Lookout for Security at the Movies!

Looks like movie security is stepping up to the plate on cracking down on movie pirating. These stories seem to be cropping up more lately. My only questions is, "How can movie theatres afford night vision equipment?" It's expensive. Perhaps, they are being reimbursed by filmmakers and distribution companies. They certainly have the money to do it,... and then some. Read the story here: Movie Security Uses Night Vision Goggles to Find Pirates

Misleading the Public about Generation 4 Night Vision

Here's an article that was written by someone who was hired to write articles to help promote and boost SEO for the Rigel site on the keyword "night vision goggles". Clearly, this person does not know night vision. Generations of night vision get their "Generation Status" from the military. Although, Northrup Grumman developed the filmless tube, (which would be the Generation 4 technology) the military did not in fact designate it because they did not purchase the technology and make use of it. It was not purchased due to it's lower longevity and reliability levels in the field. Yes, the military requested the development of it, but to this day, it is not, by definition "Generation 4". Is it better technology. Yes and No. Filmless tubes reduce blooming and provide a clearer image. However, filmless tubes do not last as long and there is some discussion that radio waves interfere with their performance. Here's the article: American Chronicle

Needed a pair of real Night Vision Goggles

http://daleerius.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!81E0A10F33911212!1435.entry?_c=BlogPart

Sounds like this guy bought a pair of $300.00 night vision goggles from ATN or some other night vision company that sells low price-point night vision goggles. Depth perception should actually improve significantly using night vision goggles and not being able to see through one side would mean they were broken. Try a real pair of Generation 3 night vision goggles with a U.S. manufactured night vision tube in them. You'll be impressed.

AN/PVS-15 Dual Tube Night Vision Binocular

Used by U.S. Special Forces, the AN/PVS-15 (M953) is a rugged, lightweight, self-contained dual tube binocular system. Offering better depth perception than single tube systems, the AN/PVS-15 provides the same performance characteristics as found in aviator systems. The AN/PVS-15 can be hand-held or used as a helmet-mounted goggle and is specifically designed for critical missions where high performance and depth perception are vital elements.





The PVS-15 can hand-held or helmet-mounted and provides the capability for operators to see clearly at night. The system amplifies ambient light from sources such as the moon, stars and skyglow so the viewed scene becomes clearly visible to the operator. The AN/PVS-15 has the following important features:

1. Powered by a single “AA” size battery, any voltage between 1.5 and 5.0 vdc.


2. If the battery voltage becomes low, a light-emitting diode (LED) comes on before the image intensifier tubes shut down.


3. Adjusts for eye-span, diopter setting and objective focus


4. Is submersible to 66 feet for two hours.


5. The helmet mount adjusts for vertical distance and eye relief, and may be flipped up and temporarily stowed.

The AN/PVS-15 dual tube night vision binocular system is subject to the following limitations, which are typical of most night vision systems:

1. The system requires some night light (moonlight, starlight, etc., ) to operate. Night light is reduced by such factors as passing cloud covers and objects that produce shadows.


2. The equipment is less effective viewing through rain, fog, sleet, snow, smoke and other reflective materials as well as into shadows and darkned areas.


3. Under starlight conditions, low-contrast environments (such as snow-covered territory, sand deserts, large bodies of water or grassy hills) degrade visibility, thereby disguising or masking changes in the terrain.


4. Under low-light conditions, the goggles lose some of the resolution that they have under high-light conditions.


5. Some goggles may experience a measurable loss of performance at temperatures above 100F (38C). This is caused by ambient heat beginning to increase thermionic emissions of the photocathode. If this begins to occur, it will appear as though you are looking through eye-glasses that are starting to fog or develop a slight haze.

For clarity and depth perception in night vision systems, this system is unparalleled.

Straight from a PVS-7 Night Vision Goggle Manual

Here's some text straight from a PVS-7 Night Vision Goggle User's Manual:

EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES, AND FEATURES

WARNING - EQUIPMENT LIMITATIONS

To avoid physical and equipment damage when using the AN/PVS-7 goggle, carefully read and understand the following safety precautions.

1. The equipment requires some night light (moonlight, starlight, etc.,) to operate. The level of performance depends upon the level of light.
   
2. Night light is reduced by passing cloud cover, while operating under trees, in building shadows, etc.
   
3. The equipment is less effective viewing into shadows and other darkened areas.
   
4. The equipment is less effective through rain, fog, sleet, snow or smoke.
   
5. The equipment will not "see" through dense smoke.
   
6. Adjust vehicular speed to prevent overdriving the range of view when conditions of possible reducation or loss of vision exist.

CAUTION:

The AN/PVS-7 is a precision optical instrument and must be handled carefully at all times to prevent damage.

The AN/PVS-7 is a hand-held, headmounted or helmet mounted night vision system that enables walking, driving, weapons firing, short range surveillance, map reading, vehicle maintenance, and administering first aid in both moonlight and starlight. Each unit allows for vertical adjustment (by using head straps), fore-and-aft adjustment, objective lens focus, eyepiece focus, and eye span distance adjustment. The goggles are also equipped with an infrared light-emitting source and a low battery indicator. The goggles automatically shut off when disconnected from the headmount or helmet mount. There is also a high-light cutoff feature that shuts of power to the goggles when they are exposed to high levels of light for 70 (+/- 30) seconds.

I thought it was interesting that it included "vehicle maintenance, map reading, and administering first aid." These are applications for night vision equipment you don't hear about very much.

Night Vision Goggles vs. Binoculars: Addendum

An additional point to the post below, is whether the night vision system comes (as part of the purchase) with a head mount and/or helment mount. Binoculars are typically heavy, due to the dual optics, and head mounting and helmet mounting becomes too cumbersome. So, if the system comes with a head mount and/or helmet mount, then this will be an indication that the system is more inclined to be used as a goggle, rather than a binocular. An example would be the popular AN/PVS-15 Dual Tube Night Vision Binocular. It does not come with a head mount or a helmet mount, and therefore it falls under the binocular category. However, that is not say that someone could not headmount it and use it as a goggle. It will just be a heavy off over the face.

Night Vision Goggles vs. Night Vision Binoculars: Which Should I Buy?

To most people, the difference between a goggle and a binocular is not always clear. Many times the two kinds of systems use the same or similar housings and both have two eyepieces (one for each eye or biocular) and typically require the system to be handheld in order to view through it. That, however, is where the similarities end.

The difference comes in the objective lens or the end viewing lens (lenses). A goggle has one objective lens, while the binocular has two. This creates a difference in the depth perception of the systems. With two objective lenses, the binocular has two separate views of the same target image and combines them into a single image giving the user better and more accurate depth perception. When adding the additional element of “night vision” to a binocular, this is called “stereoscopic”. Utilizing two image tubes (one for each objective lens) the binocular creates a stereoscopic view with better depth perception. Field of view may or may not be reduced, depending on magnification. Because night vision binoculars utilize two separate night vision image tubes and two separate objective lenses (basically two of everything), they are more expensive than goggles and also weigh more. Typically, a binocular is only handheld because with the extra weight. Head and/or helmet mounting would cause too much strain on the neck of the user caused by the additional weight.

Goggles, on the other hand, only use one night vision image tube and one objective lens. They weigh less and can be easily head or helmet mounted. Goggles are one of the top choices of military and law enforcement agencies across the United States. They provide the quality night vision capabilities needed along with the mobility and versatility required for special operations and surveillance.

So which one should you choose? The answer to that question depends on what you’re primarily going to use the night vision device for. Security surveillance? Criminal activity? Wildlife observations? Goggles and Binoculars make the most sense for surveillance and observation operations because the two eyepieces reduce the amount of strain on the eyes. Monoculars are slightly more versatile in their applications, but viewing through one eyepiece for any length of time causes a higher amount of strain on the eyes. Another consideration for eye strain is the quality of the night vision image tube and the optics. There are many night vision companies these days that will sell a cheap pair of goggles or a monocular in hopes that consumers will be apathetic about returning the item upon discovered that it doesn’t work all that well. The night vision tubes and optics in these systems are far inferior to those that are put into the systems sold to the military and law enforcement agencies. Using cheap night vision equipment with inferior tubes and optics can cause eye strain by possible fuzziness, larger blooming areas, additional black spots, the list goes on… There are any number of possible defects that could be cause for eyestrain when working with a lower quality night vision system.
There is a reason cheap night vision devices are “cheap”.

Night vision systems sold to the military and law enforcement agencies are based on generation 3 night vision image tubes manufactured in the U.S. by either ITT or Northrup Grumman. These two companies are the primary suppliers of image tubes to the U.S. military and it’s allies. These tubes cannot be exported outside of the United States. They are the real McCoy and tend to be on the expensive side. However, what you see in comparison to an inferior tube based system is substantial and if you’re looking for performance, the price increase will not be a consideration in your purchase.

Why Night VIsion Goggles?

With so many different night vision devices to choose from, why would one choose to use night vision goggles as opposed to a monocular or some other type of scope device?

There are several reasons. The first, and most not so obvious, is the that the army has traditionally trained many of their soldiers to use the goggle. With a head or helmet mount, the goggle allows for a hand-free operation, giving the soldier the ability to use a gun, operate a tank or vehicle, or fly a plane or heliocopter while wearing the goggles.

The second reason, and the stronger of the two, is eye-strain. Looking through goggles is easier on the eyes and produces less eye strain than looking through a monocular or scope type set up. If you are operating a tank, armoured vehicle, doing a ground survey, performing a tactical area search and rescue, or flying a plane or heliocopter the night vision goggle (aviator night vision - another article coming soon...!) would be the correct choice based on the minimal eye strain. Looking through goggles allows your eyes to adjust to the green color based vision without having to deal with the darkness of night poking in from your other eye. This can easily cause a headache, which you obviously don’t want when operating a vehicle or plane on an important mission. It is one thing to operate a vehicle or plane and another to concentrate on your aim through a scope, where you typically close one eye to get a better view of the target.

The view through NVDs can be a lot like looking down a tunnel. Your normal field of view is almost 190 degrees – but that is cut down to 40 degrees with NVDs. That side -- or “peripheral” -- vision you’re accustomed to, and from which you often see dangers, is just not there. To adjust for that you must constantly turn your head to scan for the dangers on either side of you that you can’t see in your narrow field of view. Not the greatest in ground battle situations, but what can you do? That's the price for being able to see in almost complete darkness.