Electro-optic targeting system
First Claim
1. In combination with a weapon system, a targeting system for displaying an image of a target object coincident with an aiming mark indicating the alignment of said weapon system, comprising in combination:
- sensing means for sensing said target object and for generating a video signal of said object;
processing means for coordinating the alignment of said weapon system with said sensing means;
display means for displaying said video signal of said object and said aiming mark, said display means including a combining glass assembly changeable to be in an opaque state or a clear state and a means for projecting said video signal onto said combining glass assembly, said display means being selectively operable between a sight mode in which said combining glass assembly is in said clear state permitting sight observation of said target object and a video mode in wich said combining glass assembly is in said opaque state blocking sight observation of said target object and permitting video observation of said target obejct; and
switch means for selectively alternately changing said display means from said sight mode to said video mode;
whereby said video signal of said target object and said aiming mark are projected onto said combining glass assembly when said display means is in said video mode, enhancing performance of said weapon system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optic targeting system for use with a surface-to-air or air-to-air missile launching system is disclosed. The targeting system provides, in a head-up display type system, the capability of sight observation of a target object and video observation of the target object, including magnified visible and thermal spectrum video, in combination with the display of an aiming mark indicating alignment of the weapon system. The targeting system incorporates a combining glass assembly through which the gunner observes the target object and upon which the video image is displayed. The combining glass includes an optically variable density cell of selectively changeable opacity. When the targeting system is operated in a sight mode, the cell is substantially clear, enabling the gunner to see the aiming mark superimposed on the combining glass with sight observation of the forward scene. When the gunner selects video mode, the cell turns opaque, blocking out the forward scene, and permitting a video signal, normal or magnified, to be reflected off the combing glass towards the gunner. In video mode, the gunner sees a video image of the target with the aiming mark superimposed. The cell automatically changes opacity when the gunner selects sight mode or video mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In combination with a weapon system, a targeting system for displaying an image of a target object coincident with an aiming mark indicating the alignment of said weapon system, comprising in combination:
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sensing means for sensing said target object and for generating a video signal of said object; processing means for coordinating the alignment of said weapon system with said sensing means; display means for displaying said video signal of said object and said aiming mark, said display means including a combining glass assembly changeable to be in an opaque state or a clear state and a means for projecting said video signal onto said combining glass assembly, said display means being selectively operable between a sight mode in which said combining glass assembly is in said clear state permitting sight observation of said target object and a video mode in wich said combining glass assembly is in said opaque state blocking sight observation of said target object and permitting video observation of said target obejct; and switch means for selectively alternately changing said display means from said sight mode to said video mode; whereby said video signal of said target object and said aiming mark are projected onto said combining glass assembly when said display means is in said video mode, enhancing performance of said weapon system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A targeting display system for observing a target object and an aiming mark indicating the alignment of a weapon comprising:
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cell means for changing between an optically clear state permitting sight observation of said target object and an optically opaque state blocking sight observation of said target objet; switch means for switching said cell means between said clear state and said opaque state; and means for enabling said aiming mark to be displayed on said cell means and for enabling a video image of said target object to be displayed on said cell means when said cell means is in said opaque state, whereby said video image of said target object can be observed without simultaneously observing said target object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification