Abstract: A fiber optic elment is used to correct or reverse a field curvature distortion in an optical system having two imaging elements. The fiber optic element has fibers arranged in parallel with their first ends along a curvature corresponding to the expected field curvature of the image from the first imaging element, and second ends along another curvature for producing a correct output image. In the two-element optical system, the fiber optic array has its second ends arranged to provide an input object to the second imaging element with a reversed field curvature such that a correct output image is obtained from the second imaging element.

Abstract: An image intensifier retrofit system for a Generation II based driver's viewer assembly, identified as AN/VVS-2. The system includes a housing which is dimensionally the same as the Generation II tube housing. Positioned at one end of the housing is a Generation III image intensifier tube and at the other end of the housing is a fiber optic element. Positioned between the tube and the fiber optic element is a relay lens assembly. The Generation III tube receives the light from a viewed scene from an objective lens assembly of the dirver's viewer. The intensified image output from the tube is received by the relay lens system which inverts and magnifies the image and transfers the image to the input surface of the fiber optic element. The fiber optic element in turn transfers the image to its output surface from which surface the image is viewed by the user of the driver's viewer through a biocular eyepiece.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube has a faceplate formed of optical material. The outer surface of the faceplate has light receiving and light transmitting surfaces and a layer of a reduced metal oxide material for reducing stray light which is transmitted into the faceplate and reflected off of internal surfaces thereof. The layer has a blackened appearance and is formed by reducing the metal oxide of the faceplate material with hydrogen at a predetermined pressure and temperature to cause the blackening to reach a depth sufficient to reduce transmission of stray light therethrough.

Abstract: A method of determing the actual temperature of a layer of an infrared material, especially during heat cleaning, which includes measuring the thickness of the layer and the amount of radiation being emitted from it. An apparent temperature corresponding to a desired actual temperature is found from a curve of apparent temperature, which are derived from the radiation amount, versus thickness. The apparent temperature which corresponds to the desired actual temperature compensates for interference effects on the radiation measurement. A computer may be utilized to calculated the apparent temperature which corresponds to the desired actual temperature and to regulate and maintain the infrared material at the apparent temperature.