Head mounted video display and remote camera system

• US 5,005,213 A
• Filed: 04/11/1990
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• 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:
  US07/507,978
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 358/108, 358/113, 358/93, 89/41.05, 224/181, 455/617
• US Class Current: 398/119
• 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 for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a transmitter mounted within said vehicle for omnidirectionally transmitting a video signal of an image through free space within the vehicle; and

a video receiver and display mountable to a person'"'"'s head for receiving and displaying the image irrespective of the person'"'"'s location within the vehicle.

2. The video system of claim 1 further including a flexible headgear with a frame for mounting said video receiver and said display thereto.

3. The video system of claim 1 further including a rigid helmet for mounting said video receiver and said display thereto.

4. The video system of claim 1 further including a plurality of said head mounted video receivers and displays for a corresponding plurality of persons within the vehicle.

5. The video system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter includes means for transmitting the video signal on an optical carrier having a nonvisible wavelength.

6. The video system of claim 5 wherein said transmitter includes means for transmitting a carrier having a wavelength between short ultraviolet and far infrared.

7. The video system of claim 1 further including means mounted external to the vehicle for generating said video signal and relaying the video signal to said transmitter for retransmission within the vehicle.

8. The video system of claim 7 wherein said generating means includes night vision equipment for generating video signals representative of objects disposed in the darkness.

9. The video system of claim 7 wherein said generating means includes infrared detecting equipment for generating video signals representative of the thermal radiation of objects.