field of view of the
detector array.
3. The thermogram created by the detector elements is translated into electric impulses.
4. The impulses are sent to a signal-processing unit, a circuit board with a dedicated chip that
translates the information from the elements into data for the display.
5. The signal-processing unit sends the information to the display, where it appears as various colors
depending on the intensity of the infrared emission. The combination of all the impulses from all of
the elements creates the image.

Image courtesy of Infrared, Inc.

The basic components of a thermal-imaging system
Types of Thermal Imaging Devices
Most thermal-imaging devices scan at a rate of 30 times per second. They can sense temperatures ranging
from -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) to 3,600 F (2,000 C), and can normally detect changes in
temperature of about 0.4 F (0.2 C).

Image courtesy of Infrared, Inc. Image courtesy of Infrared, Inc.

It is quite easy to see everything ...but at night, you can see
during the day... very little.

20
 Image courtesy of Infrared, Inc.
Thermal imaging lets you see again.
There are two common types of thermal-imaging devices:
• Un-cooled - This is the most common type of thermal-imaging device. The infrared-detector
elements are contained in a unit that operates at room temperature. This type of system is
completely quiet, activates immediately and has the battery built right in.
• Cryogenically cooled - More expensive and more susceptible to damage from rugged use, these
systems have the elements sealed inside a container that cools them to below 32 F (zero C). The
advantage of such a system is the incredible resolution and sensitivity that result from cooling the
elements. Cryogenically-cooled systems can "see" a difference as small as 0.2 F (0.1 C) from more
than 1,000 ft (300 m) away, which is enough to tell if a person is holding a gun at that distance!
While thermal imaging is great for detecting people or working in near-absolute darkness, most night-vision
equipment uses image-enhancement technology.

Image Enhancement
Image-enhancement technology is what most people think of when you talk about night vision. In fact,
image-enhancement systems are normally called night-vision devices (NVDs). NVDs rely on a special
tube, called an image-intensifier tube, to collect and amplify infrared and visible light.

The image-intensifier tube changes photons to electrons and

back again.
Here's how image enhancement works:
1. A conventional lens, called the objective lens, captures ambient light and some near-infrared light.
2. The gathered light is sent to the image-intensifier tube. In most NVDs, the power supply for the
image-intensifier tube receives power from two N-Cell or two "AA" batteries. The tube outputs a
high voltage, about 5,000 volts, to the image-tube components.
3. The image-intensifier tube has a photocathode, which is used to convert the photons of light
energy into electrons.
4. As the electrons pass through the tube, similar electrons are released from atoms in the tube,
multiplying the original number of electrons by a factor of thousands through the use of a
microchannel plate (MCP) in the tube. An MCP is a tiny glass disc that has millions of microscopic
holes (microchannels) in it, made using fiber-optic technology. The MCP is contained in a vacuum
and has metal electrodes on either side of the disc. Each channel is about 45 times longer than it is
wide, and it works as an electron multiplier.
When the electrons from the photo cathode hit the first electrode of the MCP, they are accelerated into the
glass microchannels by the 5,000-V bursts being sent between the electrode pair. As electrons pass through

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the microchannels, they cause thousands of other electrons to be released in each channel using a process
called cascaded secondary emission. Basically, the original electrons collide with the side of the channel,
exciting atoms and causing other electrons to be released. These
new electrons also collide with other atoms, creating a chain reaction
that results in thousands of electrons leaving the channel where only
a few entered. An interesting fact is that the microchannels in the
MCP are created at a slight angle (about a 5-degree to 8-degree
bias) to encourage electron collisions and reduce both ion and direct-
light feedback from the phosphors on the output side.
5. At the end of the image-intensifier tube, the electrons hit a
screen coated with phosphors. These electrons maintain
their position in relation to the channel they passed through,
which provides a perfect image since the electrons stay in
the same alignment as the original photons. The energy of Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company
the electrons causes the phosphors to reach an excited Night-vision images are known
state and release photons. These phosphors create the
for their eerie green tint.
green image on the screen that has come to characterize
night vision.
6. The green phosphor image is viewed through another lens, called the ocular lens, which allows
you to magnify and focus the image. The NVD may be connected to an electronic display, such as
a monitor, or the image may be viewed directly through the ocular lens

Generations
NVDs have been around for more than 40 years. They are categorized by generation. Each substantial
change in NVD technology establishes a new generation.
• Generation 0 - The original night-vision system created by the United States Army and used in
World War II and the Korean War, these NVDs use active infrared. This means that a projection
unit, called an IR Illuminator, is attached to the NVD. The unit projects a beam of near-infrared
light, similar to the beam of a normal flashlight. Invisible to the naked eye, this beam reflects off
objects and bounces back to the lens of the NVD. These systems use an anode in conjunction with
the cathode to accelerate the electrons. The problem with that approach is that the acceleration of
the electrons distorts the image and greatly decreases the life of the tube. Another major problem
with this technology in its original military use was that it was quickly duplicated by hostile nations,
which allowed enemy soldiers to use their own NVDs to see the infrared beam projected by the
device.
• Generation 1 - The next generation of NVDs moved away from active infrared, using passive
infrared instead. Once dubbed Starlight by the U.S. Army, these NVDs use ambient light provided
by the moon and stars to augment the normal amounts of reflected infrared in the environment.
This means that they did not require a source of projected infrared light. This also means that they
do not work very well on cloudy or moonless nights. Generation-1 NVDs use the same image-
intensifier tube technology as Generation 0, with both cathode and anode, so image distortion and
short tube life are still a problem.
• Generation 2 - Major improvements in image-intensifier tubes resulted in Generation-2 NVDs.
They offer improved resolution and performance over Generation-1 devices, and are considerably
more reliable. The biggest gain in Generation 2 is the ability to see in extremely low light conditions,
such as a moonless night. This increased sensitivity is due to the addition of the microchannel plate
to the image-intensifier tube. Since the MCP actually increases the number of electrons instead of
just accelerating the original ones, the images are significantly less distorted and brighter than
earlier-generation NVDs.
• Generation 3 - Generation 3 is currently used by the U.S. military. While there are no substantial
changes in the underlying technology from Generation 2, these NVDs have even better resolution
and sensitivity. This is because the photo cathode is made using gallium arsenide, which is very
efficient at converting photons to electrons. Additionally, the MCP is coated with an ion barrier,
which dramatically increases the life of the tube.
• Generation 4 - What is generally known as Generation 4 or "filmless and gated" technology shows
significant overall improvement in both low- and high-level light environments.
The removal of the ion barrier from the MCP that was added in Generation 3 technology reduces the
background noise and thereby enhances the signal to noise ratio. Removing the ion film actually allows

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more electrons to reach the amplification stage so that the images are significantly less distorted and
brighter.
The addition of an automatic gated power supply system allows the photocathode voltage to switch on and
off rapidly, thereby enabling the NVD to respond to a fluctuation in lighting conditions in an instant. This
capability is a critical advance in NVD systems, in that it allows the NVD user to quickly move from high-light
to low-light (or from low-light to high-light) environments without any halting effects. For example, consider
the ubiquitous movie scene where an agent using night vision goggles is “sightless” when someone turns on
a light nearby. With the new, gated power feature, the change in lighting wouldn’t have the same impact; the
improved NVD would respond immediately to the lighting change.
Many of the so-called "bargain" night-vision scopes use Generation-0 or Generation-1 technology, and may
be disappointing if you expect the sensitivity of the devices used by professionals. Generation-2,
Generation-3 and Generation 4 NVDs are typically expensive to purchase, but they will last if properly cared
for. Also, any NVD can benefit from the use of an IR Illuminator in very dark areas where there is almost no
ambient light to collect.

Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company

NVDs come in a variety of styles, including ones that can be
mounted to cameras.
A cool thing to note is that every single image-intensifier tube is put through rigorous tests to see if it meets
the requirements set forth by the military. Tubes that do are classified as MILSPEC. Tubes that fail to meet
military requirements in even a single category are classified as COMSPEC.

Night Vision Equipment and

Applications
Night-vision equipment can be split into three broad categories:
• Scopes - Normally handheld or mounted on a weapon, scopes are monocular (one eye-piece).
Since scopes are handheld, not worn like goggles, they are good for when you want to get a better
look at a specific object and then return to normal viewing conditions.

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 Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company
DARK INVADER Multi-purpose Pocketscope
• Goggles - While goggles can be handheld, they are most often worn on the head. Goggles are
binocular (two eye-pieces) and may have a single lens or stereo lens, depending on the model.
Goggles are excellent for constant viewing, such as moving around in a dark building.

Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company

DARK INVADER Night-vision Goggles 4501
• Cameras - Cameras with night-vision technology can send the image to a monitor for display or to
a VCR for recording. When night-vision capability is desired in a permanent location, such as on a
building or as part of the equipment in a helicopter, cameras are used. Many of the newer
camcorders have night vision built right in.

Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company

Stealth 301 Series Day/Night Video Camera
Applications
Common applications for night vision include:
• Military
• Law enforcement
• Hunting
• Wildlife observation Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company
• Surveillance This soldier is using DARK
• Security INVADER night-vision goggles.
• Navigation
• Hidden-object detection
• Entertainment
The original purpose of night vision was to locate enemy targets at night. It is still used extensively by the
military for that purpose, as well as for navigation, surveillance and targeting. Police and security often use
both thermal-imaging and image-enhancement technology, particularly for surveillance. Hunters and nature
enthusiasts use NVDs to maneuver through the woods at night.
Detectives and private investigators use night vision to watch people they are assigned to track. Many
businesses have permanently-mounted cameras equipped with night vision to monitor the surroundings.
A really amazing ability of thermal imaging is that it reveals whether an area has been disturbed -- it can
show that the ground has been dug up to bury something, even if there is no obvious sign to the naked eye.
Law enforcement has used this to discover items that have been hidden by criminals, including money,

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drugs and bodies. Also, recent changes to areas such as walls can be seen using thermal imaging, which
has provided important clues in several cases.

Photo courtesy of B.E. Meyers Company

Camcorders are a fast-growing segment
of the night-vision industry.
Many people are beginning to discover the unique world that can be found after darkness falls. If you're out
camping or hunting a lot, chances are that night-vision devices can be useful to you -- just be sure to get the
right type for your needs.

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