Optical system with automatic switching between operation in daylight and thermovision modes

• US 20120007987A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Technologies Network Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Technologies Network Corporation
• Inventors: Gaber, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US12/803,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007987A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths

Abstract

An optical sight system that comprises a combination of a thermal scope with a CCD visual-range attachment connectable to the thermal scope with a quick-release connector. The system is equipped with a device that automatically activates the CCD visual-range attachment when the latter is connected to the thermal scope and with a comparator that compares the video signal of the CCD attachment with the video signal of the thermal scope for sending the brightest video signal to the thermal scope display.

Claims

1. An optical system with automatic switching between operation in daylight visual mode and thermovision mode comprising:

a thermal scope that comprises a display, a thermal-vision signal generation unit that generates a thermal video signal and that is connected to the display for reproduction of the thermal video signal; and

a

CCD visible-range attachment that comprises a CCD visible-range signal generation unit that generates a visible video signal, and a video signal comparator connectable to the display, the thermal vision signal generation unit and the CCD visible-range signal generation unit being connectable to the display of the thermal scope through the comparator, which compares the visible video signal with the thermal video signal and controls operation of the switch by means of the microprocessor so that the brightest video signal is sent to the display through the switch, whereby the display reproduces either the visible video signal or the thermal video signal.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the thermal-vision signal generation unit that generates the thermal video signal comprises a thermal scope optical system, a microbolometric array, and a microbolometric array electronic support unit, wherein the thermal scope optical system is connected to the microbolometric array electronic support unit through the microboloscopic array, and wherein the microbolometric array electronic support unit is connected to the display for transmitting the thermal vision signal.

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the CCD visible-range signal generation unit comprises a CCD attachment optical system, a CCD array, and a CCD array electronic support unit, wherein the CCD attachment optical system is connected to the CCD array electronic support unit through the CCD array, and wherein the CCD array electronic support unit is connected to the microprocessor and to the switch of the comparator.

4. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the CCD visible-range signal generation unit comprises a CCD attachment optical system, a CCD array, and a CCD array electronic support unit, wherein the CCD attachment optical system is connected to the CCD array electronic support unit through the CCD array, and wherein the CCD array electronic support unit is connected to the microprocessor and to the switch of the comparator.

5. The optical sight system of claim 1, wherein the CCD visual-range attachment comprises a CCD visual-range camera without a display.

6. The optical sight system of claim 2, wherein the CCD visual-range attachment comprises a CCD visual-range camera without a display.

7. The optical sight system of claim 3, wherein the CCD visual-range attachment comprises a CCD visual-range camera without a display.

8. The optical sight system of claim 4, wherein the CCD visual-range attachment comprises a CCD visual-range camera without a display.

9. The optical sight of claim 5, wherein the connector unit is a quick-release type of connector unit.

10. The optical sight of claim 6, wherein the connector unit is a quick-release type connector unit.

11. The optical sight of claim 7, wherein the connector unit is a quick-release type connector unit.

12. The optical sight of claim 8, wherein the connector unit is a quick-release type connector unit.

13. The optical sight of claim 1, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis, and the quick-release type connector further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visual-range attachment.

14. The optical sight of claim 2, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis, and the quick-release type connector further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visual-range attachment.

15. The optical sight of claim 4, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis, and the quick-release type connector further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visual-range attachment.

16. An optical system with automatic switching between operation in daylight visual mode and thermovision modes comprising:

a thermal scope comprising a thermal scope optical system, a microbolometric array, a microbolometric array electronic support unit, a display, an eyepiece, a video signal output, a video signal input, and a connection unit, the thermal-scope optic system being connected to the microbolometric array electronic support unit through the microbolometric array, and the microbolometric array being connected to the display through the microbolometric array electronic support unit; and

a CCD visual-range attachment connectable to the thermal scope by means of the connection unit, the CCD visual-range attachment having a CCD attachment optical system, a CCD array, and a CCD array electronic support unit, a comparator that comprises a microprocessor, a switch controlled by the comparator, and a CCD attachment video signal output, the CCD attachment optical system being connected to the CCD electronic support unit by the CCD array, and the CCD array being connected to the comparator by the CCD array support unit;

when the CCD visual-range attachment being connected to the thermal scope through the connection unit, the microbolometric array electronic support unit is connected to the comparator and the output of the comparator is connected to the display of the thermal scope;

the microprocessor of the comparator comparing the video signals of the thermal scope with video signals of the CCD visual-range attachment and controls operation of the switch so that the brightest video signal is sent to the display.

17. The optical sight of claim 17, wherein a connector unit is a quick-release type of connector unit.

18. The optical sight system of claim 18, wherein the CCD visual-range attachment comprises a CCD visual-range camera without a display.

19. The optical sight of claim 19, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis, and the quick-release type connector further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visual-range attachment.