Military optical components
Military optical components are optical components used in the military field. This article mainly studies the generation, transmission, detection, and processing of light in the ultraviolet to infrared wavelength range, the interaction between light and matter, and their military applications. Modern military optical technology is a new comprehensive technology based on optics and optoelectronics, which organically combines precision machinery, electronics, and computer technology. According to its working principle and technological development, it can be divided into military optical instruments, military low light night vision technology, military infrared technology, military laser technology, and military optoelectronic comprehensive application technology.
optical instrument
Mainly optical instruments in the visible light range (400-700nm). They are the earliest military applications, with mature technology and the ability to extend and expand human vision. They can detect targets that are invisible to the human eye, determine their location, and aim at them. It can usually be divided into two categories: observation instruments and photogrammetric instruments. The former uses the human eye as a light information receiver, while the latter uses photosensitive film to record landscape information. Ordinary optical instruments are mainly composed of optical systems, barrels, and precision mechanical components. Observation and measurement instruments are mainly telescope systems, which allow people to see distant objects, facilitating measurement and aiming. The optical system of photographic instruments is mainly the photographic objective lens. In order to meet different requirements, various lenses such as large aperture, long focal length, and zoom length have been developed. Military visible light instruments mainly include military telescopes, periscopes, goggles, rangefinders, optical theodolites, cameras, etc.
Low light night vision technology
The technology of converting low light images into visible light images for the human eye in the visible and near-infrared bands is called low light night vision technology, which has two types: direct and indirect observation. The low light night vision device consists of an objective lens, an image intensifier, an eyepiece, a power supply, mechanical components, etc., and can be directly observed. The human eye can observe the scene image on the screen of the image intensifier through the eyepiece, which has a wide range of applications in night reconnaissance, aiming, driving and other fields. The indirect observation of low light television includes objective lenses and low light camera devices. LLTV cameras transmit scene images through wireless or wired transmission on receiving and display devices. Can be used for night reconnaissance and firefighting systems.
infrared technology
All objects with temperatures above absolute zero have infrared radiation, which provides objective basis for target detection and recognition. Therefore, infrared technology has been widely used in military applications. The infrared system operates in both active and passive modes. The active infrared system works by illuminating the target with an infrared light source and receiving the reflected infrared radiation from the target. Due to its easy exposure, its application range gradually decreases and it is gradually replaced by passive low light night vision devices and thermal imaging devices. Passive infrared systems generally consist of optical path systems, infrared detectors, modulation scanners, signal processing, and displays, among which the infrared detector is its core component. Infrared multi-component detectors, especially infrared focal plane devices, are currently a hot topic in research and development.
There are currently two main infrared technologies used:
1. Infrared guidance and tracking. There are two working modes: point source tracking guidance and imaging tracking guidance. Point source tracking and guidance treat targets as point sources. The infrared radiation of the target is received by the optical system and infrared detector, and then converted into modulated and encoded electrical signals. After information processing, the instrument can automatically track or guide the missile to reach the target. Imaging tracking guidance is a developing guidance method that obtains target image information through optical mechanical scanning and multiple detectors. It has the ability to identify targets through information processing and recognition.
Passive infrared thermal imager in infrared night vision technology. Multiple Western countries have developed a universal component thermal imager using multi-component cadmium telluride detectors, which can be assembled into the required infrared thermal imager by selecting different components according to usage requirements.
optical instrument
Mainly optical instruments in the visible light range (400-700nm). They are the earliest military applications, with mature technology and the ability to extend and expand human vision. They can detect targets that are invisible to the human eye, determine their location, and aim at them. It can usually be divided into two categories: observation instruments and photogrammetric instruments. The former uses the human eye as a light information receiver, while the latter uses photosensitive film to record landscape information. Ordinary optical instruments are mainly composed of optical systems, barrels, and precision mechanical components. Observation and measurement instruments are mainly telescope systems, which allow people to see distant objects, facilitating measurement and aiming. The optical system of photographic instruments is mainly the photographic objective lens. In order to meet different requirements, various lenses such as large aperture, long focal length, and zoom length have been developed. Military visible light instruments mainly include military telescopes, periscopes, goggles, rangefinders, optical theodolites, cameras, etc.
Low light night vision technology
The technology of converting low light images into visible light images for the human eye in the visible and near-infrared bands is called low light night vision technology, which has two types: direct and indirect observation. The low light night vision device consists of an objective lens, an image intensifier, an eyepiece, a power supply, mechanical components, etc., and can be directly observed. The human eye can observe the scene image on the screen of the image intensifier through the eyepiece, which has a wide range of applications in night reconnaissance, aiming, driving and other fields. The indirect observation of low light television includes objective lenses and low light camera devices. LLTV cameras transmit scene images through wireless or wired transmission on receiving and display devices. Can be used for night reconnaissance and firefighting systems.
infrared technology
All objects with temperatures above absolute zero have infrared radiation, which provides objective basis for target detection and recognition. Therefore, infrared technology has been widely used in military applications. The infrared system operates in both active and passive modes. The active infrared system works by illuminating the target with an infrared light source and receiving the reflected infrared radiation from the target. Due to its easy exposure, its application range gradually decreases and it is gradually replaced by passive low light night vision devices and thermal imaging devices. Passive infrared systems generally consist of optical path systems, infrared detectors, modulation scanners, signal processing, and displays, among which the infrared detector is its core component. Infrared multi-component detectors, especially infrared focal plane devices, are currently a hot topic in research and development.
There are currently two main infrared technologies used:
1. Infrared guidance and tracking. There are two working modes: point source tracking guidance and imaging tracking guidance. Point source tracking and guidance treat targets as point sources. The infrared radiation of the target is received by the optical system and infrared detector, and then converted into modulated and encoded electrical signals. After information processing, the instrument can automatically track or guide the missile to reach the target. Imaging tracking guidance is a developing guidance method that obtains target image information through optical mechanical scanning and multiple detectors. It has the ability to identify targets through information processing and recognition.
Passive infrared thermal imager in infrared night vision technology. Multiple Western countries have developed a universal component thermal imager using multi-component cadmium telluride detectors, which can be assembled into the required infrared thermal imager by selecting different components according to usage requirements.