Compact dynamic head up display

• US 10,267,597 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: LaserMax Incorporated
• Inventors: Olmsted, Brian L., Mock, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/411,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20170211910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/30 Reflecting-sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance reflecting-sights in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/11 Anti-reflection coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Head up displays are provided. A head up display may have a base adapted for mounting to a firearm; a window positioned by the base so that a user of the firearm can observe a field of view through the window; an illuminator operable to generate a divergent illumination light; a light valve configured to modulate the divergent illumination light in accordance with an image provided by an image generator; and a collimating optic in an optical path between the light valve and the window that substantially collimates the image modulated illumination light. The window reflects at least a portion of the image modulated collimated light so that the observer observes the image substantially in focus with objects in field of view. Images presented may include data and images, including but not limited to thermal images.

Claims

1. A head up display comprising:

a base adapted for mounting to a firearm;

a window positioned by the base so that a user of the firearm can observe a field of view through the window;

an illuminator operable to generate a divergent illumination light;

a light valve configured to modulate the divergent illumination light in accordance with an image provided by an image generator; and

a collimating optic in an optical path between the light valve and the window that substantially collimates the image modulated illumination light;

wherein the window reflects at least a portion of the image modulated collimated light so that the observer observes the image substantially in focus with objects in field of view.

2. The head up display of claim 1, wherein the collimating optic collimates image modulated light passing to the window to provide an image plane of the image modulated light at infinity.

3. The head up display of claim 1, wherein the window has an anti-reflective coating on one or more surfaces.

4. The head up display of claim 1, wherein the window has an non-perfect anti-reflective coating on the surface against the image modulated light is projected with residual reflection providing reflection to allow a user to observe the collimated light.

5. The head up display of claim 1, further comprising a turning mirror between the light valve and the window.

6. The head up display of claim 1, further comprising a turning mirror that reflects image modulated light through to a collimating optic and arranged to reduce the size of at least one dimension of the head up display.

7. The head up display of claim 1, wherein at least one of the illuminator and light valve are arranged at least in part to the side the firearm and wherein the turning mirror is configured to reflect light directed cross the width of the firearm onto the window.

8. The head up display of claim 7, further comprising a power source positioned to the side of the firearm.

9. The head up display of claim 1, further comprising an image source adapted to provide images to the image generator that change over time.

10. The head up display of claim 9, wherein the image source receives data from remote sources and provides images to the image generator based upon information received from the remote sources.

11. The head up display of claim 9, wherein the image source obtains data that changes over time and provides the images based upon the data.

12. A head up display comprising:

a base adapted for mounting to a firearm;

a window positioned by the base so that a user of the firearm can observe a field of view through the window;

an illuminator operable to generate a divergent illumination light;

an image source comprising an imager that captures an image of the field of view;

an image generator that forms an image based upon the captured image of the field of view; and

a light valve configured to modulate the divergent illumination light in based upon captured image of the field of view to help to identify targets in the field of view;

a collimating optic in an optical path between the light valve and the window that substantially collimates the image modulated illumination light;

wherein the window reflects at least a portion of the image modulated collimated light so that the observer observes the image substantially in focus with objects in field of view.

13. The head up display of claim 12, wherein the imager senses infrared light.

14. The head up display of claim 12, wherein the imager senses heat from a target that in a field of view and highlights this by projecting a heat image window from which a user can better identify the source of the heat.

15. The head up display of claim 14, wherein the heat image includes image information from particular segments.

16. The head up display of claim 14, wherein the heat image can be discriminated from adjacent natural light scene content through the use of at least one of colors, outlining, text, markings or other visual indicia indicative of the presence of an object that is emitting more heat or otherwise markedly thermally different from other objects in the field of view.

17. The head up display of claim 13, wherein the image source provides an image including an aiming reticle and wherein aiming reticle changes to indicate when the user is aiming at a cooler area and when the user is aiming at a hotter area.

18. The head up display of claim 14, wherein image source divides the field of view into a plurality of different segments and provide an image with a separate heat indication each segment based upon heat sensed in each area.

19. The head up display of claim 14, wherein the heat image provides an outline of hotter areas.

20. The head up display of claim 14, wherein the image source provides heat images that are at least partially at least one of strobed, flashed or animated.