This is a series of blogs to elaborate on the knowledge related to night vision devices. Earlier we talked about what types of night vision devices are there? How many generations of GEN products have there been in the development of night vision devices and their characteristics? Today let’s talk about how to choose night vision goggles? There are many things to pay attention to when choosing a night vision device. We especially need to understand some English parameters on the night vision device. This is very helpful for us to choose a night vision device that suits us, and it is also very helpful for the correct use of the night vision device. . There are many English meanings that you need to know when purchasing night vision devices. I will use two blogs to talk to you about the specific uses of the English parameters in night vision devices.

Before buying a night vision device, I strongly recommend that you know the following English vocabulary and some common data units of night vision devices.

(1) NVG: Night Vision Goggles: refers to a night vision system that can be worn on a helmet

(2) NOD: Night Observation Device: the most commonly used abbreviation for night vision devices

(3) IIT: Image Intensifier Tube, Tube: refers to the most high-tech part inside the night vision device, the imaging tube

(4) Autogated, Autogating: A function of some night vision devices that continuously adjusts the imaging according to the intensity of the surrounding light source to ensure that the nod maintains the clearest imaging under any circumstances. (And it has the effect of protecting the imaging tube of the night vision device from being damaged by strong light) Generally, a night vision device with an Autogate function is better at processing visible light, but without it, it does not mean that the night vision device is not good.

(5) Gain: the brightness of the night vision device imaging. Nothing to do with clarity.

(6) Photocathode: Photocathode, its function in the night vision imaging tube is to convert photons into electrons

(7) Film: A thin sintered alumina used to prevent ions from the Micro Channel Plate from damaging the photocathode, but at the same time it also blocks the flow of electrons, which affects the imaging clarity.

(8) Manual Gain/Fixed Gain: Manual Gain means that the brightness of the night vision device image can be manually adjusted, while Fixed Gain (auto gain) means that the night vision device image is always in the brightest state and cannot be adjusted manually. Many people think that Manual Gain is more "advanced", but this is not the case. Many very "advanced" night vision devices are Fixed Gain (such as Sentinels). Anyway, the brighter the image of the night vision device, the better. Few people are willing to change the brightness. Turn it down.

(9) Green Phosphor/White Phosphor: The image of the Green Phosphor night vision device is green, while the image of the White Phosphor night vision device is light blue. Many people think that the White Phosphor night vision device is more "advanced". In fact, this is not the case. I I have seen many very bad White Phosphors and many very good Green Phosphors, but officials believe that White Phosphor puts less pressure on the eyes and is easier to adapt to.

(10) Filmed, Thin Filmed, Filmless: Filmed means that the thickness of sintered alumina is relatively thick, and is generally used in non-autogated night vision devices to protect the imaging tube from damage by strong light. Thin Filmed means that the thickness of sintered alumina is thinner and is generally used in autogated night vision devices. Compared with Filmed night vision devices, the imaging noise is less and the clarity is relatively high. Filmless represents a night vision device that has no sintered aluminum oxide film at all, with almost no noise and extremely high clarity. But Filmless requires Tube to have excellent autogate functionality.

It seems that understanding these parameters is very helpful for choosing a suitable night vision device. In the next article, we will talk about what are the English data and units that determine the quality of a night vision device?