There are two common types of thermal-imaging devices:
Un-cooled - This is the most common type of thermal-imaging device. 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 - More expensive and more
susceptible to damage from rugged use, these systems have the elements sealed
inside a container that cools them to below 32 F (zero C). The advantage of such
a system is the 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, which is enough to tell if a
person is holding a gun at that distance! While thermal imaging is great for
detecting people or working in near-absolute darkness, most night-vision
equipment uses image- enhancement technology, which you will learn about in the
next section. Image Enhancement:
Image-enhancement technology is what most people think of when you talk about
night vision. In fact, image-enhancement systems are normally called
night-vision devices (NVDs). NVDs rely on a special tube, called an
image-intensifier tube, to collect and amplify infrared and visible light. The
image-intensifier tube changes photons to electrons and back again. A
conventional lens, called the objective lens, captures ambient light and some
near-infrared light. 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 or two "AA" batteries. The tube outputs a high voltage, about
5,000 volts, to the image-tube components. The image-intensifier tube has a
photo cathode, which is used to convert the photons of light energy into
electrons. 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 microchannel plate (MCP) in the tube.
An MCP is a tiny, glass disc that has millions of microscopic holes
(microchannels) in it, made using fiber-optic technology. The MCP is contained
in a vacuum and has metal electrodes on either side of the disc. Each channel is
about 45 times longer than it is wide, and it works as an electron multiplier.
When the electrons from the photo cathode hit the first electrode of the MCP,
they are accelerated into the glass microchannels by the 5,000-V bursts being
sent between the electrode pair. As electrons pass through the microchannels,
they cause thousands of other electrons to be released in each channel using a
process called cascaded secondary emission. Basically, the original electrons
collide with the side of the channel, exciting atoms and causing other electrons
to be released. These new electrons also collide with other atoms, creating a
chain reaction that results in thousands of electrons leaving the channel where
only a few entered. An interesting fact is that the microchannels in the MCP are
created at a slight angle (about a 5-degree to 8-degree bias) to encourage
electron collisions and reduce both ion and direct-light feedback from the
phosphors on the output side.
Night-vision images are known for their eerie green tint. At
the end of the image-intensifier tube, the electrons hit a screen
coated with phosphors. These electrons maintain their position in relation to
the channel they passed through, which provides a perfect image since the
electrons stay in the same alignment as the original photons. The energy of the
electrons causes the phosphors to reach an excited state and release photons.
These phosphors create the green image on the screen that has come to
characterize night vision. 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. NVDs have been around for
more than 40 years. They are categorized by generation. Each substantial change
in NVD technology establishes a new generation.
Generation 0 - The original night-vision system created by the United
States Army and used in World War II and the Korean War, these NVDs use active
infrared. This means that a projection unit, called an IR Illuminator, is
attached to the NVD. The unit projects a beam of near-infrared light, similar to
the beam of a normal flashlight. Invisible to the naked eye, this beam reflects
off objects and bounces back to the lens of the NVD. These systems use an anode
in conjunction with the cathode to accelerate the electrons. The problem with
that approach is that the acceleration of the electrons distorts the image and
greatly decreases the life of the tube. Another major problem with this
technology in its original military use was that it was quickly duplicated by
hostile nations, which allowed enemy soldiers to use their own NVDs to see the
infrared beam projected by the device. Generation 1 - The next generation of
NVDs moved away from active infrared, using passive infrared instead. Once
dubbed Starlight by the U.S. Army, these NVDs use ambient light provided by the
moon and stars to augment the normal amounts of reflected infrared in the
environment. This means that they did not require a source of projected infrared
light. This also means that they do not work very well on cloudy or moonless
nights. Generation-1 NVDs use the same image- intensifier tube technology as
Generation 0, with both cathode and anode, so image distortion and short tube
life are still a problem. Generation 2 - Major improvements in
image-intensifier tubes resulted in Generation-2 NVDs. They offer improved
resolution and performance over Generation-1 devices, and are considerably more
reliable. The biggest gain in Generation 2 is the ability to see in extremely
low light conditions, such as a moonless night. This increased sensitivity is
due to the addition of the microchannel plate to the image-intensifier tube.
Since the MCP actually increases the number of electrons instead of just
accelerating the original ones, the images are significantly less distorted and
brighter than earlier-generation NVDs. Generation 3 - The latest and
greatest NVD technology, Generation 3 is currently used by the U.S. military.
While there are no substantial changes in the underlying technology from
Generation 2, these NVDs have even better resolution and sensitivity. This is
because the photo cathode is made using gallium arsenide, which is very
efficient at converting photons to electrons. Additionally, the MCP is coated
with an ion barrier, which dramatically increases the life of the tube.
Generation-3 NVDs are considered so state-of-the-art that they cannoramatically increases the life of the tube.
Generation-3 NVDs are considered so state-of-the-art that they cannot be
exported from the United States without a license from the U.S. Department of
State that details the recipient and the purpose it will be used for. Many of
the so-called "bargain" night-vision scopes use Generation- 0 or Generation-1
technology, and may be disappointing if you expect the sensitivity of the
devices used by professionals. Generation-2 and Generation-3 NVDs are typically
very expensive to purchase, but they will last a lifetime if properly cared for.
Also, any NVD can benefit from the use of an IR Illuminator in very dark areas
where there is almost no ambient light to collect.
A cool thing to note is that every single image-intensifier
tube is put through rigorous tests to see if it meets the requirements set
forth by the military. Tubes that do are classified as MILSPEC. Tubes that fail
to meet military requirements in even a single category are classified as
COMSPEC. Equipment Night-vision
equipment can be split into three broad categories: Scopes - Normally handheld
or mounted on a weapon, scopes are monocular (one eye-piece). Since scopes are
are handheld, not worn like goggles, they are good for when you want to get a
better look at a specific object and then return to normal viewing conditions.
Goggles - While goggles can be handheld, they are most often worn on the head.
Goggles are binocular (two eye- pieces) and may have a single lens or stereo
lens, depending on the model. Goggles are excellent for constant viewing, such
as moving around in a dark building. The original purpose of night vision was to
locate enemy targets at night. It is still used extensively by the military for
that purpose, as well as for navigation, surveillance and targeting. Police and
security often use both thermal-imaging and image-enhancement technology,
particularly for surveillance. Hunters and nature enthusiasts use NVDs to
maneuver through the woods at night. Detectives and private investigators use
night vision to watch people they are assigned to track. Many businesses have
permanently- mounted cameras equipped with night vision to monitor the
surroundings. A really amazing ability of thermal-imaging is that it reveals
whether an area has been disturbed -- it can show that the ground has been dug
up to bury something, even if there is no obvious sign to the naked eye. Law
enforcement has used this to discover items that have been hidden by criminals,
including money, drugs and bodies. Also, recent changes to areas such as walls
can be seen using thermal imaging, which has provided important clues in several
cases. Many people are beginning to discover the unique world that can be found
after darkness falls. If you're out camping or hunting a lot, chances are that
night-vision devices can be useful to you -- just be sure to get the right type
for your needs.