Image intensifier and LWIR fusion/combination system
First Claim
1. An infrared imaging device comprising:
- a display device, and, a camera, said camera comprising;
an aperture arranged to allow radiation to enter said camera;
a first sensor having a first output, said first output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into a first spectral range;
a second sensor having a second output, said second output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into a second spectral range; and
, a beam splitter arranged to receive radiation passed through said aperture, said beam splitter having a first waveband filter arranged to pass radiation in at least a portion of said first spectral range to said first sensor, and a second waveband filter arranged to pass radiation in at least a portion of said second spectral range to said second sensor;
wherein said camera and said display device are aligned along a common optical axis such that parallax between said first and second sensors, and parallax between said camera and said display device are eliminated, said display device in communication with said camera and arranged such that said first output, said second output, and a combination of both said first and second outputs may be viewed selectively or jointly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared imaging device combines two sensors, each sensor sensitive to a different spectral range of infrared radiation. Both sensors are combined in a single camera sharing one of three common optical apertures, thus parallax is eliminated between the sensors. Further, a display device is aligned along an optical axis in common with the camera eliminating parallax between the display and camera. Images from the first sensor, the second sensor, or both sensors may be viewed optically and/or electronically. The device is handheld, or mountable on a headgear such as a helmet. When mounted on headgear, the display is viewable by directing the operator'"'"'s gaze upward, thus the display does not interfere with an operator'"'"'s straight and downward sight. The image can be sent to a remote display by a wireless transceiver, and waterproof, fireproof, vibration/impact resistance, and hot/cold weather resistance are achieved using a high strength plastic enclosure with foam insert.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An infrared imaging device comprising:
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a display device, and, a camera, said camera comprising;
an aperture arranged to allow radiation to enter said camera;
a first sensor having a first output, said first output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into a first spectral range;
a second sensor having a second output, said second output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into a second spectral range; and
,a beam splitter arranged to receive radiation passed through said aperture, said beam splitter having a first waveband filter arranged to pass radiation in at least a portion of said first spectral range to said first sensor, and a second waveband filter arranged to pass radiation in at least a portion of said second spectral range to said second sensor;
wherein said camera and said display device are aligned along a common optical axis such that parallax between said first and second sensors, and parallax between said camera and said display device are eliminated, said display device in communication with said camera and arranged such that said first output, said second output, and a combination of both said first and second outputs may be viewed selectively or jointly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An infrared imaging device comprising:
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an aperture arranged to allow entry of radiation;
a near infrared sensor having a first output, said first output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into the visible and near infrared spectral ranges;
a long wave infrared sensor having a second output, said second output representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into the long wave infrared spectral range;
a beam splitter arranged to receive said radiation passed through said aperture, said beam splitter having a first waveband filter arranged to pass visible and near infrared radiation to said near infrared sensor, and a second waveband filter arranged to pass long wave infrared radiation to said long wave infrared sensor;
a beam combiner arranged to optically combine said first and second outputs into a fused image; and
,an optical viewer arranged such that said first output, said second output, and said fused image may be viewed selectively.
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40. An infrared imaging device comprising:
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an aperture arranged to allow entry of radiation;
a near infrared sensor having a first electrical output and a first optical output, said first electrical and optical outputs each representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into the visible and near infrared spectral range;
a long wave infrared sensor having a second electrical output and a second optical output, said second electrical and optical outputs each representing an image of said radiation passing through said aperture filtered into the long wave infrared spectral range;
a beam splitter arranged to receive said radiation passed through said aperture, said beam splitter having a first waveband filter arranged to pass visible and near infrared radiation to said near infrared sensor, and a second waveband filter arranged to pass long wave infrared radiation to said long wave infrared sensor;
a beam combiner arranged to optically combine said first and second optical outputs into an optically fused image;
an optical viewer arranged such that said first optical output, said second optical output, and said optically fused image may be viewed selectively, said optical viewer adjustable from a first position aligned with the eyes of an operator wearing said headgear, and a second position out of alignment with the eyes of said operator; and
,a display device aligned along a common optical axis with said aperture and arranged such that said first electrical output, said second electrical output, and a combination of both said first and second electrical outputs may be viewed selectively, said display device comprising a viewing device mountable to a headgear such that, when said headgear is worn by said operator, said viewing device is positioned just above the eyes of an operator, and said viewing device may be viewed by said operator by looking upwards towards said viewing device.
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Specification