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;
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;
wherein the device has a substantially monochromatic output in the absence of the filtering system; and
wherein the two light channels provides a sensation of a full color output to a viewer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An 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
21 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; 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; wherein the device has a substantially monochromatic output in the absence of the filtering system; and wherein the two light channels provides a sensation of a full color output to a viewer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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- 2. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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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; 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; wherein the electro-optical viewing device has a substantially monochromatic output; and wherein the two light channels provides a sensation of a full color output to a viewer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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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.
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21-36. -36. (canceled)
Specification