Cloaking system using optoelectronically controlled camouflage

• US 5,307,162 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard N. Schowengerdt
• Original Assignee: Richard N. Schowengerdt
• Inventors: Schowengerdt, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/977,192
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 358/225, 358/230, 358/87, 472/57, 472/61, 472/65, 472/71, 472/75, 472/77, 472/81
• US Class Current: 348/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The Cloaking System is designed to operate in the visible light spectrum, utilizes optoelectronics and/or photonic components to conceal an object within it, and employs analog or digital control feedback resulting in camouflage adaptable to a changing background. The system effectively conceals either a still or moving object from view by the interposing of a shield between an observer and the object and recreating a full color synthetic image of the background on the shield for viewing by observer, thus creating the illusion of transparency of both the object and the Cloaking System. This system consists of four major elements: a sensor; a signal processor; a shield; and a means of interconnecting, supporting, and safely enclosing the aforementioned elements along with the concealed object.

Claims

1. A system for concealing an object from view by an observer through use of a background scene and comprising:

means for sensing a background scene and for generating a video image signal therefrom;

means for creating a processed image of said background video image signal for display purposes; and

means for displaying an image represented by said processed image signal, the generated image being part of the sensed field of view, the object located between the means for sensing and the means for displaying, the object thereby being substantially camouflaged by the image displayed.

2. A concealing system according to claim 1 wherein said background scene sensing means comprises means for converting background light images electrical analog image signals for processing by an analog signal processor.

3. A concealing system according to claim 1 wherein said background scene sensing means for converting background light images to electrical digital image signals for processing by a digital signal processor comprises;

means for responding to digital commands from a digital signal processor;

means for storing digital image signals in a reference background image matrix array within the sensor upon command by the digital signal processor; and

means for providing digital information from said array upon said command from said digital signal processor.

4. A concealing system according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means for sensing a background scene produces fiberoptic image signals for said processed image.

5. A concealing system according to claim 1 wherein a processing subsystem, including said background sensing means, has the means for processing digital image signals for the purpose of presentation to a shield subsystem comprising:

means for formatting digital image signals from said sensing means;

means for receiving and commanding said sensing means to store digital image signals in a reference background image matrix therein;

means to receive and transmit digital image signals from the reference background image matrix to a synthetic image matrix within a shield subsystem;

means to compare the digital information stored in the reference background image matrix in the sensor with that stored in the synthetic image matrix;

means coupled to said means to compare digital information for correcting or altering the image displayed on the shield subsystem by providing commands to the shield subsystem;

means for converting analog video signals from said correcting means to digital image signals;

means for converting created optical image signals to digital image signals;

means for formatting digital image signals from said optical image creating means into a form suitable for presentation to the shield subsystem; and

means for receiving and commanding the display at information stored in the synthetic image matrix.

6. A shield for concealing an object from view of an observer comprising:

means for providing a light absorbing opaque and nonspecular display surface which, in its nonactivated state, has minimum light reflectivity;

means for receiving and commanding the display of information from an analog signal processor;

means for providing in said display'"'"'s activated state the display of a near-identical full color image of the background or other scene for view on the shield surface facing an observer as directed by said analog signal processor, said shield including means to obstruct visual sight of an adjacent concealed object;

means associated with said object for support thereof; and

means to support said analog processor, at least one sensor, and circuitry therefor.

7. A shield for concealing an object from view comprising:

means for providing a light absorbing opaque and nonspecular display surface that, in its nonactivated state, has minimum light reflectivity;

means for obstructing visual sight of an object in said shield, concealed adjacent thereto from view;

means for receiving and commanding the display of information from a digital signal processor;

means for providing in its activated state the display of a near-identical full-color image of a screen for view on the shield surface being viewed as directed by said digital signal processor;

means for storing digital image signals in an array within a synthetic image matrix;

means for display of said digital image signals in the form a full-color image of the background as stored in said synthetic image matrix, said full-color image to be presented on said surface being viewed;

means associated with said object for support thereof; and

means to support said digital signal processor and at least one sensor in association with said shield including backplanes for mounting embedded components, embedded sensors, and embedded data busses.

8. A shield according to claim 7 wherein said shield is constructed from fiberoptic materials and has means for responding to commands from said digital signal processor.

9. A shield according to claim 7 including an integral support structure for said shield, said signal processor, and an object to be concealed, said shield including backplanes for mounting embedded components, embedded sensors, and embedded data buses.

10. A shield according to claim 8 including an integral support structure for said sensor, said signal processor, and an object to be concealed, said shield including backplanes for mounting embedded components, embedded sensors, and embedded data buses.