NCJ Number
57761
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE INEFFICIENT USE OF NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN BE CORRECTED THROUGH THE USE OF AVAILABLE TEST SETS PROVIDING QUICK FEEDBACK ON EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
NEW NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT CAN VARY APPRECIABLY IN PERFORMANCE. MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES NEGLECT THE EQUIPMENT WHEN SUCH PROBLEMS OCCUR, AND READY MAINTENANCE DIAGNOSIS IS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE. THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE MONITORING DEVICES IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLESOME SINCE THE MAXIMUM BENEFITS OF SUCH EQUIPMENT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF THE POLICE ARE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE EQUIPMENT'S OPERATIONAL CONDITION. IN ADDITION, SINCE SUCH EQUIPMENT IS RELATIVELY NEW TO CIVILIAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, MOST POLICE OFFICERS LACK THE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING TO EFFECTIVELY TEST AND MAINTAIN SUCH EQUIPMENT. THE MAGNITUDE OF SUCH PROBLEMS CAN BE ASCERTAINED FROM THE FACT THAT OF THE 100 NIGHT VISION DEVICES OWNED BY THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, ONE-FIFTH WERE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR ONE-SIXTH OF THE TIME. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH ACCOUNT FOR SUCH EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS, DEVICE FAILURES WITH THE IMAGE INTENSIFIER TUBE, POWER SUPPLY, AND OTHER PARTS ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE. A PORTABLE TESTING SET TO IDENTIFY SUCH PROBLEMS AND MONITOR EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE ITT COMPONENTS GROUP EUROPE. THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THREE BASIC UNITS: A LAMP HEAD WITH TWO CONTROLS, A DETECTOR HEAD, AND A SMALL CONSOLE WHICH CONTAINS THE RECHARGEABLE POWER SUPPLY AND ALL REMAINING CONTROLS. ALL ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS, TOGETHER WITH THE LIGHT RECEIVED BY THE DETECTOR, ARE MEASURED ON JUST ONE TAUT-BAND METER LOCATED IN THE CONSOLE. THIS TEST SET ALLOWS FOR QUICK FIELD MEASUREMENT OF NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT BY NONMAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. BY PROVIDING USERS WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CONDITION OF NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, THE TEST SET WILL ENABLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE GREATER USE OF SUCH DEVICES. AN ILLUSTRATION, TABLES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KCP)