SIONYX is a silicon-based photonics company from the US that develops and manufactures proprietary ultra-low-light CMOS image sensors and high-performance night vision camera systems. These sensors dramatically enhance the performance of light-sensing devices commonly used in commercial, industrial, medical, and defense-related application
SiOnyx is known for its digital night vision cameras, the Aurora series. These cameras are used for
surveillance and evidence gathering, wayfinding on water, and recording of the many night shoots we see on the well-known YouTube channels. Some even mounted the Aurora on a PVS-14 bridge, using the tripod hole, however, this makes it difficult to look through without having the Aurora in an extreme angle on the J-arm. There are also custom 3D-printed bridges available so that they can be used on a helmet. However, the OPSIN is going to change that all.
SiOnyx OPSIN with a CADEX mount on a Galvion Caiman Hybrid helmet
SiOnyx is launching the OPSIN in 2022, a digital night vision monocular. It has an imager with a 1920x1080 resolution in a machined alumni housing.
Digital night vision
The image quality should be comparable to a Gen 2 image intensifiers tube with the benefit of color. The digital sensor can see further into the IR spectrum than some Gen 3 tubes (up to 1100nm) As it is digital, the frame rate can be changed to 30hz, 60hz, 90hz. The higher the frame rate, the less motion blur you experience at the cost of low light sensitivity.
The benefit of digital is that it allows recording what you see, the micro SD slot on the side will store your recordings, so you do not need an external camera if you want to do helmet point-of-view recordings. Having the ability to record and stream will be beneficial for training and after-action reports.
Another benefit of digital night vision is that it does not get damaged when you accidentally forget to turn it off when you put it on your kitchen table, which with an analog system will burn the image of kitchen lights into the image intensifier.
What it also makes interesting is that over time you can install firmware updates that could either add new features or enhance quality and/or product performance.
The monocular can be mounted via dovetail for i.e. Cadex and Wilcox G24 mounts.
Photo of viewing through the opsin at with lights off
Currently, SiOnyx is refining the OPSIN further. The Fischer connector angle at the location of the monocular will get a slight angle instead of the current 90-degree angle, the tilt will improve stowing the cable on the helmet and reduce the snag hazard when flipping the monocular up or down. The rubber eyecup will be made out of a softer rubber, comparable to eyecups currently on the market, making it more comfortable to wear and giving you the ability to fold it away when you do not want to use it.
This year Headborne Systems will go more in-depth as soon as a version is ready for review.
The OPSIN will be available around [month] with an MSRP of $2599 and will also be available in Europe as the OPSIN is not ITAR restricted. A binocular version is also being considered in the future.
Specs as of April 2022
NOTE that some specs may change and the final appearance may differ from the units shown at Enforcetac/Shot Show.
OPSIN body
- Weight 301 gr / 10.6 oz
- Dimensions 120x80x85 mm / 4.7x3.1x2.3 in
- Mounting options Mini rail
- Material Glass Reinforced Polycarbonate
System
- System Latency < 1frame
- Display AMOLED 1920x1080
- Diopter Adjustment -4 to +4
- Eye Relief 25mm
- Exit Pupil 7.5mm
- Location System Build-in GPS
- Orientation System Digital Magnetic Compass
- Wireless Communications WIFI + Bluetooth
- Audio Built-in Microphone
- Power in 7.2 VDC
- Storage media Micro SD card
- Storage capacity Up to 256 GB
Battery pack
- Battery Cells 4x18650 Li-Ion
- Operating time >8 hrs
- Voltage 7.2 VDC
- Capacity 5960MAH / 42.9WH
- Dimensions 97x92x49 mm / 3.89x3.6x1.9 in
- Weight 289 gr / 10.5 oz
Range Performance [clear weather at 1/4 moon]
- Detect man-sized target 150 m
Included
- Camera
- Battery pack
- Swing arm
- Canvas pouch
- Micro SD card 32GB
- Eyecup
- Lens cap
- Charger
- User Manual