NCJ Number
13390
Date Published
1973
Length
49 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC TEST PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE OPTICAL PARAMETERS ESSENTIAL TO THE UTILITY OF NIGHT VISION DEVICES.
Abstract
A PREVIOUS REPORT, SURVEY OF IMAGE QUALITY CRITERIA FOR PASSIVE NIGHT VISION DEVICES, DISCUSSED IMAGE QUALITY CRITERIA AND CONCLUDED THAT FOUR MEASURES ARE REQUIRED TO EVALUATE THE IMAGE QUALITY OF NIGHT VISION DEVICES (1) CONTRAST TRANSFER FUNCTION, (2) DISTORTION, (3) LIGHT INDUCED BACKGROUND, AND (4) FLARE. OPTICAL GAIN AND DARK CURRENT, OR LIGHT EQUIVALENT BACKGROUND, ARE ALSO IMPORTANT MEASURES OF THE UTILITY OF A NIGHT VISION DEVICE. EACH TEST METHOD IS OUTLINED, THE EQUIPMENT ARRANGEMENTS DESCRIBED, PROCEDURES DETAILED, AND THE TREATMENT OF DATA DISCUSSED. THE REPORT ALSO DESCRIBES THE TEST EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO PERFORM THESE MEASUREMENTS, DIFFUSE LIGHT SOURCE, A DEVICE TO SCAN A RESOLUTION CHART, A PHOTOMETER, CHARTS FOR CONTRAST TRANSFER AND DISTORTION TESTING, LIGHTS FOR FLARE AND DISTORTION TESTING, A BLACK BODY, VARIOUS MOUNTS FOR THE NIGHT VISION DEVICES AND PHOTOMETERS, AND THE X-Y RECORDER. A COMPLETE EVALUATION OF NIGHT VISION DEVICES SHOULD INCLUDE EVALUATION OF THEIR DURABILITY AND COVERAGE OF SUCH TESTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE REPORT. (SNI ABSTRACT)