COATING FOR LIGHT SECURITY

• US 20150377587A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Bae Systems Oasys, LLC (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Couture, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,851,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence

Abstract

A night vision system includes an eyepiece and a video camera to capture a video image that can be remote to the eyepiece. The eyepiece includes an optical device with a front side and a back side. A splitting surface within the optical device reflects some of a video image toward an eye of a user of the eyepiece, and the splitting surface further allows some light of an optical image received from in front of the eyepiece to past through the eyepiece to the eye of the user. The layer of switchable coating on the eyepiece can be switched between a transparent mode and an opaque mode by the user. When in an opaque mode no light can leave the front side of the optical device and only the video image can be seen through the eyepiece.

Claims

1. A night vision system comprising:

an eyepiece comprising;

an optical device with a front side and a back side;

a video camera to project video image collected external of the eyepiece toward an eye of a user of the eyepiece; and

a layer of switchable coating on the eyepiece switchable between a transparent mode and an opaque mode, wherein when in the opaque mode no light can leave the front side of the optical device and only the video image can be seen through the eyepiece.

2. The night vision system of claim 1 further comprising:

a splitting surface within the optical device to reflect as least some of the video image toward the eye of the user, and where in the splitting surface allows some light of an optical image received from in front of the eyepiece to pass through the eyepiece to the eye of the user.

3. The night vision system of claim 2 wherein the optical device further comprises:

two prisms with the splitting surface located between the two prisms.

4. The night vision system of claim 3 wherein the splitting surface is a thin layer of evaporated metallic coating located on one of the two prisms.

5. The night vision system of claim 2 wherein the optical device is formed with plastic with the splitting surface inside the plastic.

6. The night vision system of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch switchable by the user to switch the switchable coating between the transparent mode and the opaque mode.

7. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the switchable coating is on a front end of the optical device.

8. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the switchable coating is electrically activated.

9. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the switchable coating further comprises:

an electro-chromic coating.

10. The night vision system of claim 7 wherein the metallic coating allows between 45 percent and 55 percent of light to pass through the metallic coating.

11. The night vision system of claim 1 further comprising:

an organic LED (OLED) located adjacent a side wall that is between a front side of the optical device and a back side of the optical device, and wherein the OLED is configured to project the video image into the optical device.

12. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the optical image and the video image enter the optical device at about 90 degrees with respect to each other.

13. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the video camera is a thermal camera.

14. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the video camera is an infra-red camera.

15. The night vision system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data network connection, wherein the video camera is configured to receive data from the network connection and project the data into the optical device.

16. The night vision system of claim 1 further comprising one or more of the group of:

a curved surface on the optical device between the switchable material and the eye of the user, and

a lens with a convex lens surface between the switchable material and the eye of the user.

17. The night vision system of claim 1 wherein the eyepiece is a first eyepiece and further comprising:

a second eyepiece the same as the first eyepiece, wherein the first eyepiece is adapted to be placed in front of a first eye of the user and wherein the second eyepiece is adapted to be placed in front of a second eye of the user.

18. A method comprising:

allowing optical images in front of an eyepiece to enter the eyepiece;

capturing video images with a camera and projecting them into the eyepiece;

switching a switchable material from a transparent mode that allows the optical images to enter the eyepiece to an opaque mode that prevents light from exiting at least a front end of the eyepiece.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising.

injecting into the eyepiece when the eyepiece is in the opaque mode at least one of the group of:

a global positing system (GPS) location and secret battlefield plans.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising.

mounting the video camera on a gun;

and

pointing the gun around a corner to see what is around the corner before walking around the corner.