Observation or sighting system

• US 6,484,619 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sfim Industries, Thomson-CSF
• Original Assignee: Sfim Industries, Thomson-CSF
• Inventors: Perthuls, Denis, Roy, Jean-Claude, Thomas, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, M
• Application Number:
  US09/230,127
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 89/410.7, 89/370.1, 89/410.5, 89/410.9, 89/410.6, 89/410.1
• US Class Current: 89/41.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras

Abstract

An observation or aiming system for a self-propelled vehicle is described. The system includes a post pivoting about a bearing axis (Ag) relative to the vehicle. The post carries a body for an optical block and a thermal camera which are mounted to pivot about an elevation axis (As) perpendicular to the bearing axis (Ag). The body and the thermal camera are disposed symmetrically relative to the bearing axis (Ag). The system also includes a radar channel having a radar transmitter unit mounted on the body, a radar detection unit mounted on the body close to the bearing axis (Ag) and concentration means situated in the body for concentrating radar waves on the radar detection unit. The optical block, the thermal camera, and the radar channel are secured so as to always have the same orientation in elevation and in bearing, and thus the same observation direction.

Claims

1. An observation or aiming system for a self-propelled vehicle, comprising:

a post pivoting about a bearing axis (Ag) relative to the vehicle, the post carrying a body for an optical block and a thermal camera which are mounted to pivot about an elevation axis (As) perpendicular to the bearing axis (Ag), wherein the body and the thermal camera are disposed symmetrically relative to the bearing axis (Ag);

a radar channel including a radar transmitter unit mounted on the body and a radar detection unit mounted on the body close to the bearing axis (Ag); and

concentration means situated in the body for concentrating radar waves in the millimeter wave range on the radar detection unit including a plurality of reflectors arranged in a particular relationship and an electronic scanning mechanism, and is associated with at least one lens;

wherein the optical block, the thermal camera, and the radar channel are secured so as to always have the same orientation in elevation and in bearing, and thus the same observation direction.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the concentration means comprise a concave reflector and an inclined plane reflector.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the concentration means are situated between the optical block and the thermal camera.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the system includes a protector which includes a radome covering the concentration means and which also includes openings situated either side of the radome respectively facing the optical block and the thermal camera.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the millimeter wave concentration means include one or more lenses optionally associated with one or more reflectors.

6. An observation system according to claim 1, further comprising image processing and display arrangement which is configured to enable an operator to view images provided by the optical block, the thermal camera and the radar channel independently of one another.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the orientation of the optical block, the thermal camera and the concentration means so as to cause their common observation direction to scan automatically in at least one of elevation and bearing.