Abstract: An image intensifier assembly has an image intensifier tube having a optical element. The optical element includes a emitting surface. The optical element comprises an outer dimension. The image intensifier assembly further includes a first power supply comprising a first circuit board having a first inner dimension defining an opening, a first outer dimension and a first thickness. The first inner dimension surrounds the outer dimension of the optical element. The first outer dimension is within the image intensifier assembly. The first circuit board further includes a component surface. The component surface extends from the first inner dimension to the first outer dimension. The first circuit board has power supply components mounted on the component surface.

Abstract: An optical device. The optical device includes an underlying device that is sensitive to input light, and provides output light in a first spectrum based on absorbing the input light. The optical device further includes a stacked device, formed in an active area of a single semiconductor chip, coupled in an overlapping fashion to the underlying device. The stacked device includes first and second zones. Each zone has a plurality of active elements having a particular lateral size, where the lateral size is different for each zone. Each zone also has a plurality of transparent regions formed in the stacked device which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device. The transparent regions are configured in size and shape to cause each zone to have a particular transmission efficiency for light in the first spectrum.

Abstract: A photocathode. The photocathode includes an absorber. The absorber a p-type bulk active layer and a plurality of nanostructures formed on the p-type bulk active layer. The Photocathode further includes the plurality of nanostructures, such that the plurality of nanostructures are formed at a band bending region between the bulk active layer and the vacuum.

Abstract: One example illustrated herein includes an optical device including a bridge assembly configured to connect two or more monocular tube assemblies and at least two monocular tube assemblies. Each monocular tube assembly includes a housing, an alignment member attached to the housing, the alignment member providing an indication of an optical axis of the monocular tube assembly, and an interface component that links the housing to the bridge assembly, the interface component comprising an adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the monocular tube assembly relative to the bridge assembly, such that the adjustment mechanism can be used in conjunction with the alignment member to align different optical axes. Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented to allow for field-alignment of the optical device.

Abstract: A night vision optical device includes an underlying device configured to be sensitive to light in a first spectrum, and to provide output light based on absorbing light in the first spectrum. The night vision optical device further includes a stacked device overlapping the underlying device. The stacked device includes one or more openings formed in the stacked device to form one or more transparent regions which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through to the underlying device. The stacked device is sensitive to light in a second spectrum. The stacked device outputs light in the first spectrum to the underlying device as a result of absorbing light in the second spectrum. Thus, the underlying device outputs light based both on light passing through the transparent regions and on light output by the stacked device.

Abstract: One example illustrated herein includes an optical device including a bridge assembly configured to connect two or more monocular tube assemblies and at least two monocular tube assemblies. Each monocular tube assembly includes a housing, an alignment member attached to the housing, the alignment member providing an indication of an optical axis of the monocular tube assembly, and an interface component that links the housing to the bridge assembly, the interface component comprising an adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the monocular tube assembly relative to the bridge assembly, such that the adjustment mechanism can be used in conjunction with the alignment member to align different optical axes. Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented to allow for field-alignment of the optical device.

Abstract: A photocathode epitaxial structure. The photocathode epitaxial structure includes an improved substrate stack. The improved substrate stack includes a GaAs substrate and one or more additional layers formed on the GaAs substrate. The one or more additional layers are configured to provide an improved substrate stack surface with predetermined characteristics for forming a semiconductor device on the improved substrate stack surface. The photocathode epitaxial structure further includes an InGaAs p-type photocathode formed on the improved substrate stack surface. The InGaAs p-type photocathode has a predetermined percentage of In.

Abstract: An image intensifier assembly has an image intensifier tube having a optical element. The optical element includes a emitting surface. The optical element comprises an outer dimension. The image intensifier assembly further includes a first power supply comprising a first circuit board having a first inner dimension defining an opening, a first outer dimension and a first thickness. The first inner dimension surrounds the outer dimension of the optical element. The first outer dimension is within the image intensifier assembly. The first circuit board further includes a component surface. The component surface extends from the first inner dimension to the first outer dimension. The first circuit board has power supply components mounted on the component surface.

Abstract: A photocathode epitaxial structure. The photocathode epitaxial structure includes an improved substrate stack. The improved substrate stack includes a GaAs substrate and one or more additional layers formed on the GaAs substrate. The one or more additional layers are configured to provide an improved substrate stack surface with predetermined characteristics for forming a semiconductor device on the improved substrate stack surface. The photocathode epitaxial structure further includes an InGaAs p-type photocathode formed on the improved substrate stack surface. The InGaAs p-type photocathode has a predetermined percentage of In.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a night vision system including a transparent overlay display that transmits direct-view light representing an intensified image and emits display light representing a display image. The transparent overlay display is a borderless display in which the active area extends to at least one edge of the display. Data-handling circuitry is arranged within the active area, rather than being arranged along a border of the display. The data-handling circuitry may be fabricated in the active area of the display by fabricating it below opaque pixel regions that generate the display light. This borderless configuration allows partial overlap with the intensified image by eliminating opaque borders in which the data-handling circuitry is fabricated. This borderless configuration helps to minimize size, weight, and power by reducing the size of the display and eliminating the need for bulky beam splitters.

Abstract: A nightvision system includes an underlying device that provides output light in a first spectrum. A transparent optical device transmits light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes an active area of a semiconductor chip. The active area includes active elements that cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device and transparent regions formed in the active area which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device to a user. An image processor processes brightness maps produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements. A tunable filter array coupled to the image processor filters at least a portion of the input light into the underlying device the underlying device based on brightness map processing.

Abstract: A photocathode epitaxial structure. The photocathode epitaxial structure includes a binary compound substrate material. The photocathode epitaxial structure further includes an active device absorber layer forming a portion of a p-type device photocathode formed on the binary compound substrate material. The active device absorber layer comprising a material structure configured to be lattice matched with the substrate material to reduce strain to allow charge carriers to go further in the active device absorber layer implemented in the photocathode of a nightvision system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a night vision system including a transparent overlay display that transmit direct-view light representing an intensified image and emits display light representing a display image. The transparent overlay display is a borderless display in which the active area extends to at least one edge of the display. Data-handling circuitry is arranged within the active area, rather than being arranged along a border of the display. The data-handling circuitry may be fabricated in the active area of the display by fabricating it below opaque pixel regions that generate the display light. This borderless configuration allows partial overlap with the intensified image by eliminating opaque borders in which the data-handling circuitry is fabricated. This borderless configuration helps to minimize size, weight, and power by reducing the size of the display and eliminating the need for bulky beam splitters.

Abstract: A nightvision system includes an underlying device that provides output light in a first spectrum. A transparent optical device transmits light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes an active area of a semiconductor chip. The active area includes active elements that cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device and transparent regions formed in the active area which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device to a user. An image processor processes brightness maps produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements. A tunable filter array coupled to the image processor filters at least a portion of the input light into the underlying device the underlying device based on brightness map processing.

Abstract: A transparent optical device configured to be used with an underlying device. The underlying device is configured to provide output light. The optical device is configured to transmit light from the underlying device through the optical device. The optical device includes first and second zones. The first zone includes a first plurality of active elements configured to cause the first zone to have a first optical performance capability and a first plurality of transparent regions formed in the first zone allowing light to pass through from the underlying device. The second zone includes a second plurality of active elements configured to cause the second zone to have a second optical performance capability that is different than the first optical performance capability and a second plurality of transparent regions formed in the second zone which allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device.

Abstract: An optical device includes an underlying device configured output light to an optical output to output an image of objects in an environment to a user. The light is output in a first spectrum. A stacked device is configured to be coupled in an overlapping fashion to an optical output of the underlying device. The stacked device is transparent, according to a first transmission efficiency, to light in the first spectrum. The stacked device includes a plurality of electro-optical circuits including: a plurality of light emitters configured to output light, and a plurality of detectors configured to detect light in the first spectrum from the underlying device that can be used to detect the objects in the image. The light emitters are configured to output light dependent on light detected by the detectors and additional information about characteristics of the objects in the environment.

Abstract: Extracting data in pulsed light, the method includes receiving input light at an image intensifier tube. At a power supply coupled to the image intensifier tube, current to the image intensifier tube is varied to implement automatic brightness control of the intensifier tube based on intensity of the input light received at the image intensifier tube. At a signal processor coupled to the power supply, changes in voltage or current supplied by the power supply occurring as a result of changes in the intensity of the input light to the image intensifier tube are detected. Based on the changes in voltage or current supplied by the power supply, data embedded in the input light to the image intensifier tube is extracted.

Abstract: A transparent optical device configured to be used with an underlying device. The underlying device is configured to provide output light. The optical device is configured to transmit light from the underlying device through the optical device. The optical device includes first and second zones. The first zone includes a first plurality of transparent regions formed in the first zone allowing light to pass through from the underlying device. The second zone includes a second plurality of transparent regions formed in the second zone which allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device at a different transmission efficiency than the first zone.

Abstract: A transparent optical device configured to be used with an underlying device. The underlying device is configured to provide output light. The optical device is configured to transmit light from the underlying device through the optical device. The optical device includes first and second zones. The first zone includes a first plurality of transparent regions formed in the first zone allowing light to pass through from the underlying device. The second zone includes a second plurality of transparent regions formed in the second zone which allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device at a different transmission efficiency than the first zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a night vision system that integrates functions of detecting an intensified image and transmitting the intensified image superimposed with a heads-up display. The night vision system includes an optical device having a transparent display configured with pixels emitting display light (i.e., the heads-up display), and the transparent display has transmission regions arranged among the pixels for transmitting light representing an intensified image (e.g., luminescent light from a phosphor screen). Light rays passing through the transmission regions also pass through detectors, which detect light outside of the visible spectrum (e.g., UV light). By detecting light outside of the visible spectrum, the detectors detect the intensified image without degrading the image in the visible spectrum that is provided to users.