Device for coupling night vision assembly to a video camcorder

摘要

An apparatus and associated method of joining a night vision device to a camera device to record images during night time or low light conditions. The present invention includes a substantially rigid mounting plate that connects to the bottom surfaces of both the night vision device and the camera device, whereby the objective lens assembly of the camera device is held in optical alignment with the ocular lens assembly of the night vision device. As a result, the night vision device and camera device are joined together both physically and optically, while each is also independently supported by the mounting plate. The mounting plate is configured to compensate for size differentials between the night vision device and the camera device. Accordingly, the mounting plate aligns the optical axis of the night vision device with the optical axis of the camera device even if these optical axes normally do not align. An adaptor is used to physically join the ocular lens assembly of the night vision device to the objective lens assembly of the camera device. The adaptor physically engages both the night vision device proximate the ocular lens assembly and the camera device proximate the objective lens assembly. The adaptor includes a stabilizing element that attaches to the mounting plate, thereby providing additional support to both the camera device and the night vision device.