Night vision compatible and sunlight readable, lighted, word indicating pushbutton switch and indicator

• US 4,722,028 A
• Filed: 06/10/1986
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Staco Switch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Staco Switch
• Inventors: Gust, James F., Castro, Henry, Brannon, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US06/872,560
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/29, 362/230, 362/231, 362/235, 362/242, 362/293
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83

Abstract

A pushbutton switch having an illuminated display or other instrumentation data or control display device is made compatible both with unassisted night time vision of the display as well as vision assisted by a night vision imaging system or night vision goggles. The display is backed with a plurality of selectively activated light sources. Each light source is characterized by a spectral range. At least one of the light sources has a spectral range compatible with the night vision imaging system. At least another one of the light sources has a spectral range compatible with unassisted night vision. In the preferred embodiment, the light source is comprised of a conventional incandescent bulb disposed within a domed glass filter. The domed glass filter has a spectral transmissivity which is compatible with the night vision imaging system. In particular, the filter has a transmissivity approximately equal to either ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, or Yellow. The light source compatible with unassisted night vision is comprised of a conventional incandescent bulb disposed in a domed filter having a spectral transmissivity within the red portion of the spectrum. The display may be selectively illuminated by any one of the ANVIS colors, a combination of the ANVIS colors, or by the red night light. Therefore, every displayed instrumentation device within the cockpit of an aircraft may be immediately converted from conventional night vision illumination to one compatible with night vision goggles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising:

a light box;

a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system;

wherein at least one other one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity in a wavelength range compatible with uansssisted night vision, and

means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision,

whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision.

3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter element has a spectral transmissivity characterized by a selected one of the colors, ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, and ANVIS Yellow.

2. An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising:

a light box;

a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and

means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision,

whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision,

wherein at least one half of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system, and wherein each of the remaining one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity and wavelength range compatible with unassisted night vision.

4. An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising:

a light box

a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and

means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements,

whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems,

wherein one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements are characterized by distinct spectral transmissivities compatible with said night vision imaging system, and with unassisted night vision,

wherein at lest one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements is characterized by spectral transmissivity compatible with unassisted daylight vision.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Green A.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Green B.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter element has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Yellor.

8. An apparatus for illumination of a display for unassisted daylight vision, unassisted night vision, and vision with a night vision imaging system comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a corresponding plurality of individual filter elements disposed over each light source, light being emitted by said light source and transmitted through said corresponding filter element, the transmitted light being characterized by the spectral transmissivity of each corresponding filter element, at least one of said filter elements being characterized by a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system and at least one other one of said plurality of filter elements having a spectral transmissivity compatible with a selected one of said daytime vision and unassisted night vision;

a light box for receiving said plurality of filter elements and light sources contained within said filter elements, said light box characterized by an internal reflecting surface; and

means for embodying said display opposing said plurality of filter elements and light sources disposed within said light box,

whereby a single apparatus is provided for illumination of said display under variable spectral vision illumination conditions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of filter elements is a glass domed filter.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of said filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to a selected one chosen from ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, and ANVIS Yellow.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of filter elements is a glass domed filter.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least another one of said plurality of filter elements has a spectral transmissivity compatible with unassisted night vision.

13. A method for selectively providing illumination of a display with a selected spectral range compatible with a night vision imaging system, unassisted daytime vision, and unassisted night vision, comprising the steps of:

selectively activating the light source enclosed within a three dimensionally shaped filter, said filter having a selected spectral transmissivity corresponding to said night vision imaging system;

selectively illuminating a second light source enclosed within said three dimensionally shaped filter disposed adjacent to said display, said second filter having a spectral transmissivity compatible with said unassisted night vision; and

selectively activating both said first and second light sources to illuminate said display with a spectral range compatible with said unassisted daytime vision.