Night vision system utilizing a diode laser illumination module and a method related thereto
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A night vision system, comprising:
- an infrared light source;
a thin sheet optical element extending along a first axis receiving light from said infrared light source and reflecting said light generally in a first direction; and
, an infrared camera for receiving said light reflected off of an object and generating a video signal responsive to said received light.
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Abstract
A night vision system 10 is provided for detecting objects at relatively low visible light levels. The system 10 includes an infrared light source 14. The system 10 further includes a thin sheet optical element 16 extending along a first axis 27 receiving light from the infrared light source 14 and reflecting the light generally in a first direction. Finally, the system 10 includes an infrared camera for receiving the light reflected off objects in the environment and generating a video signal responsive to the received light.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A night vision system, comprising:
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an infrared light source;
a thin sheet optical element extending along a first axis receiving light from said infrared light source and reflecting said light generally in a first direction; and
,an infrared camera for receiving said light reflected off of an object and generating a video signal responsive to said received light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15)
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10. A night vision system, comprising:
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an infrared light source;
a thin sheet optical element having an aspheric lens and a first and second plurality of reflective facets, said aspheric lens being integral with or proximate to said thin sheet optical element and receiving light from said infrared light source and collimating said light;
said first plurality of reflective facets receiving said light from said aspheric lens and reflecting said light to said second plurality of reflective facets that further reflect said light generally in a first direction; and
,an infrared camera for receiving said light reflected off of an object and generating a video signal responsive to said received light. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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17. A method of detecting objects utilizing a night vision system, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting infrared light to a thin sheet optical element;
reflecting said light from said thin sheet optical element generally in a first direction from said thin sheet optical element;
receiving said light reflected off of an object; and
, generating a video signal responsive to said received light.- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
collimating said light entering said thin sheet optical element;
reflecting said light from a first plurality of reflective facets to a second plurality of reflective facets; and
,reflecting said light from said second plurality of reflective facets generally in said first direction.
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19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of receiving said light reflected off of said object includes the substep of:
filtering said light through an optical bandpass filter.
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20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of diffusing said light reflected from said thin sheet optical element.
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21. A night vision system, comprising:
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an infrared light source;
a light reflector receiving infrared light from said infrared light source and reflecting said light from a first reflective surface in said reflector to a second reflective surface in said reflector, said light being further reflected from said second reflective surface toward an object; and
,an infrared detector configured to receive said light reflected off said object.
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22. A night vision system, comprising:
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an infrared light source;
a polymeric light reflector receiving infrared light from said infrared light source and reflecting said light toward an object; and
,an infrared detector configured to receive said light reflected off said object.
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23. A night vision system, comprising:
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a light source generating light at a non-visible frequency;
a polymeric light reflector receiving said light from said light source and reflecting said light toward an object; and
,a light detector configured to receive said light reflected off said object.
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24. A night vision system comprising:
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an infrared light source generating infrared light;
a light reflector having a transparent portion and a reflective surface, said infrared light moving through said transparent portion to said reflective surface, said surface reflecting said light toward an object; and
,an infrared detector configured to receive said light reflected off said object.
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25. A method for an detecting an object using a night vision system, comprising:
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transmitting infrared light to a light reflector;
reflecting said light from a first reflective surface in said reflector to a second reflective surface in said reflector;
reflecting said light from said second reflective surface toward an object; and
,receiving said light reflected off of said object utilizing an infrared detector.
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Specification