ABHISEK BILAS REDG.

No : 0501212646

INTRODUCTION
Night Vision Technology enables us to see objects clearly in levels of light approaching total darkness in the absence of any artificial light. Night vision technology refers to the quality of the image intensifier tube housed by the night vision device (NVD). The total landscape viewed through a modern night vision system appear almost illuminated while the same objects viewed with a naked eye would appear only as indistinct shadow. Depending upon the way it is implemented it is broadly classified into two types (i) Biological Night vision (ii) Technical Night vision

Enhanced spectral range

Enhanced spectral range techniques make the viewer sensitive to types of light that would be invisible to a human observer. Human vision is confined to a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum called visible range. Enhanced spectral range allows the viewer to take advantage of non-visible sources of electromagnetic radiation (such as near-infrared or UV radiation)

Enhanced intensity range

Enhanced intensity range is simply the ability to see with very small quantities of light. Although the human visual system can, in theory,detect single photons under ideal conditions. Some animals have evolved better night vision through the use of a larger optical aperture, improved retina composition that can detect weaker light over a larger spectral range, more photo efficient optics in the eye, and improved neurological ability. Enhanced intensity range is achieved via technological means through the use of an image intensifier,gain multiplication or other very low-noise and high-sensitivity array of photodetectors.

Biological night vision

In biological night vision, molecules of rhodopsin in the rods of the eye undergo a change in shape as light is absorbed by them. Rhodopsin in the human rods is insensitive to the longer red wavelengths of light,so many people use red light to preserve night vision as it will not deplete the eye's rhodopsin stores in the rods and instead is viewed by the cones. Some animals,such as cats, dogs, and deer,have a structure called the tapetum in the back of the eye that reflects light for even better night vision than humans,in which only 10% of the light that enters the eye falls on photosensitive parts of the retina.

TECHNICAL NIGHT VISION

It is based upon the principles of photo electric effect. E = hf E = W + KE Where E=Energy of the radiation. W=Work function. KE=Kinetic energy of the electrons. h=Plancks constant. f=Frequency of the radiation.
BASIC PRINCIPLE
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

EMMISION OF ELECTRON FROM PHOTO CATHODE WHEN PHOTON STRIKES ON THE SURFA CE

NIGHT VISION DEVICES

Night vision device (NVD) is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. The term usually refers to a complete unit, including an image intensifier tube, a protective and generally water-resistant housing, and some type of mounting system. Night vision device can work in two very different ways,depending on technology, Image Enhancement Technique. Thermal Imaging Technique.

IMAGE ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUE

Image-enhancement technology is the most important aspect of night vision technique.

NVDs rely on a special tube, called an imageintensifier tube, to collect and amplify infrared and visible light. It works by collecting the tiny amounts of light, including the lower portion of the infrared light spectrum, that are imperceptible to our eyes, and amplify it to the point so that we can easily observe the image.

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Its working as follows..
1. A conventional lens, called the objective lens, captures ambient light and some near-infrared light. 2.The gathered light is sent to the image-intensifier tube. In most NVDs, the power supply for the image-intensifier tube receives power from two N-Cell batteries. The tube outputs a high voltage, about 5,000 volts, to the imagetube component 3.The image-intensifier tube has a photocathode, which is used to convert the photons of light energy into electrons.

4. As the electrons pass through the tube, similar electrons are released from atoms in the tube, multiplying the original number of electrons by a factor of thousands through the use of a micro channel plate (MCP) in the tube.MCP acts as electron multiplier. 5. At the end of the image-intensifier tube, the electrons hit a screen coated with phosphors. The energy of the electrons causes the phosphors to reach an excited state and release photons. 6. The green phosphor image is viewed through another lens, called the ocular lens, which allows you to magnify and focus the image. The NVD may be connected to an electronic display, such as a monitor, or the image may be viewed directly through the ocular lens.

THERMAL IMAGING
Properties of thermal device:
Most thermal-imaging devices scan at a rate of 30 times per second. They can sense temperatures ranging from -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) to 3,600 F (2,000 C). It can normally detect changes in temperature of about 0.4F(0.2).

TYPES OF THERMAL IMAGING

Un-cooled: The infrared-detector elements are
contained in a unit that operates at room temperature. This type of system is completely quiet, activates immediately and has the battery built right in.

Cryogenically cooled: These systems have the elements sealed inside a container that cools them to below 32 F (zero C). It has incredible resolution and sensitivity that result from cooling the elements. Cryogenically-cooled systems can "see" a difference as small as 0.2 F (0.1 C) from more than 1,000 ft (300 m) away.

Continues..
Its working as follows
1. 2. A special lens focuses the infrared light emitted by all of the objects in view. The focused light is scanned by infrared-detector elements. The detector elements create a very detailed temperature pattern called a thermogram. The thermogram created by the detector elements is translated into electric impulses. The impulses are sent to a signal-processing unit, a circuit board with a dedicated chip that translates the information from the elements into data for the display.

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5. The signal-processing unit sends the information to the display, where it appears as various colors depending on the intensity of the infrared emission. The combination of all the impulses from all of the elements creates the image.

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF NVD

GENERATION 0 :
1. 2. 3. These NVDs use active infrared devices, using a large infrared light source to illuminate targets. A projection unit, called an IR Illuminator, is attached to the NVD. The unit projects a beam of near-infrared light. Their image intensifier tubes function using an anode and an S-1 photocathode, made primarily of silver, caesium, and oxygen to accelerate the electrons. Generation 0 devices took a lot of power to use, for both the tube and the IR illuminator. Had a very distorted picture due to a cone-shaped electrode design, and a short tube life due to the high electrical voltage.

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GENERATION 1:
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These NVDs use ambient light provided by the moon and stars in the environment so also called Starlight scopes. They are much more power efficient, amplify light better, and produced a superior image. Generation-1 NVDs use the same image-intensifier tube technology as Generation 0, with both cathode and anode. These devices do not work very well on cloudy or moonless nights. Image distortion and short tube life are still a problem.

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GENERATION 2 :
1. 2. Major improvements was in image-intensifier tubes. Increased sensitivity is due to the addition of the microchannel plate to the image-intensifier tube. MCP actually increases the number of electrons instead of just accelerating the original electrons. Light amplification was around 20000x The images are significantly less distorted and brighter than earlier-generation NVDs.

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GENERATION 3 :
1. It is essentially generation 2 technology with a new photocathode material gallium arsenide and a better MCP. Gallium arsenide provides far better response to near-infrared light and is very efficient at converting photons to electrons. the MCP is coated with an ion barrier film for increased tube life The light amplification is also improved, to around 30000-50000x.

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GENERATION 4:
It significant overall improvement in both low and high level light environments. The ion barrier is removed from the MCP that reduces the background noise and enhances signal to noise ratio. Automatic gated power supply system regulates the photocathode voltage allowing the NVD to instantaneously adapt to changing light conditions. Images are significantly less distorted and brighter.

VIEW THROUGH NVD

Through the use of NVD we can have a detailed view of the landscape.

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It is quite easy to see everything during the day... ...but at night, you can see very little. View through Night vision devices.

CONCLUSION
Night vision is one of the emerging technology which is used in different fields like in industry, by the military persons. So more sophisticated technology needs to be developed to get undistorted images with high resolution.