Image combining viewer

• US 20070222854A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Surveillance, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OmniTech Partners
• Inventors: Pochapsky, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/33
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/12 using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors

Abstract

An image combining viewer transmits a daylight image directly through the viewer, while reflecting at least one wavelength other than visible light towards a sensor. A display for displaying the image received by the sensor in a visible wavelength is reflected by the back surface of the mirror back along the optical path, combining the displayed image with the daylight image so that they appear to be a single image.

Claims

1. An image combining viewer, comprising:

a housing defining an optical path therethrough;

a sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor being structured to receive a wavelength other than visible light;

a display disposed within the housing, the display being adapted to display an image received by the sensor using a portion of the visible spectrum; and

at least one mirror disposed within the housing, the at least one mirror having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having a dichroic coating adapted to transmit visible light and to reflect a wavelength outside the visible spectrum, the front surface being adapted to direct reflected wavelengths from the optical path towards the sensor, the back surface having a dichroic coating adapted to transmit a portion of the visible spectrum and to reflect another portion of the visible spectrum, the back surface being adapted to reflect light transmitted by the display to a direction substantially along the optical path;

whereby an image transmitted by the at least one mirror and the image displayed by the display are combined into a single image.

2. The viewer according to claim 1, further comprising an objective lens disposed within a front of the housing;

3. The viewer according to claim 2, wherein the objective lens comprises a central portion that is optimized for visible light, and an annular portion that is optimized for a wavelength other than visible light.

4. The viewer according to claim 1, further comprising an objective lens disposed between the front surface of the at least one mirror and the sensor.

5. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of an uncooled infrared detector array, a cooled infrared detector array, a lead salt detector array, a SWIR detector array, a visible band CCD array, and an intensified CCD or CMOS array having direct, fiber, or optical coupling.

6. The viewer according to claim 1, further comprising a means for focusing the sensor.

7. The viewer according to claim 6, wherein the means for focusing the sensor include means for moving either the sensor or a lens disposed between the sensor and the at least one mirror towards and away from the front surface of the at least one mirror.

8. The viewer according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a position of the sensor.

9. The viewer according to claim 8, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the sensor include a spherical bearing disposed between the sensor and the housing, the spherical bearing being structured to permit adjustment of the angle of the sensor with respect to the housing.

10. The viewer according to claim 9, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the sensor include a carrier structured to permit lateral movement of the sensor.

11. The viewer according to claim 8, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the sensor include a carrier structured to permit lateral movement of the sensor.

12. The viewer according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a position of the display.

13. The viewer according to claim 12, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the display include a spherical bearing disposed between the display and the housing, the spherical bearing being structured to permit adjustment of the angle of the display with respect to the housing.

14. The viewer according to claim 13, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the display include a carrier structured to permit lateral movement of the display.

15. The viewer according to claim 12, wherein the means for adjusting a position of the display include a carrier structured to permit lateral movement of the display.

16. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of an inverting fiber optic output display, a LCD display, a micromirror array, a CRT, a plasma display, and an OLED display.

17. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the front surface and back surface of the at least one mirror are formed on a single mirror.

18. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the dichroic coating applied to the front surface of the at least one mirror is selected from the group consisting of include thin film dielectric, ion beam assisted deposition hard dielectric, chemical vapor deposition coatings and rugate filters.

19. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the dichroic coating applied to the back surface of the at least one mirror are selected from the group consisting of chemical vapor deposition coatings, dielectric, rugate filters, silvered, and partial reflective.

20. The viewer according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength outside the visible spectrum is infrared.

21. A method of viewing an image, the method comprising:

separating light transmitting the image into a first component comprising visible wavelengths and a second component comprising at least one type of invisible wavelengths;

converting the second image component into an image transmitted in a visible wavelength; and

overlaying the second image component over the first image component, whereby the first image component and second image component are combined into a single image.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one type of invisible wavelength is infrared.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising viewing the combined image through a telescope or an afocal magnifier.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising viewing the combined image through a firearm sight.