Invisible light beam projector and night vision system

Claim 2

An invisible light beam projector, comprising: a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end; an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge.

Claim 3

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, said mounting means being in the form of an end wall at an end of the tubular carrier.

Claim 4

An invisible light projector according to claim 2, wherein said control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier.

Claim 5

An invisible light projector according to claim 3, wherein said control circuit means comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular carrier.

Claim 6

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means is located within said tubular body between the rearward end of the body and the mounting means for the diode, control switch means for turning the control circuit means on and off, located outside of said tubular body, and conductor means connecting the control switch to the control circuit means.

Claim 7

An invisible light projector according to claim 5, wherein the tubular body includes an end wall at the rearward end of the tubular body, and said conductor means comprises a two component connector, one of said components being mounted on the end wall.

Claim 8

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit means comprises battery means located within said tubular body between the rearward end of the body and the mounting means for the diode.

Claim 9

An invisible light projector according to claim 7, wherein said control circuit means also comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular body, and wherein the battery means is positioned radially outwardly from the circuit board.

Claim 10

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, and wherein said control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier and the control circuit means includes battery means.

Claim 11

An invisible light projector according to claim 9, wherein said control circuit means comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular carrier and the battery means is positioned radially outwardly of the circuit board.

Claim 12

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein the projection lens means comprises a periscopic lens mounted within the tubular body towards the forward end of the tubular body, and a meniscus lens mounted within the tubular body substantially immediately rearwardly of the periscopic lens, said meniscus lens being smaller in diameter than said periscopic lens.

Claim 13

An invisible light projector according to claim 11, wherein the lens on the LED is a simple meniscus lens.

Claim 14

An invisible light projector according to claim 12, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, adjacent the rearward end of the tubular body, said mounting means being in the form of an end wall at the inner end of the tubular carrier, and wherein the control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier, between said mounting means and the rearward end of the tubular body.

Claim 15

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit means comprises battery means for producing a current, transistor means between the battery means and the diode, and integrated circuit means including a capacitor for triggering the transistor means, so that the transistor means functions as a switch to ultimately transmit and interrupt current flow from the battery means to the diode.

Claim 16

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein the diode is an infrared LED.

Claim 17

An invisible light projector according to claim 1, wherein the diode is a laser diode.

Claim 18

A night vision system, comprising: an invisible light beam projector comprising: a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end; an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light.

Claim 19

A night vision system, comprising: an invisible light beam projector comprising: a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end; an invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on and off at a rate resulting in the diode being on between about 10-20% of the time and off during the remainder of the time, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light.

Claim 20

A night vision system according to claim 17, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, said mounting means being in the form of an end wall at an end of the tubular carrier.

Claim 21

A night vision system according to claim 18, wherein said control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier.

Claim 22

A night vision system according to claim 19, wherein said control circuit means comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular carrier.

Claim 23

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein said circuit means is located within said tubular body between the rearward end of the body and the mounting means for the diode, control switch means for turning the control circuit means on and off, located outside of said tubular body, and conductor means connecting the control switch to the control circuit means.

Claim 24

A night vision system according to claim 21, wherein the tubular body includes an end wall at the rearward end of the tubular body, and said conductor means comprises a two component connector, one of said components being mounted on the end wall.

Claim 25

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein said control circuit means comprises battery means located within said tubular body between the rearward end of the body and the mounting means for the diode.

Claim 26

A night vision system according to claim 23, wherein said control circuit means also comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular body, and wherein the battery means is positioned radially outwardly from the circuit board.

Claim 27

A night vision system according to claim 17, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, and wherein said control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier and the control circuit means includes battery means.

Claim 28

A night vision system according to claim 25, wherein said control circuit means comprises a circuit board which extends diametrically within the tubular carrier and the battery means is positioned radially outwardly of the circuit board.

Claim 29

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the projection lens means comprises a periscopic lens mounted within the tubular body towards the forward end of the tubular body, and a meniscus lens mounted within the tubular body substantially immediately rearwardly of the periscopic lens.

Claim 30

A night vision system according to claim 27, wherein the lens on the LED is a simple meniscus lens.

Claim 31

A night vision system according to claim 28, comprising a tubular carrier within said tubular body, adjacent the rearward end of the tubular body, said mounting means being in the form of an end wall at the inner end of the tubular carrier, and wherein the control circuit means is housed within the tubular carrier, between said mounting means and the rearward end of the tubular body.

Claim 32

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the control circuit means comprises battery means for producing a current, transistor means between the battery means and the diode, and integrated circuit means including a capacitor for triggering the transistor means, so that the transistor means functions as a switch to ultimately transmit and interrupt current flow from the battery means to the diode.

Claim 33

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the diode is an infrared LED.

Claim 34

A night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the diode is a laser diode.

Claim 35

An invisible light beam projector, comprising: a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis, directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge.

Claim 36

An invisible light beam projector, comprising: a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis, directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned and adapted to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and enlarge and collimate this light into a collimated beam of invisible light in sharp focus, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge.

Claim 37

A night vision system, comprising: an invisible light beam projector comprising: a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light.

Claim 38

A night vision system, comprising: an invisible light beam projector comprising: a tubular body having a forward end, a rearward end and a center axis; a single invisible light beam emitting diode having an emitting lens; mounting means inside of said tubular body mounting the diode at a location within the body, between the two ends of the body, with the lens of the diode on said center axis directed towards the forward end of the body; control circuit means for the diode adapted to be repetitiously charged and discharged, and on each discharge causing the diode to light and transmit a narrow beam of invisible light through the emitting lens towards the forward end of the tubular body said control circuit means functioning to turn the diode on less than it is off, and when on being powered by a current that is substantially larger than the diode could stand if on continuously; and projection lens means within the tubular body, forwardly of the diode, of a type which is always in focus in a range between a predetermined minimum distance from the light projector and infinity, said projection lens means being positioned to receive the narrow beam of invisible light from the diode lens and collimate and focus this light into a collimated, sharp focused beam of invisible light, to produce a lighting spot having a sharp and definite edge; and a night vision telescope positioned adjacent to said invisible light projector and comprising an objective lens, and an image intensifier means positioned to receive an optical image from the objective lens, said telescope having a line of sight that is substantially parallel to the beam of invisible light.