SYNOPSIS NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

Night vision technology, by definition, literally allows one to see in the dark. Originally developed for military use, it has provided the United States with a strategic military advantage, the value of which can be measured in lives. Federal and state agencies now routinely utilize the technology for site security, surveillance as well as search and rescue. Night vision equipment has evolved from bulky optical instruments in lightweight goggles through the advancement of image intensification technology. 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.

Night vision technologies can be broadly divided into three main categories: Image intensification Image intensification technologies work on the principle of magnifying the amount of received photons from various natural sources such as starlight or moonlight. Examples of such technologies include night glasses and low light cameras. Active illumination Active illumination technologies work on the principle of coupling imaging intensification technology with an active source of illumination in the near

infrared (NIR) or shortwave infrared (SWIR) band. Examples of such technologies include low light cameras. Thermal imaging Thermal imaging technologies work by detecting the temperature difference between the background and the foreground objects. Some organisms are able to sense a crude thermal image by means of special organs that function as bolometers. This allows thermal infrared sensing in snakes, which functions by detection of thermal radiation.

GENERATIONS OF NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

1. GENERATION 1 (Developed in 1960s) o o o o Vacuum Tube Technology Full Moon Operation Amplification : 1,000 Operating Life: 2,000 Hours

2. GENERATION 2 (Developed in 1970s) o o o o First Micro Channel Plate (MCP) Application One-Quarter moon Operation Amplification : 20,000 Operating life : 2,500 hours

3. GENERATION 2+ (1970s) o Development increased image tube bias voltage to improve gain. o Additionally, a glass faceplate was added to improve resolution. 4. GENERATION 3 (Developed in 1990s) o o o o Improved MCP and Photocathode Starlight Operation Amplification : 40,000 Operating Life : 10,000 Hours

5. GENERATION 3 Enhanced (2000s) o Improvements in photocathode and MCP resulted in increased gain and resolution.

Night Vision Devices

Night vision devices are basically divided into three categories SCOPES They are monocular normally handheld or mounted on a weapon. GOGGLES They are binocular and worn on the head. CAMERAS Used for transmission or recording of images mostly if the location is fixed.

Applications
o Common applications for night vision include: o Military o Law enforcement o Hunting o Wildlife observation o Surveillance o Security o Navigation o Hidden-object detection

CONCLUSION
o Through night vision device we can see the object in dark environment. o We have seen four generation of this devices and seen different ranges.
o

Initially this device was used by military but now it also available for civilians

SYNOPSIS ON NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

-By KAVITA JOSHI ECE-I UE95048