The development of various imaging technologies is inseparable from social needs, especially the traction of military needs and the promotion of related basic technological progress. A strong driving force for the development of optoelectronic imaging technology, which is an important part of optoelectronic technology, is the urgent need for military night vision and night sighting equipment. Unpredictable and unprepared are one of the military strategies to win by surprise, and night or other weather conditions with poor visibility are the best time to achieve the above-mentioned operational policy. Therefore, the development of various types of night vision equipment as the eyes and ears of commanders and fighters will naturally be highly valued by various countries. . Night vision technology plays an important role in modern warfare. Weapons and equipment equipped with night vision equipment can be used in sea, land and air combat platforms and used in large, medium and small weapons and equipment. Therefore, mastering advanced night vision technology is of vital significance for controlling the battlefield situation. In response to this strong demand, after the First World War, especially in recent decades, two main technologies in the field of electro-optical imaging, low-light night vision and infrared imaging, have been rapidly developed.

 

According to the traditional division method, night vision technology is mainly divided into two categories: low-light night vision technology and infrared imaging technology. Low-light night vision technology, according to the conventions of domestic and foreign literature, is customarily understood as a general term for vacuum optoelectronic imaging technology. and other principles, the image capture, conversion and enhancement of the scene under weak light or other non-visible light illumination in the night sky, and finally display it as an image visible to the eye; while infrared imaging technology uses the spatial distribution of infrared radiation of the scene itself, and uses infrared photons, photogenerated images to generate images. The carriers (electrons and holes) are the information carriers of the scene image. Through the internal photoelectric effect (photoconductive effect or photovoltaic effect) of the infrared detector and the principles of specific scanning readout and TV display, the observed scene is reproduced as Visible light image.

 

Low-light night vision and infrared imaging are the two major supporting technologies for military night vision sighting instruments. Both have their own characteristics, compete with each other and complement each other. In contrast, low-light night vision instruments are small in size, light in weight, low in cost, easy to operate, and easy to maintain. It can reach 10~20km; the infrared imaging instrument has a long operating distance, strong all-weather and anti-camouflage capabilities, and is easy to realize the functions of long-range weapon precision guidance, target tracking and multi-band and multi-spectrum detection. Two types of night vision sights played a magical role in the First World War, the Second World War and the Gulf War in the 1990s, thus promoting the expansion and continuous upgrading of night vision technology and equipment.