Fused thermal and direct view aiming sight
First Claim
1. An aiming sight comprising:
- an optical gun sight for generating a direct view image of an aiming reticle superimposed on a target scene;
a thermal image sight assembly for generating a thermal image of the target scene; and
a spectral beam combiner assembly positioned behind the optical gun sight and the thermal image sight assembly and is positioned in front of an exit pupil, the spectral beam combiner assembly receives and passes the direct view image from the optical gun sight to the exit pupil and receives and reflects the thermal image from the thermal image sight assembly to the exit pupil such that the thermal image is superimposed onto the direct view image of the optical gun sight for an operator to see as a superimposed thermal and direct view image when the operator positions an eye at the exit pupil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fused thermal and a direct view aiming sight includes an optical gun sight, a thermal sight, and a beam combiner. The optical sight generates a direct view image of an aiming point or reticle superimposed on a target scene. The thermal sight generates a monochromic thermal image of the target scene. The combiner is positioned behind a 1× non-magnified optical sight and the thermal sight and in front of an exit pupil of the thermal sight. The combiner is positioned right behind the intermediate image plane of a magnified optical sight between an objective lens and an eyepiece. The combiner passes the direct view image and reflects the thermal image to the exit pupil to fuse the thermal image onto the direct view image for an operator to see at the exit pupil as a combined thermal and direct view optical image of the target scene together with the aiming reticle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aiming sight comprising:
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an optical gun sight for generating a direct view image of an aiming reticle superimposed on a target scene;
a thermal image sight assembly for generating a thermal image of the target scene; and
a spectral beam combiner assembly positioned behind the optical gun sight and the thermal image sight assembly and is positioned in front of an exit pupil, the spectral beam combiner assembly receives and passes the direct view image from the optical gun sight to the exit pupil and receives and reflects the thermal image from the thermal image sight assembly to the exit pupil such that the thermal image is superimposed onto the direct view image of the optical gun sight for an operator to see as a superimposed thermal and direct view image when the operator positions an eye at the exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An aiming sight comprising:
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a magnified optical sight having an objective lens and an aiming reticle which is placed at an intermediate image plane of the objective lens, the magnified optical sight having an exit pupil at a position behind an eyepiece lens assembly which collimates an image of a target scene at the intermediate image plane;
a thermal image sight assembly for generating a thermal image of the target scene; and
a spectral beam combiner assembly having a reflector positioned at the intermediate image plane, the reflector receives and passes the intermediate image having the superimposed aiming reticle from the magnified optical sight to the exit pupil and receives and reflects the thermal image from the thermal image sight assembly to the exit pupil such that the thermal image is superimposed over the aiming reticle and the intermediate image for an operator to see as one combined image when the operator positions an eye at the exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification