Head mounted video display and remote camera system

• US 4,970,589 A
• Filed: 07/19/1989
• Issued: 11/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Varo, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Varo, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Charles M., Koester, Vaughn J., Fallstrom, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/382,243
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 358/113, 455/617, 224/181, 89/41.05
• US Class Current: 348/158
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2611 coacting with a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• 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 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/023 for viewing X-ray images using image converters, e.g. radioscopes X-ray screens G21K4/00; X-ray image conversion tubes H01J31/50; circuit arrangements for X-ray apparatus incorporating image intensifiers H05G1/64
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/006 for locating or ranging of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A video system is disclosed having a weapon-mounted video camera (12) transmitting video signals to a remotely located video display (14). The video display is mounted to the helmet (40) of a soldier (36), and includes a sight reticle (50) superimposed on the image of the target (46) so that the soldier (36) can aim the weapon (38) by moving it until the target object (46) as displayed by the video display (14) is aligned with the sight reticle (50). A low probability of transmission interception of the video signals is accomplished by using a nonvisible light carrier wavelength in free space, which wavelength is characterized by a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric water vapor.

Claims

1. A video system adapted for military use, in combination with a weapon, comprising:

image generating means for converting an image of an object into video signals representative of the object;

a transmitter for transmitting the video signals to a remote location;

means for mounting said image generating means to the weapon;

a flexible headgear comformable and attachable to the head of a person;

a video receiver for receiving the video signals transmitted by said transmitter, and wherein said video receiver further includes switch means for selectively receiving video signals on carriers of different wavelengths;

a video display for displaying an image corresponding to the video signals received by said receiver; and

means for mounting said video display to said headgear so as to be in the proximity of the eyes of the person such that the object toward which said image generating means is directed can be observed by the person without the person'"'"'s head having to be directed toward the object.

2. The video system of claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a manually operated switch mounted to said headgear.

3. A method of providing a low probability of intercept of a transmission of information through a free space medium, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a carrier having a wavelength which experiences a high degree of atmospheric absorption based on a selected parameter of the atmosphere;

modulating the carrier with the information and transmitting the carrier through the free space medium; and

demodulating the carrier at a location remote from the transmitter to reproduce the information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a wavelength having a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric carbon dioxide.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a wavelength having a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric ozone.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a carrier having a wavelength between short ultraviolet and far infrared.

7. The method of claim 3 further including;

transmitting video signals of an object;

mounting a carrier demodulator and video display to a person so that the person can move about while yet being able to view the object at the remote location.

8. The method of claim 7 further including mounting the video display to the head of the person.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a wavelength having a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric water vapor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said carrier is transmitted with a wavelength of about 1.39 μ

m.

11. A method of aiming a weapon, comprising the steps of:

locking the movement of a video imager to the movement of the weapon;

transmitting from said imager video signals representative of an object toward which said weapon is directed;

receiving at a remote location the video signals;

decoding the video signals and reproducing an image of the object;

displaying the image to a person situated at the remote location; and

moving said weapon until a desired target object is displayed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the movement of the imager is locked to the movement of the weapon by fixing the imager to the weapon.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the object is displayed on a display mounted to the head of a person situated at a location remote from the imager.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting said video signals on a carrier having a wavelength between short ultraviolet and far infrared.

15. The video system of claim 11 wherein said video receiver further includes switch means for selectively receiving video signals on carriers modulated at different frequencies.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the video signals on a carrier having a wavelength which is characterized by a high degree of atmospheric absorption so that said signals are transmitted only for a short distance.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the carrier wavelength is 1.39 μ

m.