Panoramic unity vision system
First Claim
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1. A viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle which comprises:
- a plurality of entrance reflecting surfaces arranged in circumferential relationship, each of which functions to reflect from a fixed reference point a field of view which overlaps the field of view of an adjacent entrance reflecting surface,a plurality of exit reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view to an observer,the number and width of said entrance reflecting surfaces being such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth as projected on a horizontal plane subtended by each of the said entrance reflecting surfaces as measured from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole, andmeans for retaining said entrance and exit reflecting surfaces in fixed relationship.
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Abstract
The invention provides a viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle. The system comprises a plurality of entrance plane reflecting surfaces, each of which functions to reflect a field of view defined by an entrance aperture and a plurality of exit plane reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view through an exit aperture to an observer. The entrance and exit reflecting surfaces are retained in fixed relationship. The number and width of said entrance apertures are such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth subtended by all of the entrance apertures on a projected horizontal plane from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole.
37 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle which comprises:
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a plurality of entrance reflecting surfaces arranged in circumferential relationship, each of which functions to reflect from a fixed reference point a field of view which overlaps the field of view of an adjacent entrance reflecting surface, a plurality of exit reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view to an observer, the number and width of said entrance reflecting surfaces being such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth as projected on a horizontal plane subtended by each of the said entrance reflecting surfaces as measured from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole, and means for retaining said entrance and exit reflecting surfaces in fixed relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle which comprises:
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a plurality of entrance reflecting surfaces arranged in circumferential relationship, each of which functions to reflect from a fixed reference point a field of view which overlaps the field of view of an adjacent entrance reflecting surface, the entrance reflecting surfaces which are paired to adjacent exit reflecting surfaces lie on different horizontal planes and at different radial distances from a fixed central point of observation, a plurality of exit reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view to an observer, the number and width of said entrance reflecting surfaces being such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth as projected on a horizontal plane subtended by each of the said entrance reflecting surfaces as measured from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole, and means for retaining said entrance and exit reflecting surfaces in fixed relationship.
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14. A viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle which comprises:
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a plurality of entrance reflecting surfaces arranged in circumferential relationship, each of which functions to reflect from a fixed reference point a field of view defined by an associated entrance aperture which is defined by the dimensions of the entrance reflecting surfaces or by other structure, the field of view reflected by each entrance reflecting surface overlapping the field of view of an adjacent entrance reflecting surface, a plurality of exit reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view to an observer through an associated exit aperture which is defined by the dimensions of the exit reflecting surfaces or by other structure, the number and width of said entrance apertures being such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth as projected on a horizontal plane subtended by each of the said entrance apertures as measured from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole, and means for retaining said entrance and exit reflecting surfaces and said entrance and exit apertures in fixed relationship.
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15. A viewing system which provides for a substantially continuous and unobstructed horizontal field of view over a desired viewing angle which comprises:
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a plurality of entrance reflecting surfaces arranged in circumferential relationship, each of which functions to reflect from a fixed reference point a field of view which overlaps the field of view of an adjacent entrance reflecting surface, a plurality of exit reflecting surfaces aligned with and spaced from each of said first reflecting surfaces for receiving a reflected view therefrom and for reflecting the view to an observer, a vision block being disposed between adjacent entrance reflecting surfaces and exit reflecting surfaces, the number and width of said entrance reflecting surfaces and vision blocks being such that the sum of all of the angles in azimuth as projected on a horizontal plane subtended by each of the said entrance reflecting surfaces and vision blocks as measured from a fixed reference point exceeds the angle in azimuth subtended by the system as a whole, and means for retaining said entrance and exit reflecting surfaces and said vision blocks in fixed relationship.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeGoodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
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Original AssigneeRecon/Optical, Inc. (Bourns Incorporated)
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InventorsKreischer, Cody B.
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Primary Examiner(s)Henry, Jon W.
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Application NumberUS06/601,387Time in Patent Office623 DaysField of Search350/617, 350/618, 350/623, 350/631, 350/622, 350/624, 350/602, 350/541, 350/542, 350/557, 350/575, 350/1.1, 350/601US Class Current359/856CPC Class CodesF41H 5/266 Periscopes for fighting or ...G02B 23/08 Periscopes arrangements on ...
