OPTICAL POSITIONING AIMING SYSTEM

• US 20160290764A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Eye Protection IP Holding
• Original Assignee: Advanced Eye Protection IP Holding
• Inventors: Chen, Stephen Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/04 for dispersing fire from a battery ; for controlling spread of shots; for coordinating fire from spaced weapons
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/00 Systems for controlling missiles or projectiles, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

An optical positioning aiming system including an optical positioning subsystem (subsystem). The subsystem is configured to determine relative positions of a weapon and a head mounted display. The subsystem includes a processing unit, infrared (IR) emitters mounted to a weapon, IR emitters mounted to the head mounted display, IR cameras mounted to the weapon, and IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display. The IR cameras mounted to the weapon are configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display and to communicate the relative position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display to the processing unit. The IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display are configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon and communicate the relative position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon to the processing unit.

Claims

1. An optical positioning aiming system comprising:

an optical positioning subsystem configured to determine relative positions of a weapon and a head mounted display, the optical positioning subsystem including;

a processing unit;

one or more infrared (IR) emitters mounted to a weapon;

one or more IR emitters mounted to the head mounted display;

one or more IR cameras mounted to the weapon, the IR cameras configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display and communicate the position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display to the processing unit; and

one or more IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display, the IR cameras configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon and communicate the position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon to the processing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more IR cameras mounted on the head mounted display are configured to detect:

a first IR signal from an IR emitter of a team member, the first IR signal having a first wavelength;

a second IR signal from an IR emitter of the weapon, the second IR signal having a second wavelength; and

a third IR signal from the IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display, the third IR signal having a third wavelength, wherein the first, the second, and the third wavelengths are different and changeable.

3. The system of claim 1, the system configured to determine a holographic image including an aiming reticle within a field of view of a user, the aiming reticle being free to move within the field of view as a position of the aiming reticle is determined by the optical positioning subsystem.

4. The system of claim 1, the system configured to determine information pertaining to a team member, the information being used to generate components of a holographic image, the components including an identification tag superimposed over the team member within the field of view of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, the system configured to determine a holographic image including an overlay including a non-visible light overlay including one or more of an IR overlay and a thermal overlay, the overlay being superimposed over an object within a field of view of a user.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ballistic sensor, the system configured to determine a holographic image projected onto a mounted display based on data acquired by the ballistic sensor and the optical positioning subsystem.

7. A method of superimposing a holographic image in a field of view of a head mounted display (mounted display), the method comprising:

receiving user input including a selection of holographic image components to include in a holographic image;

detecting IR emitters of a weapon and IR emitters of a mounted display;

obtaining images from an IR camera of the weapon and an IR camera of the mounted display;

determining whether the IR emitters are in a field of view of the IR cameras;

in response to the IR emitters not being in the field of view of the IR camera, continuing to obtain images from the IR camera of the weapon and the IR camera of the mounted display until the IR emitters are in the field of view of the IR cameras;

in response to the IR emitters being in the field of view of the IR camera;

calculating an orientation and a position of the mounted display with respect to the weapon;

calculating an orientation and a position of the weapon with respect to the mounted display;

reconciling the orientation and the position of the mounted display with respect to the weapon with the orientation and the position of the weapon with respect to the mounted display;

determining a position of a holographic image in the field of view of the mounted display; and

superimposing the holographic image in the field of view.

8. An optical positioning subsystem configured to determine relative positions of a weapon and a head mounted display and to generate and position a holographic image into the field of view of the head mounted display, the optical positioning subsystem including:

an infrared (IR) emitter mounted to a weapon;

an IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display;

an IR camera mounted to the weapon;

an IR camera mounted to the head mounted display; and

a processing unit configured to;

receive a first signal received from the IR camera mounted to the weapon of an IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display;

receive a second signal received from the IR camera mounted to the head mounted display of an IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the weapon;

determine a relative position and orientation of the weapon with respect to the head mounted display and a relative position and orientation of the head mounted display with respect the weapon;

reconcile the relative positions and orientations;

determine a position of a holographic image in a field of view of the head mounted display based on the reconciled relative positions and orientations; and

superimpose the holographic image in the field of view.

9. The optical positioning subsystem of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is further configured to receive an IR signal from a friendly force and superimpose an identification tag image in the field of view.

10. The optical positioning subsystem of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is further configured to receive an image from a forward-facing camera mounted to the weapon and superimpose a pop up picture in the field of view.