Auxiliary targeting viewer

• US 20070075918A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Pombo, Stephen, Cuprys, Lawrence, Bacarella, Antonio, Crane, Mark, Presz, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/14 Viewfinders for photographic apparatus G03B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body

Abstract

A head mounting viewing system includes a viewer having a microdisplay for displaying images. Viewing optics can be included for viewing the display. The display and the optics can be housed in a housing. Integrated operational controls can be located on the housing for controlling the operation of the viewer.

Claims

1. A head mounted viewing system comprising:

a viewer comprising;

a microdisplay for displaying images;

viewing optics for viewing the display;

a housing for housing the display and the optics; and

integrated operational controls on the housing for controlling the

operation of the viewer.

2. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the viewer is a targeting viewer.

3. The viewing system of claim 2 in which video images are displayed on the display.

4. The viewing system of claim 3 in which composite video images are displayed on the display.

5. The viewing system of claim 3 in which images associated with at least one of a thermal weapons sight, a target acquisition system and a weapons firing system are displayed on the display.

6. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the viewer is shock resistant.

7. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the viewer is a monocular-type viewer.

8. The viewing system of claim 7 further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the viewer to a helmet.

9. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the integrated operational controls include at least one of on/off, brightness control, contrast control, color selection and standby mode controls.

10. The viewing system of claim 9 fiurther comprising an optics adjuster coupled to the optics for adjusting the optics.

11. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the viewer includes integrated display electronics.

12. The viewing system of claim 1 further comprising an eye cup for shielding light.

13. The viewing system of claim 1 in which the viewer is a first viewer for providing viewing to a first eye, the system further comprising a second viewer for providing viewing to a second eye, the first and second viewers providing binocular viewing.

14. A mounting assembly for a head mounted viewer comprising:

a securement portion for securing to headwear; and

a mounting member coupled to the securement portion, the viewer capable of being mounted to the mounting member, the mounting member capable of moving relative to the securement portion to move the viewer to first and second positions to position the viewer in front of either eye of a user.

15. The mounting assembly of claim 14 in which the mounting member can pivot horizontally along a mounting member joint about a first vertical axis.

16. The mounting assembly of claim 15 in which the mounting member includes a mounting location for mounting the viewer which is offset from the first vertical axis.

17. The mounting assembly of claim 16 in which the mounting location includes an adapter which can be secured to the viewer.

18. The mounting assembly of claim 17 in which the adapter is capable of pivoting along an adapter joint about a second vertical axis for pivoting the viewer about the second vertical axis.

19. The mounting assembly of claim 18 further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the adapter joint.

20. The mounting assembly of claim 19 in which the locking mechanism can lock the adapter joint in two positions about 180°

apart.

21. The mounting assembly of claim 20 in which the locking mechanism includes a spring loaded locking member that can be disengaged by a release member.

22. The mounting assembly of claim 14 in which the securement portion comprises a clip device for securing to a brim of a helmet.

23. The mounting assembly of claim 22 in which the clip device comprises:

a pair of fixed jaws; and

a spring loaded jaw resiliently biased toward one of the fixed jaws.

24. A method of displaying images in a head mounted viewing system comprising:

providing a viewer having a microdisplay for displaying images;

providing viewing of the display with viewing optics;

housing the display and the optics in a housing; and

controlling operation of the viewer with integrated operational controls on the housing.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising employing the viewer as a targeting viewer.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying video images on the display.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying composite video images on the display.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising displaying images associated with at least one of a thermal weapons sight, a target acquisition system and a weapons firing system on the display.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising displaying the images in a monocular-type viewer.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising mounting the viewer to a helmet with a mounting assembly.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing the integrated operational controls with at least one of on/off, brightness control, contrast control, color selection and standby mode controls.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the optics with an optics adjuster coupled to the optics.

33. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing the viewer with integrated display electronics.

34. The method of claim 24 further comprising shielding light with an eye cup.

35. The method of claim 24 in which the viewer is a first viewer for providing viewing to a first eye, the method further comprising providing viewing to a second eye with a second viewer, the first and second viewers providing binocular viewing.

36. A method of mounting a viewer to a head with a mounting assembly comprising:

securing a securement portion to headwear;

coupling a mounting member to the securement portion; and

mounting the viewer to the mounting member, the mounting member capable of moving relative to the securement portion to move the viewer to first and second positions to position the viewer in front of either eye of a user.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising rotatably coupling the mounting member along a mounting member joint about a first vertical axis to allow the mounting member to pivot horizontally about the mounting member joint.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising mounting the viewer to a mounting location on the mounting member which is offset from the first vertical axis.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising securing the viewer to an adapter at the mounting location.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising rotatably coupling the adapter along an adapter joint about a second vertical axis capable of pivoting the adapter and the viewer about the second vertical axis.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising locking the adapter joint with a locking mechanism.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising configuring the locking mechanism to lock the adapter joint in two positions about 180 apart.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising providing the locking mechanism with a spring loaded locking member that can be disengaged by a release member.

44. The method of claim 36 further comprising securing the securement portion to a brim of a helmet with a clip device.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

providing the clip device with a pair of fixed jaws; and

resiliently biasing a spring loaded jaw toward one of the fixed jaws.