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United States Patent: (12) (10) Patent N0.: US 6,911,652 B2
United States Patent: (12) (10) Patent N0.: US 6,911,652 B2
United States Patent: (12) (10) Patent N0.: US 6,911,652 B2
(12)
(54)
Walkenstein
4,967,276 A
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5,162,647 A
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Filed:
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ABSTRACT
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US 6,911,652 B2
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References Clted
5/ 1974 Tan
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4,374,325 A
2/1983 Howorth
4,437,111 A
4,652,739 A
4,804,843 A
2/1989 Hall
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US 6,911,652 B2
1
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
10
is a requirement.
length range.
35
45
and the user is a left Without any tactical advantage or ability 50 input Which de?nes a line of sight of the device. It is
preferably objects and images disposed Within this line of
to ascertain their surroundings. In addition to such loW or no
60
65
that re?ect off of objects Within the vieWed area. In the case
US 6,911,652 B2
3
40
45
present invention.
Integrated With the thermal imaging assembly 30 Within
the loW light imaging device 10 of the present invention is
an image intensi?cation assembly 40. Speci?cally, the image
intensi?cation assembly 40 is responsive to photons Within
the line of sight, and Will amplify those perceived photons
in order to generate an enhanced photon based image Which
embodiment, is preferred.
55
65
US 6,911,652 B2
6
5
bly 40, a photon generation assembly 43 is also provided.
The photons generation assembly 43 is responsive to the
plurality of electrons generated by the ampli?cation assem
bly 40 and accordingly generates an image photon. The
image photon is generated in substantially direct alignment
herein by reference.
15
25
signatures;
erate a real time enhanced photon based image;
con?guration is maintained.
The present loW light imaging device 10 also preferably
includes a thermal image adjustment assembly and a photon
image adjustment assembly. Looking ?rst to the embodi
ment of FIG. 1, the thermal image adjustment assembly is
preferably directly associated With the thermal imaging
assembly 30, and is structured to adjust an output of the
thermal imaging assembly 30, such as by increasing or
decreasing the gain on the thermal image produced. As such,
the thermal image adjustment assembly 36, Which may
45
60
image.
2. A loW light imaging device as recited in claim 1
US 6,911,652 B2
8
assembly; and
c) a photon generation assembly responsive to said plu
rality of electrons generated by said ampli?cation
assembly and structured to generate an image photon in
substantially direct alignment With an emission point of
said plurality of electrons and of an increased intensity
corresponding a quantity of said plurality of electrons
generated by said ampli?cation assembly so as to
de?ne said enhanced photon based image.
3. A loW light imaging device as recited in claim 2
Wherein said output image generation assembly includes at
least one eye piece disposed in visually aligned communi
another.
erated thereby;
e) an output image generation assembly structured to
combine said thermal image and said enhanced photon
based image to generate a single output image.
7. A loW light imaging device comprising: