ENHANCED NIGHT VISION GOGGLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20040042086A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: DOSTER, Rodney L., HOGAN, Timothy B., BORYSHUK, William R., BACARELLA, Antonio V., BEYSTRUM, Timothy R., WATERMAN, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,762,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/629
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A system (S) for combining multi-spectral images of a scene includes a channel (18) for transmitting a scene image (10) in a first spectral band. A separate, second detector (22) senses the scene in a second spectral band. The second detector (22) has an image output that is representative of the scene. A display (28) displays an image (12) in the second spectral band. A beam mixer (30) combines the image output (10) in the first spectral band with the displayed image (12), and conveys the combined multi-spectral images to an output (32) for a user (U).

Claims

1. A system for combining multi-spectral images of a scene, the system comprising:

a channel for transmitting a scene image in a first spectral band;

a separate second detector for sensing the scene in a second spectral band, the second detector having an image output representative of the scene;

a display for receiving the image output of the second detector, and displaying an image from the second spectral band; and

a beam mixer for combining the image output in the first spectral band with the displayed image, and conveying the combined multi-spectral images to an output.

2. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the beam mixer includes a dichroic coating.

3. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein an output path of the display is essentially perpendicular to an output path of the image intensifier.

4. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the system is man-portable.

5. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the system is helmet mounted.

6. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the image displayed by the display of the second spectral band channel is essentially perpendicular to the image transmitted by the channel for the first spectral band.

7. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the display includes a transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED).

8. A system for combining multi-spectral images of a scene, the system comprising:

a channel for transmitting a scene image in a first spectral band;

a separate second detector for sensing the scene in a second spectral band, the second detector having an image output representative of the scene;

a display for receiving the image output of the second detector, and displaying an image from the second spectral band;

the display includes a transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED); and

a beam mixer for combining the image output in the first spectral band with the displayed image, and conveying the combined multi-spectral images to an output.

9. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the beam mixer includes a dichroic coating.

10. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein an output path of the display is essentially perpendicular to an output path of the image intensifier.

11. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the system is'"'"' man-portable.

12. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the system is helmet mounted.

13. The invention of claim [claim Reference] wherein the image displayed by the display of the second spectral band channel is essentially perpendicular to the image transmitted by the channel for the first spectral band.