초록 ▼

A low light imaging device including an optical input structured to define a line of sight, a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within the line of sight, an image intensification assembly responsive to photons within the line of sight, and an optical output structu

A low light imaging device including an optical input structured to define a line of sight, a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within the line of sight, an image intensification assembly responsive to photons within the line of sight, and an optical output structured to provide an output image to be viewed. The thermal imaging assembly generates a thermal image representative of the radiation signatures, and a thermal image adjustment assembly is provided to adjust an amount of the thermal image which defines the output image. Similarly, the image intensification assembly generates an enhanced photon based image, a photon image adjustment assembly being provided to adjust an amount of the enhanced photon based image which defines the output image. An output image generation assembly is included to generate the output image from adjusted the thermal image and enhanced photon based image.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A low light imaging device comprising:a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight; b) a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within said line of sight; c) an image intensification assembly responsive to photons at least within said line of sight; d) sa

1. A low light imaging device comprising:a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight; b) a thermal imaging assembly responsive to radiation signatures disposed within said line of sight; c) an image intensification assembly responsive to photons at least within said line of sight; d) said thermal imaging assembly structured to generate a real time thermal image representative of said radiation signatures; e) said image intensification assembly structured to generate a real time enhanced photon based image; f) an image adjustment assembly including a thermal image adjustment assembly and a photon image adjustment assembly; g) said thermal image adjustment assembly structured to adjust an intensity of said thermal image; h) said photon image adjustment assembly structured to adjust said image intensification assembly so as to adjust an intensity of said enhanced photon based image generated thereby; i) said thermal image adjustment assembly and said photon image adjustment assembly being structured to be operable independent from one another; and j) an output image generation assembly structured to combine said thermal image and said enhanced photon based image to generate a real-time, direct view output image. 2. A low light imaging device as recited in claim 1 wherein said image intensification assembly comprises:a) a response assembly responsive to said photons under extremely low light conditions and structured to emit at least one electron in response to each of said photons detected thereby and in generally aligned relation with a detection point of said photon; b) an amplification assembly structured and disposed to receive said electron generated by said response assembly and to generate a plurality of electrons in response thereto and in substantially direct alignment with a generation point of said electron from said response assembly; and c) a photon generation assembly responsive to said plurality of electrons generated by said amplification 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 amplification assembly so as to define 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 communication with said photon generation assembly.4. A low light imaging device as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermal image adjustment assembly and said photon image adjustment assembly are structured to be independently and separately adjusted relative to one another.5. A low light imaging device comprising:a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight; b) a first imaging assembly structured to generate a thermal image corresponding to radiation signatures disposed at least within said line of sight; c) a second imaging assembly structured to generate an enhanced photon based image upon detected photons disposed at least within said line of sight; d) a first image adjustment assembly and a second image adjustment assembly, said first and said second image adjustment assemblies being operable to adjust said first and said second imaging assemblies so as to adjust an intensity of said thermal image and said enhanced photon based image generated 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. 6. A low light imaging device comprising:a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight; b) a thermal imaging assembly structured to generate a thermal image corresponding to radiation signatures disposed at least within said line of sight; c) an image intensification assembly structured to generate an enhanced photon based image upon detected photons disposed at least within said line of sight; d) a thermal image adjustment assembly and a photon image adjustment assembly, said thermal image adjustment assembly structured to adjust said thermal imaging assembly so as to adjust said thermal image generated 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:a) an optical input structured to define a line of sight; b) a thermal imaging assembly structured to generate a thermal image corresponding to radiation signatures disposed at least within said line of sight; c) an image intensification assembly structured to generate an enhanced photon based image upon detected photons disposed at least within said line of sight; d) a thermal image adjustment assembly and a photon image adjustment assembly, said photon image adjustment assembly structured to adjust said image intensification assembly so as to adjust said enhanced photon based image generated 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.