A nightvision system comprising: an underlying device, the underlying device configured to provide output light in a first spectrum from input light received at the underlying device; a transparent optical device optically coupled in an overlapping fashion to the underlying device, wherein the transparent optical device is configured to transmit light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device, the transparent optical device comprising: an active area of a semiconductor chip, the active area comprising: a first plurality of active elements configured to cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device; and a first plurality of 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, the first plurality of transparent regions being configured in size and shape to cause the transparent optical device to have a first transmission efficiency for light in the first spectrum; the nightvision system further comprising an image processor configured to process brightness maps, wherein the brightness maps indicate different light levels in different portions of a scene produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements; and an illuminator coupled to the image processor, the illuminator configured to provide additional input light into the underlying device based on image processing performed by the image processor. an underlying device, the underlying device configured to provide output light in a first spectrum from input light received at the underlying device; a transparent optical device optically coupled in an overlapping fashion to the underlying device, wherein the transparent optical device is configured to transmit light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device, the transparent optical device comprising: an active area of a semiconductor chip, the active area comprising: a first plurality of active elements configured to cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device; and a first plurality of 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, the first plurality of transparent regions being configured in size and shape to cause the transparent optical device to have a first transmission efficiency for light in the first spectrum; a first plurality of active elements configured to cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device; and a first plurality of 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, the first plurality of transparent regions being configured in size and shape to cause the transparent optical device to have a first transmission efficiency for light in the first spectrum; the nightvision system further comprising an image processor configured to process brightness maps, wherein the brightness maps indicate different light levels in different portions of a scene produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements; and an illuminator coupled to the image processor, the illuminator configured to provide additional input light into the underlying device based on image processing performed by the image processor.