Optical system with automatic mixing of daylight and thermal vision digital video signals

• US 20120019700A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Technologies Network Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Technologies Network Corporation
• Inventors: Gaber, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US12/804,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/311
• 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 visible-range attachment connectable to the thermal scope with a quick-release connector. The system is equipped with a device for automatic interposition of the digital visible image of the CCD visible-range attachment onto the digital thermographic image when the attachment is electrically and mechanically connected to the thermal scope. The CCD is a light-weight device which does not have screen and which is easily attached to the thermal scope by means of a quick-release connection unit. Both digital images are observed on the screen of the thermal-scope display.

Claims

1. An optical system with automatic mixing of a daylight visual digital image and a digital thermographic image comprising:

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

a connection unit for attachment of the CCD visual-range attachment to the thermal scope; and

CCD visible-range attachment that comprises a CCD visible-range digital signal generation unit that generates a preliminary digital video signal, a CCD video fader control unit, and a mode mixer control unit connectable to the display, the thermal vision digital signal generation unit and the CCD visible-range signal generation unit being connectable to the display of the thermal scope through the thermal scope input and a thermal scope output.

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

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the CCD visible-range digital 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 mode mixer control unit through the CCD video fader control unit.

4. The optical system of claim 2, wherein the CCD visible-range digital 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 mode mixer control unit through the CCD video fader control unit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. The optical sight of claim 1, wherein the system is further provided with an electric cable for connecting the thermal scope video fader control unit with the mode mixer control unit through the thermal scope output and for connecting the CCD video fader control unit with the adder of the thermal scope via the thermal scope output when the CCD visible-range attachment is connected to the thermal scope by means of the connection unit.

14. The optical sight of claim 4, wherein the system is further provided with an electric cable for connecting the thermal scope video fader control unit with the mode mixer control unit through the thermal scope output and for connecting the CCD video fader control unit with the adder of the thermal scope via the thermal scope output when the CCD visible-range attachment is connected to the thermal scope by means of the connection unit.

15. The optical sight of claim 6, wherein the system is further provided with an electric cable for connecting the thermal scope video fader control unit with the mode mixer control unit through the thermal scope output and for connecting the CCD video fader control unit with the adder of the thermal scope via the thermal scope output when the CCD visible-range attachment is connected to the thermal scope by means of the connection unit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis, and the connector unit is a quick-release connector unit, the system further comprising a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visible-range attachment.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis and the system further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visible-range attachment.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the CCD attachment optical system has an optical axis and the system further comprises a windage and elevation adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical axis of the CCD visible-range attachment.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the connection unit is a quick-release connection unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the connection unit is a quick-release connection unit.