Spectral distribution emulation
First Claim
1. Night vision device spectral energy distribution response evaluation apparatus comprising the combination of:
- a plurality of electrical to optical energy transducer devices disposed into a night vision device input port-illuminating first array;
said first array plurality of electrical to optical energy transducer devices including electrical to optical energy transducer devices of selected different optical energy output wavelengths;
a test signal generating, electrical to optical energy transducer device output signal-combining member disposed optically between said first array and an optical input port of said night vision device;
a second array comprised of electrical energy-controlling electronic circuits, each circuit being disposed in electrical energization-determining relationship with one of said electrical to optical energy transducer devices in said first array;
a test signal controlling member connected with each of said electrical energy-controlling electronic circuits for determining an instantaneous electrical current conducting operational status thereof and for selecting successive optical test signals applied to said night vision device input port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test arrangement for assessing the spectral energy distribution-determined response of a night vision device or other electro-optical apparatus. The test arrangement provides a library of spectral energy-distributed test signals or input scenes which may be selected to represent for example typical or extreme conditions expected during field use of the tested night vision device. The test signals originate in an array of energy transducer devices such as light emitting diode elements with each such light emitting diode element proving a limited wavelength component of the wide band composite optical signal received at the input port of the night vision device. Each component signal is arranged to be controlled electrically in presence or absence and also controlled electrically in radiance or intensity according to the needs of the scene being presented; such control is provided by a manual controller or by a programmed digital computer or by other controlling apparatus such as a programmed logic array. The composite test signal may include both infrared and visible components. In addition to control of the composite test signal, other aspects of the performed test such as test scene data storage may also be accomplished in the controller or computer. The disclosed apparatus is especially suited to performance verification of night vision systems in a laboratory environment prior to field use of similar systems. Military and non-military uses are contemplated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Night vision device spectral energy distribution response evaluation apparatus comprising the combination of:
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a plurality of electrical to optical energy transducer devices disposed into a night vision device input port-illuminating first array; said first array plurality of electrical to optical energy transducer devices including electrical to optical energy transducer devices of selected different optical energy output wavelengths; a test signal generating, electrical to optical energy transducer device output signal-combining member disposed optically between said first array and an optical input port of said night vision device; a second array comprised of electrical energy-controlling electronic circuits, each circuit being disposed in electrical energization-determining relationship with one of said electrical to optical energy transducer devices in said first array; a test signal controlling member connected with each of said electrical energy-controlling electronic circuits for determining an instantaneous electrical current conducting operational status thereof and for selecting successive optical test signals applied to said night vision device input port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. The method of verifying spectral energy distribution-determined performance of a night vision device comprising the steps of:
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forming an array of electrical energy to optical energy transducer elements comprising elements within an input spectral energy distribution band of said night vision device; generating a night vision device test input signal with energized of said array of electrical energy to optical energy transducer elements, said test input signal including optical energy from array-included transducer elements of selected optical energy output wavelength and radiance level; controlling wavelength of said test input signal and radiance level of said test input signal by electrically determining one of an illuminated state and a quiescent state for, and an electrical energization level of, each electrical to optical energy transducer element in said array; exposing an optical input port of said night vision device to said test input signal from said array of electrical energy to optical energy transducer elements; comparing an output signal of said night vision device, in response to said test input signal, with an expected night vision device output signal for said spectral energy distribution input. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Night vision device target spectral energy distribution emulation apparatus comprising the combination of:
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means, including a plurality of wavelength-segregated electrical to optical energy transducer elements, for illuminating an input port of a night vision device under test; said wavelength-segregated electrical to optical energy transducer elements including transducer elements of segregated dominant output wavelengths dispersed incrementally across a selected portion of an input bandpass characteristic of said night vision device input port; means including an optical energy diffusion spherical member for integrating output optical energy of said plurality of electrical to optical energy transducer elements into a composite optical signal received at said input port of said night vision device; electrical energy control means, including a plurality of electrical energy-controlling circuits each disposed in electrical energization determining relationship with one of said electrical to optical energy transducer elements, for determining an OFF, ON, and operating intensity status of each of said electrical to optical energy transducer elements in said plurality during generation of each night vision device input port-received composite optical output signal; output signal selection means connected with each of said electrical energy-controlling circuits for determining spectral content of each successive composite optical output signal presented to said input port of said night vision device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification