Abstract: The invention provides a mounting bracket for attachment of various auxiliary optical devices such as daylight-vision optical scopes, night-vision monoculars, etc., to a weapon. A distinctive feature of the mounting bracket is that the bracket, itself, incorporates an optical system for projection of an image of the reticle (or other patterns) without use of additional mounts or external reticle or red-dot devices. Most importantly, the bracket allows use of inexpensive optical devices, e.g., a standard monocular, which can be used as a universal optical device, such as an optical sight, a spotting scope, a goggle, a part of a red-dot aiming system, or the like.

Abstract: An optical system consisting of a basic day-vision optical device, such as an optical sight, and a digital optical attachment unit, such as a CCD module, a thermovisor, a range finder, or the like. A distinguishing feature of the system is the optical attachment unit which does not have an eyepiece and contains a power supply unit for the basic day-vision optical device. On the other hand, the basic day-vision optical device does not have a power supply unit but among other things contains a beam splitter and an electronic microdisplay. When the digital optical attachment unit is attached to the basic day-vision optical device and electrically connected to the latter, the electronic microdisplay receives a target image from the digital attachment unit and through the beam splitter a target and reticle image obtained by the basic day-vision device. As a result, a viewer can see an enhanced fused image of both image components reproduced on the electronic microdisplay.

Abstract: An optical sight system that comprises a combination of a thermal scope with a CCD visible-range attachment connectable to the thermal scope with a quick-release connector. The system is equipped with a device for automatic interposition of the digital visible image of the CCD visible-range attachment onto the digital thermographic image when the attachment is electrically and mechanically connected to the thermal scope. The CCD is a light-weight device which does not have screen and which is easily attached to the thermal scope by means of a quick-release connection unit. Both digital images are observed on the screen of the thermal-scope display.

Abstract: An optical sight system that comprises a combination of a thermal scope with a CCD visual-range attachment connectable to the thermal scope with a quick-release connector. The system is equipped with a device that automatically activates the CCD visual-range attachment when the latter is connected to the thermal scope and with a comparator that compares the video signal of the CCD attachment with the video signal of the thermal scope for sending the brightest video signal to the thermal scope display.

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 quick-acquisition optical sight for short-distance aiming or viewing enhanced with an illuminated reticle, e.g., a red dot, and intended for installation on a conventional long-distance viewing apparatus, the combination thereof comprising an integral assembly consisting of a mounting part attachable directly to the tubular scope without any intermediate adapters and a housing with an optical system that is pivotally supported by the mounting part. In spite of the fact that the quick-acquisition sight is approximately 30% smaller and less heavy than the smallest existing sight of this type, it incorporates click-type mechanisms for adjusting the position of the sight optical axis relative to the optical axis of the scope.

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 universal multifunctional cover for a quick-acquisition optical sight in the form of a box-like casing with an open front end, which in the sight-closing position of the cover is located in front of the optical lens, and with a rear end closed with a transparent medium. The cover is provided with a frame that supports an optical filter and has a radial outward projection that can be used as a foresight. The frame is pivotally supported by stretchable resilient members such as rubber strings so that the frame with the foresight and the filter can be switched between the following three positions: a first position in which the frame rests on the box-like casing, a second position in which the frame is installed in front of the optical lens with the foresight projecting upward, and a third position in which the frame is installed in front of the optical lens with the foresight projecting downward and closing the sensor.

Abstract: A day/night weapon sight assembly that consists of daytime sight and a nighttime sight allows the use of both sights without change in eye relief even when the nighttime sight is attached to the rear end of the daytime sight. This is achieved by supporting the daytime sight moveably in the direction of the optical axis and by supporting the nighttime sight with the use of a plane-parallel motion mechanism that allows switching of the nighttime sight between the upper inoperative position and the operative position behind and coaxially with the daytime sight.

Abstract: A day/night weapon sight assembly that consists of daytime sight and a nighttime sight allows the use of both sights without change in eye relief even when the nighttime sight is attached to the rear end of the daytime sight. This is achieved by supporting the daytime sight moveably in the direction of the optical axis and by supporting the nighttime sight with the use of a plane-parallel motion mechanism that allows switching of the nighttime sight between the upper inoperative position and the operative position behind and coaxially with the daytime sight.

Abstract: A light intensifier tube is described and which includes a photocathode; a luminescent screen disposed in spaced relation relative the photocathode; a shutter electrode disposed intermediate the photocathode and the luminescent screen; and an anode located intermediate the shutter electrode and the luminescent screen is provided.

Abstract: A light intensifier tube is described and which includes a photocathode; a luminescent screen disposed in spaced relation relative the photocathode; a shutter electrode disposed intermediate the photocathode and the luminescent screen; and an anode located intermediate the shutter electrode and the luminescent screen is provided.

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: 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: The IIT of the present invention consists of the following parts arranged in series along the optical axis of the IIT in the direction from the target being observed to the viewer's eye: a fiber-glass plate having a flat side facing the object and a concave side facing the viewer, a thin-film coating applied onto the concave surface of the fiber-glass plate which functions as a photo-cathode, an anode made in the form of a truncated cone with the narrow side facing the photo-cathode, and a flat luminescent screen made of glass with a luminescent coating. Unique parts of the IIT of the invention are a specially profiled and dimensioned anode and shutter electrode. The anode and the shutter electrode have specific relationships between the diameters and lengths of the portions from which this parts are composed.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus including a light intensifier tube for use on an overland vehicle is described and which includes an electromagnetic radiation emitter which emits electromagnetic radiation which is reflected from an object of interest; and an electromagnetic radiation receiver which discriminately receives the reflected electromagnetic radiation at predetermined time intervals and which provides an output signal from which information regarding the object of interest may be derived.

Abstract: A light intensifier tube is described and which includes a photocathode; a luminescent screen disposed in spaced relation relative the photocathode; a shutter electrode disposed intermediate the photocathode and the luminescent screen; and an anode located intermediate the shutter electrode and the luminescent screen is provided.

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.