NVIS for LCD Monitors

Enabling LCD Viewability Through Night Vision Goggles

• Night Vision Imaging System compatible, MIL-STD-3009, Class B
• NVIS-compliant emissions will not interfere with night vision equipment
• Switchable LED/NVIS backlight controller allows user to switch between day and night modes
• General Digital’s unique NVIS mode employs no external filters and does not degrade brightness or daylight characteristics when NVIS is “off”

How Night Vision Goggles (NVG) Work
Night vision goggles (NVG) take low level (undetectable by the human eye) incoming light in the visible spectrum (photons) and amplify it to a human viewable level. They also take non-visible light in the infrared (IR) spectrum and convert it to the visible spectrum. These processes occur simultaneously and are converted into electrical energy called electrons. The electrons pass through a thin disk that’s about the size of a quarter and contains more than 10 million channels. As the electrons go through the channels, they strike the channel walls and thousands more electrons are released. These multiplied electrons then bounce off of a phosphor screen which converts the electrons back into photons and lets you see an impressive nighttime view, even in pitch black surroundings.

Why Standard Monitors Don’t Work with NVG
Standard monitors (CCFL-backlit LCDs and CRTs) emit high levels of IR radiation, specifically the kind that’s amplfied by night vision goggles. This interrupts the view of a person equipped with NVG by causing blooming (washed out view) and oversaturation, which renders the user effectively blind. This is true even if the monitor is in the proximity of the user but not in their direct field of view.

Making an LCD Monitor NVIS Compatible
To make a display NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) compatible, General Digital™ expertly re-engineers the existing display hardware to virtually eliminate the emission of high levels of IR radiation. In some instances, we install entirely new backlighting systems, whether CCFL or LED. Both approaches are fully compliant with the military specification, MIL-STD-3009. By configuring an LCD monitor to be night vision compatible, an NVG user is easily able to view information on a display screen, as well as view their surroundings, while using night vision goggles.

Aspects of Night Vision Technology
Light-colored objects with a dull surface may appear darker through a night vision unit. Conversely, dark-colored objects with a highly reflective surface may appear lighter. For example, a shiny dark-colored jacket may appear brighter than a light-colored jacket with a dull surface.

Depth Perception
The monocle-type night vision goggles do not display normal (unaided eye) depth perception.

Fog and Rain
Night vision goggles are very sensitive to reflective ambient light; therefore, light reflecting off of fog or heavy rain amplifies the light in the night vision unit and may degrade its performance.

Honeycomb
This faint hexagonal pattern is the result of the manufacturing process.

Spots
A few black spots throughout the image area are inherent characteristics of night vision technology. These spots will remain constant and should not increase in size or quantity.

Sparkle or Snow
Some light shimmering spots can arise from high-energy solar particles striking the detector and being converted into visible light.

Ask us about NVIS-compatible LCD monitors.
General Digital’s Sale Engineers are quite knowledgeable at determining what will best suit your particular application. Contact us at 800.952.2535 today and we will be happy to take the time to understand your needs and make our recommendations.