Night Vision Technology

Group Members
Ganesh kr. Shaw
Alfia Mehdi
Souradeep Pal
Sourav Ghosh
Isha Chandan
Ankita Mishra
Niladri Saha
Debosmita Chowdhury
Abhishek Prasad
INTRODUCTION
Night vision is technology that provides users
with some vision in total darkness and improved
vision in low-light environments.
Night vision is often used by the military and also
has recreational purposes, like use on home
video cameras or during night hiking.
HISTORY BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY

 The first night vision devices were introduced by the

German army as early as 1939 during the World War
2.
 The infrared viewers used in the 1950s and 1960s are
referred to as "Generation 0" technology.
 ITT Corporation (now MIT Industries, Inc.) in Roanoke,
Virginia, began producing night vision devices for the
United States military in 1958.
HOW DOES NIGHT VISION WORKS
• Dim light from a night scene
enters the lens at the front.
The light is made of photons
(particles of light) of all
colours.
• As the photons enter the
goggles, they strike a light-
sensitive surface called
a ”Photocathode”.
• The electrons are amplified
by a ”Photomultiplier”, a kind
of photoelectric cell.
 The electrons leaving the photomultiplier hit a Phosphor screen.
 As the electrons hit the phosphor, they create tiny flashes of light.
 Since there are many more photons than originally entered the
goggles, the screen makes a much brighter version of the original
scene.
WHY EVERYTHING LOOKS GREEN?

The phosphors on their screens are deliberately

chosen to make green pictures because our
eyes are more sensitive to green light.
 It's also easier to look at green screens for long
periods than to look at black and white ones
TYPES OF NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

Biological Night Vision

Technical Night Vision
 BIOLOGICAL NIGHT VISION
 Some animal can see in night because they have a
tissue layer called the tapetum lucidum, in the back
of the eye that reflect light back through the retina.
 But human has lack of this layer , hence human can
not see in night .
 Hence a chemical called RHODOPOSIN that allows
night vision.
 Molecule of rhodoposin in the rods of eye
undergoes a change in shape as they absorb light.
 Rhodoposin is extremely sensitive to light .Hence
human can see in night for few hour with the help of
rhodoposin
TECHNICAL NIGHT VISION
The Technical Night Vision Technology and itys
working are further divided into 2 parts:-
– Image Intensification.
– Thermal Imaging.
 IMAGE INTENSIFICATION
 A conventionnel Lens, captures ambient light.
 The light energy causes electrons to be released
from the photocathode plate.
 These electrons enter a micro channel plate and
generate more electrons.
 These electrons hit a phosphor screen and maintain
their position through the channel.
 The green phosphor image is viewed through
another lens called ocular lens, which allows you to
magnify and focus the image.
 THERMAL IMAGING
 All objects emit infrared energy as a function of their
temperature. This technology operates by capturing the
upper portion of infra red light spectrum.
 A special lens focuses the infrared light emitted by all of
the objects in view.
 The focused light is scanned and create temperature
pattern called THERMOGRAM.
 The pattern created is translated into electric impulses.
 The impulses are sent to a circuit board that translates
the information into data for the display.
 Signal-processing unit sends the information to the
display.
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.
 GENERATION OF NIGHT VISION

• There are Generally 5 Generation of Night

Vision Technology :-
– Generation 0
– Generation 1
– Generation 2
– Generation 3
– Generation 4
Generation 0:-
– Night vision devices were based on image conversion
rather than on image intensification.
– The first night vision device the "sniperscope" or
"snooperscope", were introduced by the US Army in
World War II.
Generation 1:-
– Focused on the ability to see without additional light.
– NVD began using intensified natural lighting.
Generation 2:-
– The major development in NVD technology, was in
thermal imaging.
– The images are less distorted and brighter
Generation 3:-
– Longer life and more defined images.
– Better resolution and sensitivity.
Generation 4:-
– Improvement in high and low-level light environments.
– Reduced background noise.
ADVANTAGES OF NIGHT VISION
It enables us to see in the dark or in pitch black
condition.
An increase in night time situations for pilots.
It provides security at night from burglars and
thieves through night vision cameras.
Light Weight.
Small in size.
Low power Requirement.
DISADVANTAGES OF NIGHT VISION

Image is not good quality with NVT.

Loose normal eye vision if night vision goggle is
used regularly.
High cost.
It is impossible to realize monitoring over a long
distance.
On going maintenance is required
APPLICATIONS
Military.
Hunting.
Wildlife observation.
Security.
Entertainment.
 CONCLUSION
Today in the 21st century we have come a long
way in the development of night vision
technology, from the early 1940’s.
Night vision devices are basically designed for
utmost defensive purposes but the application
within the scientific or the civilian range is often
prohibited by law.
In present scenario the applications of night
vision technology is very essential to combat
terrorism which is a major problem being faced
by mankind.
THANK YOU