Affordable digital night vision is coming of age
Night vision technology has been a tool in the US military arsenal since the 1960s and still remains a restricted export technology in the US. But the evolution of microplate CDD chips has brought out the night vision of the ITAR regulated manufacture of the image intensifier (I2). facilities on the consumer and municipal government shopping list for everything from hunting scopes to traffic and security cameras.
For those new to night vision devices, the most popular forms are image intensifier (I2), infrared red (IR), and thermal CCD cameras. Just as vacuum tube televisions quickly gave way to LCD and plasma displays, alien-looking l2 night vision tube technologies will give way to much smaller microplate digital cameras. You have seen the photos of the welder with a strange looking eye device on his helmet or over the eye. This cumbersome technology will be replaced by smaller digital devices. This is clearly evidenced by the way that CCD imaging detector manufacturers have substantially improved the light sensitivity of CCD detectors by producing high contrast, high definition black and white IR digital night vision capabilities.
The other technology that has a big impact on IR camera technology is the LED emitter industry. High-power white light and low-cost infrared light long-range illuminators are available today. The big variable that has the biggest impact on the range and clarity of an IR camera is the amount of IR light available. As an example, the Digital Crosshairs rifle scope adapter for day or night shooting, a combination of a 1000TV line plate camera and a long range 850nm IR illuminator, boast a night visibility range of over 200 yards.
The original use of night vision technology for rifle scopes and monoculars is going to change dramatically. The big players are still pouring marketing dollars behind high-end image intensifier (I2) tube devices that carry high-priced labels. These companies have large investments in the manufacture and intellectual property of these devices, but this analog technology is about to become obsolete in the digital world like Kodak films. I2 devices have high manufacturing costs and investment in facilities. However, time is not on your side as the destructive technology of the IR digital camera board for seeing in the dark is gaining acceptance. This is driven by the research and development dollars that fund today’s “all digital” world. Microplate imaging technologies used in cell phones, car backup cameras, video cameras, traffic and surveillance cameras are a multi-billion dollar consumer industry, where the I2 market is primarily hunters, military, and services of protection.
Infrared night vision and starlight is an inherent component of the video surveillance and VSaaS market that is expected to reach a value of $ 42.81 billion in 2019, growing at a CAGR of 19.1% between 2013. and 2019. The microplate camera technology used in this booming industry benefits from competitive R&D dollars competing for market share.
As in the computer industry, advancements in digital infrared camera board component capabilities do not equate to additional manufacturing or retrofit cost. Quality often increases as costs decrease on manufacturing efficiency improvements.
I2 technology was never perfect. For example, I2 night vision devices cause problems with soldier depth perception, peripheral vision, and color-based vision. According to Defense Industry Daily http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/through-a-glass-darkly-night-vision-gives-us-troops-edge-06047/, Image Intensifier (I2) technology used in night vision devices It can increase light distortion and limit the soldier’s field of vision. Also, the technology does not work in dark environments. The visual clarity provided by Image Intensifier (I2) tube technology diminishes rapidly for objects over 400 feet away, particularly if they are moving rapidly. Additionally, the weather can significantly decrease the performance of night vision equipment. Rain, clouds, fog, dust, smoke, and fog affect performance. Also, a bright moon can significantly degrade performance; it is the equivalent of looking at the sun with the naked eye. None of these are true for digital infrared technology, except for examples like smoke and dust that also affect daytime vision.
In the next 5 to 10 years, night vision will be a common good like Polaroid sunglasses are today. You can find a good introduction to the different types of devices at http://www.hownightvisionworks.com/.