TNVC TN/MNVB-M Manticore-M (Manual-Gain Night Vision Binocular-Molded) – U.S. Gen 3

Founded in 2020 as a side-project by Jeff Melochick, an R&D engineer for a major defense manufacturer, Nocturn Industries has quickly risen to become a market leader in innovative design and manufacturing in the night vision space, often integrating novel features and technologies into their goggle and accessory designs while still maintaining affordable price-points compared to comparable goggle systems, including their latest including their latest Ultralight Articulating Night Vision Binocular housing design: The UANVB-FC Manticore Manual-gain Night Vision Binocular, Molded (MNVB-M). TNVC-built TN/MNVB-M Manticore systems will feature Elbit Systems of America filmed White Phosphor image intensifier tubes providing unmatched clarity and resolution in even the darkest conditions.

The TN/MNVB-M Manticore, Molded:

The TN/MNVB-M is a lightweight, independently articulating BINOD (Binocular Night Observation Device), utilizing standard PVS-14-format optical lens assemblies (including PVS-14-compatible light weight optics such as RPO) with adjustable diopter settings, Litton-style dovetail (BNVS) mounting interface, and manual gain control, allowing the end-user to perfectly dial in the system gain (brightness) according to user preference and environmental and ambient lighting conditions. It also features an onboard IR illuminator for navigation, independent tube cut-off when the optical pods are rotated to a stowed position, as well as user-adjustable interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment tension and “hard stops” to limit travel, making it one of the most full-featured goggles currently available on the market.

The TN/MNVB-M’s gain control, power, and illuminator function is controlled by four, large, easy-to-use rubberized buttons on the front face of the goggle housing (gain on the left, power and illum on the right) in place of a conventional knob design, eliminating the possibility of damage to protruding knob, as well as eliminating a potential snag point, especially when used with goggle retention systems. The illuminator is nestled right on the centerline of the goggle under the dovetail shoe between the two sets of buttons.  The Manticore uses a specially designed flex circuit, attached to a standard L3Harris F9800 10160-format or F9815 11769-format tube in place of the standard “C001” configuration EGAC “pigtail” used on standard MX-11769 tubes configured for the AN/PVS-14, and similar to what is used on the AN/PVS-31A Binocular Night Vision Device (Elbit Systems of America, and Photonis tubes can be adapted to use this flex circuit as well).

While manual gain control has been relatively uncommon in BINOD systems (neither the AN/AVS-6/9 Aviator’s Night Vision Imagining System, ANVIS, nor the L3Harris GPNVG Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle utilize an MGC circuit), it is standard for most monocular systems, as too great a brightness differential between the aided and unaided eye can result increased eye strain and fatigue, as well as the aided eye simply “taking over,” negatively affecting depth perception and situational awareness, particularly in mixed lighting conditions where the unaided eye may still be able to provide depth and color cues. With the increasing popularity of articulating bridge goggle designs with independently rotating pods and individual tube cut-off like the TN/MNVB-M, many end-users are increasingly utilizing their dual tube systems like monoculars in mixed lighting conditions by flipping one pod up to retain both aided and unaided vision, and to allow one eye to remain naturally dark-adapted, making the introduction of a manual gain function to the TN/MNVB-M a useful and important function for many end-users.

Moreover, with improvements in image tube performance (between 2016 and 2020, L3Harris improved their average Unfilmed image tube performance by over 50% and averages have continued to increase) as well as the introduction of TNVC’s SuperGain tubes with an increase from 65K fL/fc nominal reading to 110K fL/fc nominal reading at 2X10-6 fc (standard image tube gain measurement) and advanced MCP technology, resulting in clearer and brighter images, many top-of-the-line image intensifiers may actually appear too bright at maximum gain settings for many users, particularly for end-users who may be light sensitive (if you set your smartphone and computer screens to the dimmest possible settings or need sunglasses the moment you step outside–you may benefit from manual gain). Finally, many users in urban or suburban areas or dimly lit ranges with large amounts of mixed light such as many Law Enforcement and many private users often find it easier to use their peripheral vision and read ambient lighting conditions by reducing system gain to a lower level, even when using both tubes.

Utilizing Manual Gain Control DOES NOT remove, eliminate, or “turn-off” ABC (Automatic Brightness Control), which is present in all modern Generation 3 image intensifier tubes, and which automatically regulates image tube brightness based on the amount of light the tube is receiving / amplifying. All Gen. 3 tubes will automatically adjust to match ambient lighting conditions–Manual Gain Control simply gives the end-user additional control over the brightness / gain level, but will still automatically adjust based on conditions, however, when moving from mixed light to extremely dark conditions, manual gain systems adjusted to very dim settings may need to be re-adjusted to provide a usable image.

***Neither Manual Gain Control NOR Automatic Brightness Control are related to / the same thing as gated / autogated tube power supply, ALL TNVC manufactured systems, including the TN/MNVB-M utilize image intensifier tubes with Autogated power supplies***

The TN/MNVB-M is available with both standard AN/PVS-14 MIL-STD optical lens assemblies or RPO 3.0 light weight lens assemblies and the housing is a polymer composite

The Manticore has been tested to MIL-STD-810H standards, and is powered by either a single 3v CR123 battery providing ~25 hours of battery life under normal conditions or a system-native low-profile, 2-Pin LEMO external power connector that is compatible with Nocturn Industries’ optional external battery pack.

All TN/MNVB-M Manticore systems will also feature TNVC’s industry leading Lifetime Limited Warranty, as well as no-cost hand-select image tube options (hand-select requests may affect lead times).