Night Vision CVS camera (almost)

My mod to turn a 3.4 CVS camera into a night scope (almost)

Ultimo aggiornamento: 08/08/2007

Steps

The main idea is: the camera is already good to see IR, but before you have to remove a bad IR filter, that in the 3.4V is just a flat lens; that's the reason i didn't used a newer m230 camera.

Camera PCB and imager - remove the lens mount by 2 turns, mark to remember correct focus

Using a thin knife gently remove the IR lens, it's flat with green reflex. The light from CFL lamp is horrible...

Mount everything back, here the job is finished !

IR LEDs and generator

Now you have to lights up the IR leds, i used a nice constant current generator, 4 LEDs and the internal battery to keep everything in one place.

Constant current for LEDs, NEVER constant voltage !!!

Dimensioning: follow the inpicture equation, feeding 4 LEDs in parallel with 40ma each yeald a total I=160ma, and an approx R=0.7/0.16 about 4.2-4.4ohm. Take at least a 1/2W resistor. Using a couple of BC337 or 2N2222 for transistor is OK (i used 2 BC337). Remember to put 2 cap: one in parallel with LEDs load, and another in parallel to the low side R. The other R feeding the BJT base is a 1kohm.

LEDs circle array.

Final PCB

Final notes

What i'm missing here is the LCB brightness adj. If you travel in the night get the eye trained for the low light.

How to: find on the back of the camera PCB, under the LCB a label marked R82, look for the near resistor and the traced should ends in the LCB track 13 and 14, desolder it and solder a series of 440ohm+10kohm trimmer. Sorry, not much detail here, you should do your best, i forgot to take pictures of this step :(

Final mount, try to pack everything toghether !

Carefully drill some holes and make space for switch buttons.

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