Scanning laser helmet mounted sight

• US 5,128,794 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Overland, John E., Mocker, Hans W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US07/589,734
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 359/196, 359/529, 359/213, 359/221, 359/216, 359/217, 359/218, 359/219, 250/334, 340/980, 356/141, 356/152, 356/222, 364/514, 364/559, 364/569, 364/574
• US Class Current: 359/196.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/875 for determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking

Abstract

A scanning laser helmet mounted sight that determines helmet or sight position from externally mounted light sources and detectors. No electronics, including light sources and detectors, are on the helmet. Also, no electrical cables or mechanical linkage is connected to the helmet. The helmet has passive reflectors for reflecting a scanning light beam from a laser source. The return times and directions of the returning light beam relative to a return of a light beam from a reference point, processed by the off-helmet electronics, result in a position indication of the helmet.

Claims

1. A scanning laser helmet mounted sight system comprising:

laser light source means for providing a first light beam;

beam splitting means for passing the first light beam;

first reflecting means, mounted at a reference point, for reflecting the first light beam as a second light beam at a reference time;

second reflecting means, mounted on a helmet, for reflecting the first light beam as a third light beam;

detecting means for detecting the second and third light beams; and

beam splitting means, situated in a path of the first, second and third light beams, for passing the first light beam on to said first and second reflecting means and for reflecting the second and third beams to said detecting means.

2. System of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning means for scanning the first light beam across first and second reflecting means and for reflecting the second and third beams to said beam splitting means; and

processing means, connected to said detecting means, for processing signals from said detecting means, due to second and third light beams, to determine a position of the helmet.

3. System of claim 2, wherein said laser light source means is a near-infrared laser.

4. A scanning laser helmet mounted sight system comprising:

first laser light source means for providing a first light beam;

first beam splitting means for passing the first light beam;

first reflecting means, mounted at a first reference point, for reflecting the first light beam as a second light beam at a first reference time;

second reflecting means, mounted on a helmet, for reflecting the first light beam as a third light beam;

first detecting means for detecting the second and third light beams;

first beam splitting means, situated in a path of the first, second and third light beams, for passing the first light beam on to said first and second reflecting means and for reflecting the second and third beams to said first detecting means;

second laser light source means for providing a fourth light beam;

second beam splitting means for passing the fourth light beam;

third reflecting means, mounted at a second reference point, for reflecting the fourth light beam as a fifth light beam at a second reference time;

fourth reflecting means, mounted on the helmet, for reflecting the fourth light beam as a sixth light beam;

second detecting means for detecting the fifth and sixth light beams; and

second beam splitting means, situated in a path of the fourth, fifth and sixth light beams, for passing the fourth light beam on to said third and fourth reflecting means and for reflecting the fifth and sixth beams to said second detecting means.

5. System of claim 4, further comprising:

first scanning means for scanning the first light beam across said first and second reflecting means and for reflecting the second and third beams to said first beam splitting means;

second scanning means for scanning the fourth light beam across said third and fourth reflecting

means and for reflecting the fifth and sixth beams to said second beam splitting means; and

processing means, connected to said first and second detecting means, for processing signals from said first and second detecting means, due to second, third, fifth and sixth light beams, to determine a position of the helmet.

6. System of claim 5, wherein said first and second laser light source means are near-infrared lasers.