Method for providing color images from a monochromatic electro-optical device using two optical channels and systems, apparatuses and devices related thereto
First Claim
1. An electro-optical viewing device, comprising:
- a light filtering system including a first light filter sub-system positioned at a light-input end of the device and a output sub-system distinct from the first light filter sub-system and positioned at a light-output end of the device, wherein each of the first filter sub-system and the output sub-system are configured and arranged so as to form two light channels each light channel having a transmission characteristic defining the boundaries of the light channel with respect to wavelength; and
wherein the first filter sub-system is configured and arranged so the characteristics for the two light channels cross each other at a predetermined point, where a wavelength at which the characteristics for the two light channels cross each other lies in the range of from about 580 nm to about 620 nm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Featured are apparatus and methods for converting a monochrome night vision or other electro-optical device into one that provides a sensation of full color, including from red to blue with white and black. The method provides color images from an electro-optical device in which the image data from the electro-optical device contains brightness information of an area being viewed by the device without separate color information. Such a method includes operably coupling an optical channel system to the electro-optical device and configuring the optical channel system and arranging the optical channel system with respect to the electro-optical device so two color informational channels are provided to the viewer, whereby the two informational channels formed by said configuring and arranging of the optical channel system are such that the viewer sees a color image. Such methods and apparatuses of the present invention provides a sensation of full color image, including from red to blue with white and black, to the viewer.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electro-optical viewing device, comprising:
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a light filtering system including a first light filter sub-system positioned at a light-input end of the device and a output sub-system distinct from the first light filter sub-system and positioned at a light-output end of the device, wherein each of the first filter sub-system and the output sub-system are configured and arranged so as to form two light channels each light channel having a transmission characteristic defining the boundaries of the light channel with respect to wavelength; and
wherein the first filter sub-system is configured and arranged so the characteristics for the two light channels cross each other at a predetermined point, where a wavelength at which the characteristics for the two light channels cross each other lies in the range of from about 580 nm to about 620 nm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25, 26, 34)
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17. A night vision system comprising:
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an electro-optical viewing device;
a light filtering system including a first light filter sub-system positioned at a light-input end of the device and an output sub-system that is distinct from the first light filter sub-system and is positioned at a light-output end of the device, wherein each of the first filter sub-system and the output second filter sub-system are configured and arranged so as to include two light channels each light channel having a characteristic defining the boundaries of the light channel; and
wherein the first filter sub-system is configured and arranged so the characteristics for the two light channels cross each other at a predetermined point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33)
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20. A method for providing color images from an electro-optical device in which the image data from the electro-optical device contains brightness information of an area being viewed by the device without separate color information, said method for providing color images, comprising the steps of:
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operably coupling an optical channel system to the electro-optical device;
configuring the optical channel system and arranging the optical channel system with respect to the electro-optical device so two color informational channels are provided to the viewer, wherein a boundary is set between the two color informational channels, where the boundary is in a predetermined range of values of wavelengths of radiation, whereby the two informational channels formed by said configuring and arranging of the optical channel system are such that the viewer sees a color image; and
wherein the boundary is set so as to satisfy the following relationship;
580≧
λ
b≧
620 nmwhere λ
b is the wavelength of the radiation corresponding to the boundary between the two color informational channels. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 24)
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23. The method for providing color images of claim, wherein the boundary established at the one of ≦
- 50% or 10% cut-off point of the respective transmission characteristics is set so as to satisfy one of the following relationships;
580≧
λ
b≧
610 nm or
(a)
590≧
λ
b≧
610 nm
(b)where λ
b is the wavelength of the radiation corresponding to the boundary between the two color informational channels.
- 50% or 10% cut-off point of the respective transmission characteristics is set so as to satisfy one of the following relationships;
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28. A thermal vision system comprising:
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an electro-optical viewing sub-system including sensors that generate outputs in two spectral ranges;
a display device operably coupled to the electro-optical viewing sub-system and including control circuitry so that the display provides alternating displays of the outputs in the two spectral regions;
a filter system positioned so as to be disposed between the display surface and an observer having a plurality filter segments; and
mechanism that successively passes each of the plurality of filter segments past the display surface such that the display for one of the spectral regions is viewed through one of the filter segments of the plurality of filter segments and the display for the other of the spectral regions is viewed through the other filter segment of the plurality, andwherein the characteristics for said one of the plurality of filter segments is established so as to display light having a wavelength that is less than a specific wavelength that lies in the range of from about 580 nm to about 620 nm and wherein the characteristics for said other of the plurality of filter segments is established so as to display light having a wavelength that is greater than said specific wavelength.
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31. A thermal vision system comprising:
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an electro-optical viewing sub-system including sensors that generate outputs in two spectral ranges;
a display device operably coupled to the electro-optical viewing sub-system and including control circuitry so that outputs in the two spectral regions are displayed in an interleaved manner;
wherein the display is composed of two different color elements that are established so as to establish two light channels each light channel having a characteristic defining the boundaries of the light channel and wherein the color elements are established so one of the two light channel includes light having a wavelength that is less than a specific wavelength that lies in the range of from about 580 nm to about 620 nm and wherein the other of the two light channels includes light having a wavelength that is greater than said specific wavelength.
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35. A vision system comprising:
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an electro-optical viewing sub-system including two electro-optical devices each for sensing radiation in different spectral ranges and different spectral regions, each electro-optical device generating an output for its respective spectral range;
a display device operably coupled to the electro-optical viewing sub-system and including control circuitry so that outputs in the different spectral ranges are displayed in an interleaved manner;
wherein the display is composed of two different color elements that are established so as to establish two light channels each light channel having a characteristic defining the boundaries of the light channel, the color elements being established so one of the two light channel includes light having a wavelength that is less than a specific wavelength that lies in the range of from about 580 nm to about 620 nm and wherein the other of the two light channels includes light having a wavelength that is greater than said specific wavelength;
- View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification