instructables

Night Vision Scope/Camera

by JT_Makes_It

In this Instructable you will see how I made a night describe the design process.
vision scope/camera. It is capable of recording in very
low light. It can be used in many scenarios, even like a
dashcam for recording the night footage.

//www.youtube.com/embed/tdkLzGZF0po
I was inspired by this Instructable:

https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Pocket-sized-Nig...

The camera consists of mainly 4 components:

But I wanted to make it a little more professional, since I
- Runcam Night Eagle 2 Pro FPV camera
am quite handy with designing PCBs. I designed the PCB
for all the voltage converters and the battery charging
- Near Eye Monocular Display
circuit and also the battery protection circuit. I also
designed my version of the enclosure. This enclosure
- my custom electronics for powering and connecting
allows the camera to be strapped to your head so you
everything together (can be also done without it)
don't need to hold it the entire time.

- optional DVR recorder for recording what you see

Here is the video showing o the build process and the
(otherwise it works just as a scope)
nal demonstration, and in this instructable I will further

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 1

Step 1: Skills, Tools and Parts

This project is quite di cult for a beginner. But you will https://bit.ly/2NjfpOp
de nitely not need as much equipment as I have on the
photo above :) - Runcam Night Eagle 2 Pro drone FPV camera:

The beginners should rst look at the Instructable that

inspired my project (link on the rst page) but at the
same time, you should also check out my Instructable so https://bit.ly/2Z6gk7c
you will see what you still have to learn in order to
become a "pro" :) But I will also describe the basic - Optional DVR:
principles in my Instructable.
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_9wEXRO
Skills you will need for making this:
The DVR is not necessary, unless you need to record
- soldering small SMD components (and having the tools what you are seeing. I used this one, works great, records
for the job) great, but it has a little problem - it reduces the fps for
the preview from the camera. The image is seen as laggy.
- 3D printing But it records a smooth video. So I recommend not using
the DVR unless you need to record. Maybe some other
- skills for buying stu from the internet :) DVR will work better, but they are a little bit bigger.

Stu you will need (not a liated):

- the parts for the PCB will be listed further in the
- monocular display: Instructable

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 2

Step 2: The Basic Schematics

If you decide to go the simple way or want to You need to connect the wires as shown and you need
understand my wiring more easily, here is the basic to use a DC-DC converter, to boost the battery voltage
schematic which shows how camera and display are to a stable 5V used to power the camera, display and
connected together. The rst schematic is without DVR DVR. You want something with a current capability of 1A
and the other one is with DVR. or more.The circuit draws a bit more than 500mA.
Something like that could work and you will also get a
If you choose to use the same DVR as I used, note that charging circuit for the battery. All in one.
the preview you will see on the display, will seem a bit
Laggy. Looks like this DVR is quite slow for previewing. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32793055741.html?s...
But the recordings come out nicely.
(not a liated)
The basic wiring is very simple, if you want to go the
simple way, you can do without the PCB.

Step 3: The Detailed Schematics

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 3

My schematic(third picture) di ers from the basic one in
the following parts: And of course I added some connectors(the blue items
on schematic. Connectors come in handy when
- I added on-board battery protection assembling and disassembling the assembly. But
everything could just be soldered on the board directly
- added on-board battery charger and you will solve yourself some hassle if you don't have
the tools available. (I also don't own the crimping tools. I
- I added on-board battery voltage to 5V DC converter borrowed them from work since they are quite
expensive).
I will shortly explain those sub-parts in the following
steps.

Step 4: The Battery Protector

This circuit uses a ridiculously miniature BQ29700 IC, So it keeps the battery safe and healthy.
which with the help of some components protects the
battery from: If you use protected 18650 batteries you don't need this
circuit as it performs the same function as built-in
- overvoltage protection. I had some unprotected cells laying around
and I decided to put protection on the board directly.
- undervoltage

- overcurrent

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 4

Step 5: USB Charging Circuit

This circuit charges the battery when you connect the micro USB connector.

It limits the charging circuit to 800mA which enables charging at moderate speed when connected to wall charger.

When the battery is charging, the red LED is on, indicating the charge. When the charge is complete, the LED turns o .

Step 6: The 5V Boost Converter

This circuit generates a stable 5V from the 2.5V-4.2V system on or o with a very small low current switch.
battery voltage.
The display, camera and DVR combined consume
It is a simple Boost Converter. (the output voltage is approximately 500mA of current, this small switch I
higher than the input voltage) wanted to use is capable of switching only 100mA. By
using the switch to operate only the enable signal, I was
The switch is connected to the enable circuit which turns able to use this tiny switch and save some space.
the converter on or o . This way, you turn the whole

Step 7: The PCB

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 5

I designed a small PCB, holding all these components. With these les, you can get the PCB made, from the
providers like JLCPCB
For space saving I put the battery holder on the bottom
side. The cost of this board is only 2$ for 5pcs (plus shipping)
which is a bargain! Sign up to get $18 new user coupons:
https://jlcpcb.com/IAT
You can get gerbers here:
You can use coupon code "JLCPCBcom" at checkout for a
small discount.

https://drive.google.com/ le/d/13GhPQQ2v9n4S9GOvP. In the attached .pdf, you can see the assembly
.. instructions for soldering the components to PCB,
including the bill of materials.

Download

https://www.instructables.com/ORIG/FIU/J2JR/KGTES1FF/FIUJ2JRKGTES1FF.pdf

Step 8: 3D Printed Enclosure

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 6

I designed the enclosure in such way, so it can be held took me some time to remove all the supports, but it
on the head by a strap or headband. came out nicely at the end.

It is indeed the most complicated part I have ever And the enclosure somewhat works as it should.
designed :) I am quite proud of it.

It is also very di cult for printing. No matter how you Here are the 3D les:
position it on the plate, you will always have some
di cult to remove supports or the print will not look as https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4636835
nice. If you have dual extruder printer with water soluble
supports you will win :) As you have seen in the video, it

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 7

Step 9: Crimping Wires

You can avoid crimping if you don't have the tools. enclosure(for turning on the IR LEDs).
Soldering is just as cool :) I would also solder the thing
together, but I got an opportunity to borrow the For the camera and display, I simply cut the existing
crimping tools from work. wires at appropriate lengths and revealed the internal
wires. You can decode what colour is which on the basic
I used JST PH type connectors. schematics in step 2. The schematic contains the correct
colour coding. On the PCB there is a marking print,
I prepared the wires for camera, display, the IR LEDs in indicating which wire goes where.
the front, the switch which goes on top of the

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 8

Step 10: Putting It All Together

The PCB slides in the slots in the enclosure. Rest of it is pretty much self explanatory. See the video for some assembly
process.

If you have any problems, tell me in the comments.

Step 11: Night Shots

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 9

These shots were taken on a remote road, away from all The camera also works at bright daylight. It does not get
arti cial lightning. blinded. But it records only black and white.

The night sky was mostly clear, with almost full moon. You can check out more shots in the YouTube video at
You can also see some stars. the beginning of Instructable as the still images don't
show the full potential the video looks much more
The second photo is taken while driving a car with detailed.
regular halogen lights. You can see that the camera
could also be used as a night dashcam as it provides
excellent visibility.

Step 12: Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my Instructable! https://www.facebook.com/JTMakesIt

Please vote for it in the Instructable 1000th contest!
https://www.instagram.com/jt_makes_it
Thank you!
for spoilers on what I am currently working on, behind
If you want to stay in touch on what I am working on: the scenes and other extras! PS:., if you REALLY, REALLY
liked it, you can also buy me a co ee here, so I will have
You can subscribe to my YouTube channel: more energy for future projects :)

http://www.youtube.com/c/JTMakesIt https://www.buymeaco ee.com/JTMakesIt

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 10

It all looks good . Expensive a bit but the thing that gets me is the power consumption . Half an
amp is a big draw from any battery supply and the battery won't last long unless its a 50Ah plus
cell
Why make a video that runs so fast and moves about fast it is impossible to understand or
appreciate any of it.
The rest is great.
This is a thing I am still experimenting with. Long video tends to get very boring. I rather explain
things in detail in the instructable than in the video..
Hello, I like the style and completeness of your project. Everything makes sense, and all the
relevant details were implemented with a high level of craft. My art school professors would say
this: "whatever you are doing, your level of craft must be adequate to express the conceptual
ideas without detracting from them in any way." Meaning, if your idea suggests photorealistic
painting, then you need to be able to paint photorealistic style convincingly. This idea stayed with
me, since IMHO it is one of the largest categories of failure. Why am I explaining this here?
Because your project upholds this idea perfectly! The exact level of build finish that your
conceptual idea suggests is presented in the finished piece. Does anyone object to critiquing a
finished electrical engineering project with the same language as a watercolor landscape
painting? I always think that engineering is equally creative, if not more so, than traditional fine
art. My education, a real life black-swan level of weirdness, spans both. (BFA, PreMED, MSc. O-
Chem).

Some ideas, with only categorical relevance (please do not construe these as specific to your
build). I worked on a similar idea, based on the universal scene of driving at night, speeding, and
catching a new set of headlights in the rear view mirror and [inevitably] thinking, "hmmm, I
wonder if that's a cop...". As a Utopian optimist who wishes to make the world a better place, I
wanted to address that situation with my signature overkill. I built a "light cannon" and "far-seeing-
rear-view-cam". I am planning to upload the project for everyone soon, but some quick highlights
from what I learned so far.
(]1.[) HSBLC - Highlight-Supression-Backlight-Compensation - a git'r-dunn no frills solution to 2
high-beam halogens aimed exactly at your camera, but you wish to read the fine print between
these angry f-off lights. What do you do, if you can't swap cameras, or have buddy in car#2 pull
up and ask the nice lady to, "please, for just like, a half-a-second [gesturing with thumb and
forefinger to indicate "thin" or "tiny"] turn off your lights, and then on again... Please? It's like, for
art, you know?"
-- you write some code, to recalculate the scene, but first assign a dark dark gray to the blown out
highs. All you HDR nerds know that an image sensor only has a handful of EV's per frame, so
Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 11
this is an effort to have the camera squint a little. Amazingly, it works! This is your basic license
plate reading technology, upstream from the machine vision OCR.
[It doesn't matter if your UNSUB is the occupant[s] of the vehicle instead of its registration tags,
you get to see what you want with this camera, straight out of the box. The feature is accessible
with a button click or through logic.]
(]2.[) Light Cannon. Without giving away my designs just yet, I suggest collimating the light for
long distance viewing, my goal is 3 to 5x your high-beam distance, but in my case, looking
backwards.

Collaboration? Kickstarter? Sure, let's talk.

OMG! How could I have missed your massive comment :D Your ideas are hillarious! Thanks a lot
for this :) Maybe when I will have a larger budget I will try some of them out :)
Very cool! just what I need! Should I start calling you "M" now ;)

Super cool as a spy gadget too! But it's so expensive!!!

Thanks! Yes it is quite expensive, but commercial versions cost multiple times that amount for
pretty much the same performance.
True!

Pretty cool

Thanks!

That's really cool. And your instructable is great. Thanks for presenting it.

Night Vision Scope/Camera: Page 12