Review of Night Vision Technology INVITED PAPER K
OPTO−ELECTRONICS REVIEW 21(2), 153–181 DOI: 10.2478/s11772−013−0089−3 Review of night vision technology INVITED PAPER K. CHRZANOWSKI*1,2 1Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, 2 Kaliskiego Str., 00–908 Warsaw, Poland 2Inframet, 24 Graniczna Str., Kwirynów, 05–082 Stare Babice, Poland Night vision based on technology of image intensifier tubes is the oldest electro−optical surveillance technology. However, it receives much less attention from international scientific community than thermal imagers or visible/NIR imagers due to se− ries of reasons. This paper presents a review of a modern night vision technology and can help readers to understand sophis− ticated situation on the international night vision market. Keywords: night vision technology, image intensifier tubes. List of abbreviations 1. Introduction ANVIS – aviator night vision imaging system (a term used Humans achieve ability to see at night conditions by using commonly for binocular night vision goggles), several different imaging systems: night vision devices CCD – charge couple device (a technology for constructing (image intensifier systems), thermal imagers, SWIR ima− integrated circuits that use a movement of electrical charge by “shifting” signals between stages within gers, and some more sensitive visible/NIR (CCD/CMOS/ the device one at a time), ICCD/EMCCD) cameras. However, due to historical rea− CCTV – close circuit television (type of visible/NIR cameras sons, night vision technology is usually understood as night used for short range surveillance) vision devices. CMOS – complementary metal−oxide−semiconductor (a tech− Night vision devices (NVDs) are apparently simple sys− nology that uses pairs of p−type and n−type metal tems built from three main blocks: optical objective, image oxide semiconductor field effect transistors for con− intensifier tube, and optical ocular (Fig.
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