Abstract: A universal self-contained proximity sensor for attachment to any night-vision device that does not have such a sensor or for replacement of the existing sensor. The proposed sensor has a cable with a connection cap that connects terminal contacts of the sensor with the master battery of the night-vision device and can be mechanically connected to the master-battery compartment of the night-vision device by replacing the existing cap of mastery-battery compartment. The sensor can be attached to any selected area on the surface of the night-vision device by means of tiny hooks and loops known under trademark Velcro®. This attachment is carried out with the use of two parts, one of which is adhesively attached to the substrate of the sensor and the other to the housing of the night-vision device, while both parts engage through the aforementioned tiny hooks and loops.

Abstract: A night-vision optical device of the invention with controlled life expectancy contains a time measuring device built into the housing of the aforementioned device for measuring the accumulated time of active work of the device. In application to a night scope for a firearm, the device also contains a sensor, which is interlocked with activation of the scope and reacts on the shots produced from the firearm in general and separately on those shots produced during active work of the night-vision optics at nighttime. The aforementioned shots of both types are counted and stored in separate memory units. The night-time shots affects the life expectancy of the night-vision optics because of muzzle flashes which cause such devices as an image intensifier to work with an increased light load. The information obtained from the time measuring device and the shot counter makes it possible to timely receive a warning signal about the fact that the night optics or the entire firearm must be replaced.

Abstract: The self-contained day/night optical sight device of the invention has a sealed sight housing permanently attached to the weapon or to other object and containing an objective lens and an eyepiece lens installed on a common optical path at a distance from each other so that a space is formed between the both. The same sealed housing pivotally supports a night-vision unit, such as an image-intensifier tube, which can be turned in the plane that contains the optical axis of the sight between the position offset from the aforementioned common optical axis and the position coincident with this optical axis. Since both the night-vision and day-vision optics are located in a sealed housing, the lenses are protected from contamination and fogging. The use of a single optical path makes it possible to reduce the weight of the system.

Abstract: An optical sight for a photocamera viewfinder or for an aiming device of a firearm comprises a combination of a light emitting diode (LED) with a plurality of reticle patterns applied onto the surface of the LED and selectively illuminated by connecting various portions of the reticle patterns to the source of electric power supply. The switching from one reticle pattern to another is carried out electrically without the use of moving parts of the reticles or reticle images. This ensures high accuracy in positioning of reticle elements with regard to each other, e.g., with regard to the front sight center of the partially transparent mirror, and hence, with regard to the ballistic trajectory of the bullet.

Abstract: An optical sight system of the invention with a wide range of shooting distances comprises a combination of a telescopic optical sight with a reticle type sight. The reticle sight consists of a partially transparent mirror attached to the outer surface of the telescopic sight at the distal end of the telescopic sight. The telescopic sight supports on its outer surface a light source, which emits a light beam onto the aforementioned partially transparent mirror. The mirror reflects a part of the beam incident on its surface toward a full-reflection mirror attached to the outer surface on the proximal end of the telescopic tube.

Abstract: The optical gun sight for daytime and nighttime use in which a reticle illumination system has two operation states, one with full range of illumination for shooting during daytime and dusk and the other with the range of illumination safe for the expensive image intensifier tube. When the optical arms sight is used under night vision conditions, switching means interlocked with the nighttime aiming unit automatically switches the reticle illumination system to a safe mode of illumination, such as low-intensity light or infrared light so that the expensive image intensifier tube is protected from accidental damage due to “burning” of the reticle.