Author: claimsbot

1. A molten metal pump comprising:
an elongated body having a vertical straight tube having an internal cavity defined by an inner wall which tapers down and terminates in a parabolically-shaped bottom end; and
a centrifugal impeller seated in an opening formed in the center of said bottom end, wherein molten metal ejected from the impeller is received by the parabolically-shaped bottom end, wherein said impeller has an outer diameter which is approximately one-third to one-half of the diameter of said inner wall;
whereby rotation of the impeller results in the ejected flow of molten metal to create a vortex which climbs the inner wall to an outlet opening passing through an upper portion of said body.
2. A pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said impeller has vertically downward facing liquid inlets.
3. A pump as defined in claim 2, further comprising a drive shaft extending concentrically down through the tube and attached to a hub formed in a back plate of said impeller.
4. A pump as defined in claim 3, wherein said impeller includes a plurality of radially extending spaced vanes on an upper surface of said back plate, wherein adjacent vanes define channels each having a channel inlet open to said internal cavity and a channel outlet facing said inner wall.
5. A pump as defined in claim 4, wherein solid particulate matter entering said channel inlets is ejected through said channel outlets and into said vortex such that said ejected solid particulate matter is fully immersed within said vortex.
6. A pump as defined in claim 2, wherein said liquid inlet openings are formed through a bottom face of said impeller, said impeller further comprising a plurality of spaced vane arms extending radially along a top face disposed opposite to the bottom face, wherein said spaced vane arms define a plurality of channels having channel inlets which are open axially to said internal cavity and channel outlets which are open radially to said internal cavity.
7. A pump as defined in claim 1, wherein said vortex has a substantially uniform thickness along said inner wall and above said bottom end.
8. A pump as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for mixing solid particulate matter within said vortex, wherein said mixing means is formed within an upper face of said impeller and is effective to redirect said solid particulate matter radially into said vortex.
9. A molten metal pump comprising:
an elongated body having a vertical straight tube having an internal cavity defined by an inner wall which tapers down and terminates in a parabolically-shaped bottom end; and
a centrifugal impeller seated in an opening formed in the center of said bottom end, said impeller including downward facing liquid inlets, wherein said impeller has an outer diameter which is approximately one-fourth to one-third of the diameter of said inner wall; and
a drive shaft extending concentrically down through the tube and attached to a hub formed in a back plate of said impeller;
wherein molten metal ejected from the impeller is received by the parabolically-shaped bottom end, whereby rotation of the impeller results in the ejected flow of molten metal to create a vortex which climbs the inner wall to an outlet opening passing through an upper portion of said body, wherein said impeller has vertically.
10. A pump which is immersible in a bath of molten metal, comprising:
a vertical riser tube having an inner wall which defines an internal cavity and having outlet means formed at an upper end of the tube which fluidly connects the internal cavity to transfer means external to said riser tube;
a centrifugal impeller rotatably seated coaxially within an opening formed in the center of a bottom end of said riser tube, wherein molten metal ejected from the impeller is received by said inner wall, wherein said impeller has an outer diameter which is approximately one-fourth to one-half of the diameter of said inner wall;
whereby rotation of the impeller results in the ejected molten metal to create a vortex within said riser tube and along said inner wall, said vortex climbs the inner wall to said outlet means;
wherein said bottom end has a concave parabola shape.
11. A pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said vortex has a substantially uniform thickness along said inner wall and above said bottom end.
12. A pump as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for mixing solid particulate matter within said vortex, wherein said mixing means is formed within an upper face of said impeller and is effective to redirect said solid particulate matter radially into said vortex.
13. A pump as defined in claim 12, wherein said liquid inlet openings in a bottom face, said impeller further comprising a plurality of spaced vane arms extending radially along a top face disposed opposite to the bottom face, wherein said spaced vane arms define a plurality of channels having channel inlets which are open axially to said internal cavity and channel outlets which are open radially to said internal cavity.
14. A pump as defined in claim 12, wherein the solid particulate matter entering said channel inlets is ejected through said channel outlets and into said vortex such that said ejected solid particulate matter is fully immersed within said vortex.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An imaging device for outputting an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal, the imaging device comprising:
a display section for displaying an image in accordance with the image signal;
an imaging optical system for forming the optical image of the object;
an imaging section for receiving the optical image formed by the imaging optical system and converting the optical image into the electrical image signal;
an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;
a recording section for recording a shot image obtained by the imaging section, and attitude information about the attitude of the imaging device, the attitude being detected by the attitude detection section and corresponding to the shot image; and
an image display control section for restoring the shot image, in accordance with the attitude information, such that an orientation thereof corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting, clipping a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image, and displaying the clipped image on the display section.
2. An imaging device for outputting an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal, the optical image being formed by an exchangeable imaging optical system, the imaging device comprising:
a display section for displaying an image in accordance with the image signal;
an imaging section for receiving the optical image formed by the imaging optical system which is mounted, and converting the optical image into the electrical image signal;
an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;
a recording section for recording a shot image obtained by the imaging section, and attitude information about the attitude of the imaging device, the attitude being detected by the attitude detection section and corresponding to the shot image; and
an image display control section for restoring the shot image, in accordance with the attitude information, such that an orientation thereof corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting, clipping a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image, and causing the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
3. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising,
an image extraction section for extracting, from the shot images recorded in the recording section, a shot image whose aspect ratio after the restoring is different from an aspect ratio of the display section, wherein
the image display control section restores the extracted shot image, in accordance with the attitude information, such that an orientation of the shot image corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting, clips a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
4. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising
an image extraction section for extracting, from the shot images recorded in the recording section, shot images having common attitude information or a common aspect ratio, wherein
the image display control section restores the extracted shot image, in accordance with the attitude information, such that an orientation of the shot image corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting, clips a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the image display control section displays, on the display section, the clipped image whose center position is different from that of the shot image recorded in the recording section.
6. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising
a reduction ratio setting section for setting a reduction ratio of the shot image, wherein
the image display control section clips a portion of a reduced image which is obtained by reducing, at the set reduction ratio, the shot image after the restoring, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
7. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising
a reduction ratio setting section for setting a reduction ratio of the shot image such that a length of a short side of the shot image after the restoring and a length of a long side of the display section become approximately equal to each other, wherein
the image display control section clips a portion of a reduced image which is obtained by reducing, at the set reduction ratio, the shot image after the restoring, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
8. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising
a region selection section for selecting and setting a partial region from a reduced image of the shot image, wherein
the image display control section clips the selected region from the reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
9. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a region selection section for selecting and setting a partial region from a reduced region of the shot image; and
a vertical image extraction section for extracting a shot image having vertical direction information in accordance with attitude information recorded in the recording section, wherein
the region selection section is operable to select any one of an upper region, a central region, and a lower region of the shot image extracted by the image extraction section.
10. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an image attribute recognition section for recognizing an attribute which is included in the shot image recorded in the recording section; and
a region selection section for selecting and setting a region including the recognized attribute from a reduced image of the shot image, wherein
the image display control section clips the selected region from the reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
11. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a color recognition section for recognizing a specific color from the shot image recorded in the recording section; and
a region selection section for selecting and setting a region including the recognized specific color from a reduced image of the shot image, wherein
the image display control section clips the selected region from the reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
12. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a face recognition section for recognizing a face region of the object from the shot image recorded in the recording section; and
a region selection section for selecting and setting the recognized face region from a reduced image of the shot image, wherein
the image display control section clips the selected region from the reduced image of the restored shot image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
13. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a vertical image extraction section for extracting a shot image having vertical direction information in accordance with the attitude information recorded in the recording section, wherein
the image display control section reduces the shot image such that a length of a short side of the extracted shot image and a length of a long side of the display section become approximately equal to each other, clips a region including an upper end of the reduced image, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
14. An imaging device operable to output an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal and to be connected to a display section, the imaging device comprising:
an imaging optical system for forming the optical image of the object;
an imaging section for receiving the optical image formed by the imaging optical system and converting the optical image into the electrical image signal;
an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;
a recording section for recording a shot image obtained by the imaging section, and attitude information about the attitude of the imaging device, the attitude being detected by the attitude detection section and corresponding to the shot image;
an image display control section for generating a control signal which controls a display of the shot image recorded in the recording section; and
an output section for providing the generated control signal and the shot image to the display section, wherein
the control signal includes a signal which causes the shot image to be restored in accordance with the attitude information such that an orientation thereof corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting, causes a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image to be clipped, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
15. A display control device connectable to a display section, the display control device comprising:
a reading section for reading a shot image and attitude information which are recorded in a recording section, the attitude information indicating an attitude of an imaging device and corresponding to the shot image;
an image display control section for generating a control signal causing a reduced image of the shot image to be displayed; and
an output section for providing the shot image and the attitude information, which have been read, to the display section, wherein
the control signal includes a signal which causes the shot image to be restored in accordance with the attitude information such that an orientation thereof corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting, causes a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image to be clipped, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
16. The display control device according to claim 15, further comprising:
an image extraction section for extracting, from the shot images recorded in the recording section, shot images having common attitude information or a common aspect ratio, wherein
the control signal includes a signal which causes the extracted shot image to be restored in accordance with the attitude information such that an orientation thereof corresponds to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting, causes a portion of a reduced image of the restored shot image to be clipped, and causes the clipped image to be displayed on the display section.
17. The imaging device according to claim 14, wherein the control signal includes a signal which is operable to control a number of display sheets of the clipped image.

1-24. (canceled)
25. A process for producing carbon aerogels impregnated with dispersed metal particles comprising:
contacting a diamine monomer and an aromatic dianhydride monomer in a solvent under conditions conducive to formation of a poly(amic acid);
dissolving a soluble metal ion salt and the poly(amic acid) in a solvent;
contacting the solution of poly(amic acid) and soluble metal ion salt with a dehydrating agent to form a polyimide gel by imidization of the poly(amic acid);
drying the polyimide gel in the presence of supercritical CO2 to afford an polyimide aerogel; and
pyrolyzing the derived aerogel under protection of an inert atmosphere to form the carbon aerogel having highly dispersed transition metal particles.
26. A process for producing carbon xerogel-aerogel hybrid impregnated with highly dispersed metal particles, the process comprising the steps of:
contacting a diamine monomer and an aromatic dianhydride monomer in a solvent under conditions conducive to formation of a poly(amic acid);
dissolving a soluble metal salt and the poly(amic acid) in a solvent;
contacting the solution of poly(amic acid) and soluble metal ion salt with a dehydrating agent to form a polyimide gel by imidization of the poly(amic acid);
precipitating at least a portion of the soluble metal salt onto the polyimide gel;
drying the polyimide gel in the presence of supercritical CO2 to afford an polyimide aerogel; and
pyrolyzing the derived aerogel under protection of an inert atmosphere to form the carbon xerogel-aerogel having highly dispersed transition metal particles.
27. A process for producing a metal carbide aerogel, a metal carbide-carbon aerogel or carbon aerogel impregnated with highly dispersed metal particles, the process comprising the steps of:
contacting a diamine monomer and an aromatic dianhydride monomer in a solvent under conditions conducive to formation of a poly(amic acid);
preparing a solution of a soluble metal ion salt, an epoxide compound and the poly(amic acid) in a solvent such that a molar ratio of epoxide compound to the metal ion is between about 1 to about 8;
contacting the solution of poly(amic acid), an epoxide compound and soluble metal ion salt with a dehydrating agent to form a polyimide gel by imidization of the poly(amic acid);
drying the polyimide gel in the presence of supercritical CO2 to afford an polyimide aerogel; and
pyrolyzing the derived aerogel under protection of an inert atmosphere to form the aerogel having highly dispersed transition metal particles.
28. The process of any one of claims 25 through 27 in which the first solvent is not miscible with supercritical CO2, the method further comprises the step of exchanging the first solvent with a second solvent which is miscible with supercritical CO2 prior to drying the polyimide gel.
29. The process of any one of claims 25 through 27, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Zn, Si, Sn, Pb, Sb, Nb, Bi, Hf, Ba, Al, B, P, As and combinations thereof.
30. The process of claim 27, wherein the epoxide is a 1,2-epoxyalkane having from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms.
31. The process of claim 27, wherein the epoxide is selected from the group of 1,2-epoxybutane and 1,2-epoxypropane
32. The process of claim 27, wherein the epoxide compound is added to the reaction as an admixture with deionized water and wherein the epoxide compound is added to the reaction after gelation of the polyimide.
33. The process of claim 27, wherein the ratio of epoxide to metal ion is at range of about 1 to about 8.
34. The process of claim 27, wherein the ratio of deionized water to epoxide is about 1 to about 4.
35. The process of claim 28, wherein the process further comprises addition of a gelation controlling agent to the poly(amic acid) solution such that a molar ratio of gelation controlling agent to metal ion is between about 1 and about 8.
36. The process of claim 35, wherein the molar ratio of gelation controlling agent to metal ion is between about 1 and about 4.
37. The process of claim 35, wherein the gelation controlling agent is an optionally substituted acetoacetonate or an optionally substituted alkyl acetoacetate.
38. The process of claim 35, wherein the gelation controlling agent is selected from the group of 2,4-pentanedione and ethyl acetoacetate.
39. The process of any one of claims 25-27, wherein a reinforcing agent is added to the polyimide wet gel before drying with supercritical CO2.
40. The process of claim 39, wherein the reinforcing agent is selected from a reinforcement pad, organic or inorganic fibers carbon nanotubes, metallic fillers or particles or inorganic fillers or particles.
41. The process of claim 39, wherein the fiber reinforcement pad is selected from a non-woven or woven fiber reinforcement composed of a polymeric organic fiber, a glass fiber, a ceramic fiber, a carbon precursor fiber, or a biopolymer fiber.
42. The process of any one of claims 25-27, in which the process further comprises a post-curing step, at an elevated temperature, to induce substantially complete imidization, wherein the post curing step is conducted:
(a) prior to the solvent removal step wherein the post-curing step is conducted under a pressure of about 20 psi to about 4000 psi; or
(b) after the solvent removal step, wherein the post-curing step is conducted under an inert atmosphere or in a vacuum at a temperature of between about 50\xb0 C. to about 450\xb0 C.
43. The process of any one of claims 25-27, wherein the diamine monomer is represented by the formula H2N\u2014X\u2014NH2, wherein X represents a difunctional aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an amino-terminated polysiloxane, a difunctional aromatic hydrocarbon group, or difunctional heteroaromatic group which may be optionally substituted.
44. The process of claim 43, wherein the aromatic diamine is represented by either formula (I) and (II)
wherein X and Y are monofunctional substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, carboxyl, lower alkyl and lower alkoxyl groups, X and Y may be the same or different substituents and A is a bivalent connecting group selected from \u2014O\u2014, \u2014S\u2014, \u2014CO\u2014, \u2014S\u2014, \u2014SO2\u2014, and \u2014CH2\u2014, or A is a single bond; wherein alkyl or alkoxy contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
45. The process of claim 44, wherein the aromatic diamine is 1,4-phenylenediamine or 4,4\u2032-diamino-biphenyl.
46. The process of claim 43, wherein the diamine monomer is an aliphatic diamine containing a linear alkyl chain unit of formula.
NH2\ue00cCH2\ue00dnNH2

wherein n is a integer number from 1 to 12.
47. The process of claim 43, wherein the diamine monomer is an amino terminated polysiloxane of the formula
wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl-alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, and optionally substituted alkoxy.
48. The process of claim 47, wherein the amino terminated polysiloxane is a thermally stable polysiloxane of the formula
wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and optionally substituted phenyl.
49. The process of any one of claims 25-26, wherein the aromatic dianhydride is monomer represented by either formula III or IV
wherein X and Y are monofunctional substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, carboxyl, alkyl, and alkoxy groups, X and Y may be the same or different substituents and A is a bivalent connecting group selected from \u2014O\u2014, \u2014S\u2014, \u2014CO\u2014, \u2014S\u2014, \u2014SO2\u2014, \u2014CH2\u2014, or A is a single bond.
50. The process of claim 49, wherein the aromatic dianhydride is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted pyromellitic dianhydride, optionally substituted 3,3\u2032,4,4\u2032-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, optionally substituted 3,3\u2032,4,4\u2032-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, and optionally substituted 2,3,6,7-naphthylene tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride.
51. The process of any one of claims 25-27, wherein the dehydrating agent comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, n-butyric anhydride, benzoic anhydride, trifluoroacetic anhydride, and phosphous trichloride.
52. The process of claim 43, wherein the organic base is selected from optionally substituted mono-, di- and trialkylamines, optionally substituted pyridines, optionally substituted isoquinoline, optionally substituted morpholine, optionally substituted piperadine, and optionally substituted piperazine.
53-79. (canceled)
80. A composite carbon aerogel comprising carbon and at least one metal where the composite aerogel is prepared by the process of any one of claims 25 through 27.
81. A composite metal-carbon aerogel comprising nitrogen doped carbon aerogel domains, metal carbide domains, or a combination thereof.
82. The composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the composite aerogel comprises interpenetrating networks of a carbon aerogel and a metal carbide aerogel.
83. The composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the composite aerogel further comprises 0.1 to about 15% nitrogen.
84. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, having a yield strength of at least 1 MPa.
85. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the aerogel has an average pore size of between about 5 nm and about 50 nm.
86. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the aerogel has a surface area of about 100 m2g to about 1000 m2g.
87. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the aerogel has a surface area of about 200 m2g to about 600 m2g.
88. The composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, wherein the aerogel has nanoparticles of a second metal dispersed throughout pores of the aerogel where the second metal may be the same or different from the metal of the metal carbide component of the composite aerogel.
89. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 88, wherein the second metal is selected from Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Zn, Si, Sn, Pb, Sb, Nb, Bi, Hf, Ba, Al, B, P, As and combinations thereof.
90. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 80, in which the composite aerogel is electrically conductive.
91. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 81, in which the composite aerogel is electrically conductive.
92. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 82, in which the composite aerogel is electrically conductive.
93. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 88, in which the composite aerogel is electrically conductive.
94. A metal carbide aerogel prepared by the process of claim 27.
95. The metal carbide aerogel of claim 94, wherein the composite aerogel further comprises 0.1 to about 15% nitrogen.
96. The metal carbide aerogel of claim 94 in which the metal carbide aerogel is electrically conductive.
97. A metal carbide aerogel of claim 94 having a yield strength of at least 1 MPa.
98. A metal carbide aerogel of claim 94, wherein the aerogel has an average pore size of between about 5 nm and about 50 nm.
99. A metal carbide aerogel of claim 94, wherein the aerogel has a surface area of about 200 m2g or more.
100. A metal carbide aerogel of claim 99, wherein the aerogel has a surface area of between about 200 m2g and about 1000 m2g.
101. The metal carbide aerogel of claim 94, wherein the aerogel has nanoparticles of a second metal dispersed throughout pores of the aerogel where the second metal may be the same or dfferent from the metal of the metal carbide component of the composite aerogel.
102. A composite metal-carbon aerogel of claim 101, wherein the second metal is selected from Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Zn, Si, Sn, Pb, Sb, Nb, Bi, Hf, Ba, Al, B, P, As and combinations thereof.
103. A xerogelaerogel hybrid prepared by the process of claim 26.
104. An article of manufacture comprising at least one aerogel selected from metal carbide aerogels, hybrid carbon-metal carbide aerogels, each of which may have metal particles dispersed in the pores of the aerogel.
105. The article of manufacture of claim 104, wherein the aerogel is selected from aerogels provided by any one of claims 88, 81, 94 or 101.
106. An electrode composed of at least one aerogel selected from metal carbide aerogels, hybrid carbon-metal carbide aerogels, each of which may have metal particles dispersed in the pores of the aerogel.
107. The electrode of claim 106, wherein the aerogel is selected from aerogels provided by any one of claims 88, 81, 94 or 101.
108. An electrochemical cell comprising one or more electrodes composed of at least one aerogel selected from metal carbide aerogels, hybrid carbon-metal carbide aerogels, each of which may have metal particles dispersed in the pores of the aerogel.
109. The electrochemical cell of claim 108, wherein the aerogel is selected from aerogels provided by any one of claims 88, 81, 94 or 101.
110. An electrochemical cell of claim 108, wherein the electrochemical cell is selected from a battery, a capacitor, a supercapacitor, fuel cell, or capacitive deionization cell.
111. A supported metal catalyst comprising a metal carbide, or a composite carbon-metal carbide aerogel having metal particles dispersed therein or a metal carbide aerogel.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A night vision device comprising:
a housing, wherein the housing houses an intensifier tube;
a proximity sensor mounted on the housing;
an ONOFF switch operatively coupled to the intensifier tube and to the proximity sensor, wherein operation of the ONOFF switch to the \u201cON\u201d position automatically activates the proximity sensor; and
the proximity sensor comprises an infrared emitter electrically coupled to the ONOFF switch and an infrared detector disposed to receive a signal emitted from the infrared emitter and reflected from a body;
wherein the housing is mounted on a fixture and the housing is pivotably movable on the fixture between a first position, wherein the proximity sensor is within an activation distance of the body, and a second position, wherein the proximity sensor is not within activation distance of the body, and
the infrared detector is pivoted to the first position for receiving the signal emitted from the infrared emitter and reflected from the body, and the infrared detector is pivoted to the second position for not receiving a reflection from the body.
2. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared emitter operates at a wavelength of at least 900 nanometers.
3. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the fixture comprises a helmet.
4. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the fixture comprises a rifle.
5. A method of operating a night vision device comprising a housing, wherein the housing houses an intensifier tube; a proximity sensor mounted on the housing; and an ONOFF switch operatively coupled to the intensifier tube and to the proximity sensor, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
pivotally mounting the night vision device on a support;
turning the ONOFF switch to the ON position;
pivoting the proximity sensor to a close proximity of a body to activate the intensifier tube; and
pivoting the proximity sensor from a close proximity of the body to deactivate the intensifier tube.
6. A night vision device comprising:
a support structure;
a night vision device mounted on the support structure and pivotably movable relative to the support structure between a first position and a second position, wherein the night vision device comprises:
a housing, wherein the housing houses an intensifier tube;
a proximity sensor mounted on the housing, wherein the proximity sensor is operatively coupled to the intensifier tube and includes an infrared emitter and detector; and
an ONOFF switch operatively coupled to the intensifier tube and to the proximity sensor, wherein operation of the ONOFF switch to the \u201cON\u201d position automatically activates both the intensifier tube and the proximity sensor;
wherein the infrared detector is pivoted to the first position for receiving a signal emitted from the infrared emitter and reflected from a body, and the infrared detector is pivoted to the second position for not receiving a reflection from the body.
7. The night vision device according to claim 6, wherein, when the night vision device is in the first position and the ONOFF switch is in the ON position, the proximity sensor activates the intensifier tube.
8. The night vision device according to claim 7, wherein, when the night vision device is in the second position and the ONOFF switch is in the ON position, the proximity sensor deactivates the intensifier tube.
9. A night vision assembly comprising:
a support structure; and
a night vision device mounted on the support structure, wherein the night vision device comprises:
a housing, wherein the housing houses an intensifier tube;
a proximity sensor mounted on the housing, wherein the proximity sensor is operatively coupled to the intensifier tube; and
an ONOFF switch operatively coupled to the intensifier tubes and to the proximity sensor, wherein operation of the ONOFF switch to the \u201cON\u201d position automatically activates the proximity sensor;
wherein, when the proximity sensor mounted on the support structure is proximate to an activating body, the proximity sensor activates the intensifier tube, and
when the proximity sensor mounted on the support structure is distal from the activating body, the proximity sensor deactivates the intensifier tube.