Universal adapter for night vision system

An adapter is provided for enabling the use of night vision goggle having a plug-type mounting connector and a spring biased latch, with a head mounting assembly having a plate-type receiving carriage. The adapter comprises a housing having a plug-type receptacle which is configured to receive the plug-type mounting connector and a bar capable of engaging the latch. The adapter also comprises a mounting plate which is integrally formed to the hosing and configured to engage the plate-type receiving carriage. The plug-type mounting connector is secured within the plug-type receptacle by an engagement between the latch and the bar. The plug-type mounting connector is capable of selective disengagement from the plug-type receptacle by manual manipulation of the latch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Related Applications 
The present invention relates to and incorporates by reference the 
teachings of the following co-pending patent application: IMPROVED NIGHT 
VISION SYSTEM AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY, Ser. No. 07/805,187, filed Dec. 10, 
1991, by Dor. 
2. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a night vision system, and more 
particularly, to a universal adapter which enables a single face mask or 
helmet mount to be used in conjunction with either of two commercially 
available night vision goggles. 
3. Description of Related Art 
Night vision systems are commonly used by military and law enforcement 
personnel for conducting operations in low light or night conditions. 
These systems intensify the ambient light to produce an output image which 
is visible to the human eye. Such night vision systems either take the 
form of binoculars, having separate eye pieces for each eye, or 
monoculars, having only a single eye piece. 
It is common for operators of night vision systems to desire hands free 
operation, in which the binocular or monocular systems can be mounted to 
either a face mask worn on the operator's face, or to the operator's 
helmet. The typical face mask mounting assembly comprises a rod which is 
held to the operator's face by use of a strap which wraps around the head 
and connects to the rod at two or more places. At the center of the 
forehead portion of the rod, a mount is provided which would engage the 
binocular or monocular system. Helmet mounting assemblies are also 
available, in which the bar mounts directly to the operator's helmet. A 
helmet mounting assembly of this kind is disclosed in the co-pending 
application described above. The components comprising a face mask or 
helmet mounting system are referred to collectively as headgear. 
Currently, the night vision system art is dominated by two distinct goggle 
configurations. The first configuration is designated as the AN/PVS-7A by 
the United States government, manufactured by Litton Systems, Inc., the 
assignee of the present case, and the second configuration is designated 
as the AN/PVS-7B, manufactured by VARO, Inc. Both the AN/PVS-7A and the 
AN/PVS-7B utilize a binocular format, having two eye pieces which combine 
to a single scope. The AN/PVS-7A night vision system is show in FIG. 1, 
and the AN/PVS7B night vision system is shown in FIG. 2. Many of the 
design features, capabilities and operational characteristics of the two 
goggle configurations are similar. 
The primary distinction between the two configurations lies in the method 
of attachment of the goggle to the headgear. In the AN/PVS-7A 
configuration, a dovetail shaped plate is configured to secure within a 
moveable carriage which mounts to the helmet or face mask secured bar. The 
plate locks within the carriage by use of a locking mechanism within the 
carriage, and is released by manual operation of button provided with the 
carriage. 
In contrast, the AN/PVS-7B night vision goggle utilizes a generally 
rectangular plug which engages an associated socket provided on the 
headgear. The plug and socket combination for the AN/PVS-7B night vision 
goggle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,783, by Kastendieck et al. 
Unlike the carriage described above, the socket is relatively inert, 
having no moving parts. A spring biased hook is provided with the plug 
which catches a stationary flange member within the socket. To release the 
plug from engagement with the socket, a lever arm extending from the hook 
is manually depressed, releasing the hook from the engagement with the 
flange member. The plug is located closer to the optical line of sight 
than the dovetail plate described above, and the headgear of the AN/PVS-7A 
goggle positions the carriage higher on the operator's forehead relative 
the socket for the AN/PVS-7B configuration. 
It should be apparent that the AN/PVS-7A night vision goggles can only be 
used with its associated headgear, and the AN/PVS-7B can only be used with 
its associated headgear. This presents a problem for many users of the 
night vision goggles. Many such users purchase both types of night vision 
goggles, depending upon availability and price of the respective systems. 
Unfortunately, the two systems are not interchangeable in that one type of 
goggle cannot be used with a different type of headgear. 
Interchangeability is important in that it expands the total number of 
night vision systems available to the operators. 
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an adapter which enables 
interchangeability between the two common forms of night vision system. It 
would be further desirable to provide an adapter for a night vision 
mounting assembly having a plate receiving carriage-type receptacle, in 
which the adapter can receive a goggle having a plug-type mount. It would 
be further desirable to provide an adapter for a night vision goggle which 
is relatively inexpensive, light weight, and simple to manufacture. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an 
adapter for a night vision system which enables the use of either a goggle 
having a plug-type mounting connector or a plate type mounting connector, 
with a single type of headgear, so as to enhance the interchangeability of 
these systems. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for a 
night vision goggle which is relatively inexpensive, light weight, and 
simple to manufacture. 
To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with the purpose of the 
invention, an adapter is provided which enables the use of a night vision 
goggle having plug-type mounting connector and a spring biased latch, with 
a head mounting assembly having a plate-type receiving carriage- The 
adapter comprises a housing having a plug-type receptacle configured to 
receive the plug-type mounting connector and an internal bar capable of 
engaging the latch. The adapter further comprises a dovetail type mounting 
plate which is integrally formed to the housing and configured to engage 
the plate-type receiving carriage. The plug-type receptacle further 
comprises a generally rectangular cavity having an outwardly flared 
entrance portion. The adapter can be formed from a light weight, easy to 
construct material, such as high impact plastic. 
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a night vision 
system is provided which comprises a goggle portion and a head mounting 
portion. One of the portions have a plug-type mounting assembly and the 
other of the portions have a plate-type mounting assembly. An adapter is 
provided for enabling attachment of the goggle to the head mounting 
portion. The adapter comprises a housing having a receptacle configured to 
receive the mounting assembly of the goggle portion, and a connector 
integrally formed to the housing and configured to engage the mounting 
assembly of the head mounting portion. The connector is capable of 
selective disengagement from the receptacle. 
A more complete understanding of the adapter for a night vision system of 
the present invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as 
well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a 
consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred 
embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings 
which will be first described briefly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Two of the more common forms of night vision systems are the AN/PVS-7A and 
the AN/PVS-7B. The AN/PVS-7A is shown generally at 10 of FIG. 1 secured to 
a face mask type mounting assembly 20. The AN/PVS-7A generally comprises a 
center housing portion 16 having an objective lens 14 extending outwardly, 
and eye pieces 12 facing the operator. As known in the art, light entering 
the objective lens 14 is amplified by use of a internal image 
intensification tube, producing an image which can be seen through the eye 
pieces 12. 
The AN/PVS-7A secures to the face mask 20 by cooperation between a mounting 
plate 18 and an associated receiving carriage 28. The receiving carriage 
28 is adjustable to optimize the distance between the eye piece 12 and the 
operator. The face mask 20 comprises a curved rod 22 which partially 
encircles the operator's face and a skull cap 34 which connects to the rod 
and surrounds the back of the operator's head. The rod 22 has several 
cushion plates 24 which contact various points on the operator's face, so 
as to provide a more stable platform for the goggles. The receiving 
carriage 28 is provided at a center mount portion 26, and is adjustable 
relative the center portion as described above. The skull cap 34 has a top 
strap 38, a pair of side straps 42 and a chin strap 36 which further 
secure the night vision system to the operator's head. 
The AN/PVS-7B night vision system is shown generally at 50 of FIG. 2. Like 
the other system, it has a housing portion 56 with an objective lens 54 
extending outwardly therefrom, and a pair of eye pieces 52. The internal 
operation of the AN/PVS-7B is substantially similar to that of the 
AN/PVS-7A. However, the AN/PVS-7B has a different mounting scheme from 
that of the AN/PVS-7A. Secured to the housing portion 56 is a plug-type 
connector 58. The connector is generally rectangular and has a shape 
similar to an arrowhead. A spring biased lever 62 extends outwardly from 
the connector 58, which joins to a latch 68. The lever 62 and latch 68 
cooperate to secure the plug 58 within its associated receptacle, as will 
be further described below. 
The AN/PVS-7B also has an associated headgear 60 which allows the night 
vision system to be secured to the operator's head. The headgear 60 has a 
head band 61 which wraps around the head and secures by the use of side 
straps 63. Extending outwardly from the front of the head band 61 is a 
support bracket 65 which has a receptacle 67 configured to receive the 
plug 58. Unlike the receiving carriage 28 of the AN/PVS-7A headgear, the 
receptacle 67 is generally inert. The locking and release mechanism to 
secure the plug 58 within the receptacle is provided with the plug 58, 
rather than with the receptacle 67. When the plug 58 is inserted into the 
receptacle, it snaps into place by cooperation between the latch 68 and an 
internal hook provided in the receptacle 67. To remove the plug 58 from 
the receptacle, the lever 62 is depressed which releases the latch 68 from 
engagement with the hook within the receptacle 67. 
It should be apparent that although the two systems are very similar, they 
are not interchangeable. Specifically, the mounting plate 18 of the 
AN/PVS-7A night vision system 10 cannot be made to secure with the 
receptacle 67 of the headgear 60. Conversely, the mounting plug 58 of the 
AN/PVS-7B night vision system 50 cannot be made to secure with the 
receiving carriage 28 of the headgear 20. Such interchangeability would be 
desirable so as to improve the availability of night vision systems to the 
operator. For example, the choice of headgear often depends on the 
individual operator's comfort. Although either the headgear 20 or headgear 
60 can be made to fit a particular operator, it often takes a period of 
time to adjust all the straps so as to provide a perfect fit. Once such a 
fit is achieved, it is unlikely that an operator would chose to remove the 
headgear and replace it with the alternative headgear if there has been a 
failure to the associated night vision system. Thus, the present invention 
enables a single type of headgear to be used with either of the 
aforementioned night vision systems. 
To achieve this interchangeability, an adapter 70 is provided. The adapter 
70 comprises a generally rectangular housing 72 with a flared opening 74. 
The opening 74 leads to an internal cavity 76 which is configured to 
receive the mounting plug 58 of the AN/PVS-7B night vision system 50. At a 
bottom surface 78 of the internal cavity 76, a hook 82 is secured in 
place. The hook 82 can be secured by any known fastening method, such as 
by a bolt or epoxy. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the use of both such methods, 
wherein the hook 82 has been bolted to the bottom surface 78 with a layer 
of epoxy applied over the bolt and a portion of the bottom surface 78. 
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the latch 68 engages the hook 82 by snapping 
over a bevelled surface 83 provided on a facing portion of the hook 82. 
Once the plug 58 has been fully inserted into the receptacle 67, the latch 
secures behind the hook 82 to firmly hold the plug 58 in place. To release 
the plug 58, the operator depresses the lever 62 against its internal 
spring bias which lifts the latch 68 relative the hook 82, enabling the 
plug 58 to be readily removed from the receptacle 67. 
At an upper portion 73 of the housing 72, a mounting plate 84 is provided, 
best shown in FIGS. 4 through 9. The mounting plate 84 is substantially 
identical to that normally provided on the AN/PVS-7A night vision system 
described above. The mounting plate 84 has a dovetail shape, with a 
leading edge 86 and a pair of diverging side edges 88. These edges are 
configured to readily insert into the receiving carriage 28. Generally 
centered within the plate 84 is a depressed portion 92. The depressed 
portion 92 is configured to receive a locking finger 93 which depends from 
an internal portion of the receiving carriage 28. The locking finger 93 
pivots out of the depressed portion 92 by manually pushing the release 
bottom 32. 
At a lower portion 75 of the housing 72, a rod magnet 94 is provided. The 
magnet 94 is intended to interact with an internal reed switch provided 
within the AN/PVS-7B night vision system. As known in the art, the reed 
switch provides a fail safe mechanism to insure that the power to the 
night vision system is removed once the goggle has been disengaged from 
the headgear. This feature insures that the power is not left on after the 
system has been removed from use, which would run the battery down 
prematurely, and could create a security threat due to enemy observers 
seeing the light emitted from the eyepiece 12. 
It is anticipated that the adapter 70 be formed of a light weight, rigid 
material, such as plastic or metal. The mounting plate 84 is integrally 
formed to the housing 72, and the two components can be either formed from 
a single piece, or manufactured separately and combined together. 
Having thus described a preferred embodiment of an adapter for a night 
vision system mounting assembly, it should now be apparent to those 
skilled in the art that the aforestated objects and advantages for the 
within system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated to those 
skilled in the art that various modifications, adaptations and alternative 
embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present 
invention. For example, even though the figures show the adapter used with 
a facemask type of headgear, it is anticipated that it be advantageously 
used with a helmet mount type of headgear, as disclosed in the above 
identified related application. 
The present invention is further defined by the following claims: