Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus

• US 6,606,114 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cairns & Brother, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Diversified Optical Products, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Coombs, Christopher E., Richter, Robert J., Peel, Richard M., Gordon, Kerry W., Fordham, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARSONS, CHARLES E
• Application Number:
  US09/435,795
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 359/815, 350/538, 241/4, 2/6, 348/64
• US Class Current: 348/64
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus including an infrared camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and a display system which generates a visible image of the scene or object from the infrared image; various mounting apparatus for mounting the thermal imaging apparatus to the helmet.

Claims

1. Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus for being worn by a person in a heated environment where stratified heat is present which increases vertically, comprising:

a head-protective helmet including a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending downwardly and outwardly from said cap sufficiently to provide an envelope of reduced heat under said brim upon said head-protective helmet being present in said stratified heat;

thermal imaging apparatus including an infrared sensor camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and display apparatus which generates a visible image of said scene or object from said infrared image for viewing by the eyes of a person wearing said combination;

first mounting means for mounting said camera to said head-protective helmet substantially underneath said brim to protect said camera from falling objects striking said helmet and to cause said camera to substantially reside in said envelope of reduced heat to reduce the influence of said heated environment on said camera, said first mounting means mounting said infrared sensor camera to said head-protective helmet to locate said infrared sensor to the side of the face of said person wearing said combination; and

second mounting means for mounting said display apparatus to said helmet in a position to permit the eyes of said person to see said visible image

Wherein said first mounting means mounting said camera for rotation in both the horizontal and vertical directions; and

said display apparatus includes a television tube or LCD, signal processing means for receiving thermal image signals from said camera and for converting said thermal image signals to TV signals for transmission to said television tube to cause said television tube or LCD to produce a visible, television image of said scene or object carried by light rays emanating from said television tube, a pair of eyepieces and optical means through which said light rays are transmitted to said eyepieces, said optical means for converting said TV image to a pair of intermediate real images of said scene or object in advance of said pair of eyepieces, said pair of eyepieces for converting said pair of intermediate real images to a pair of virtual images of said scene or object for viewing by the eyes said person through said eyepieces.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said helmet means includes a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending downwardly and outwardly from said cap, said cap and said brim having an outer surface providing a protective plane against falling objects and said protective shield having an outer surface which extends said protective plane.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said helmet means includes a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending downwardly and outwardly from said cap, said cap and said brim having an outer surface providing a protective plane against falling objects and wherein said protective means comprise an integrally formed and outwardly and downwardly extending portion of said brim covering said camera and extending said plane of protection.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said protective means comprise housing means and wherein said camera is mounted to said protective means by being mounted in said housing means.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said helmet means comprise a generally semi-spherical shell having a generally elongated circular lower portion and an outer surface providing a first plane of protection against falling objects, and wherein said first mounting means are for mounting said housing means to said lower portion of said shell and wherein said housing means include an inclined upper surface adjacent said outer shell and providing a second plane of protection against falling objects, said second plane of protection extending said first plane of protection.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said housing means comprise first housing means and wherein said combination further comprises second housing means and third mounting means for mounting said second housing means to said lower portion of said shell generally opposite said first housing means, said display means further comprising combination signal processing and battery supply means mounted in said second housing means and for receiving thermal image signals from said camera and for converting said thermal image signals into visual image signals and for transmitting said visual image signals to said display to produce said visible image.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said person wearing said combination has a horizontal sight line and wherein said second mounting means are for mounting said visual display pivotally to said shell to permit said shell to be pivoted upwardly and downwardly with respect to said horizontal sight line.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said shell is provided with a pair of pivot stops for limiting the upward pivotal movement of said visual display with respect to said horizontal sight line to about 25°

and for limiting said downward pivotal movement of said visual display with respect to said horizontal sight line to about 35°

.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first mounting means comprise a generally U-shaped mounting member and fastening means for fastening said mounting member to said helmet means.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said helmet means includes a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending outwardly and downwardly from said cap and including generally opposed brim forward portions, wherein said mounting member includes a pair of integrally formed outwardly extending and spaced apart mounting member portions and an interconnecting portion interconnecting said mounting member portions.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said mounting member portions are generally complementary in shape to said brim forward portions and wherein said fastening means are for fastening said mounting member portions to said brim forward portions.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein said opposed brim portions are provided with a pair of outwardly extending loop portions and wherein said fastening means comprise a pair of spring biased latching members mounted on said mounting member portions and for latching onto said loops to fasten said mounting member portions and thereby said mounting member to said brim forward portions.

13. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said cap includes a generally circular cap forward portion and wherein said generally U-shaped mounting member is for generally encircling and engaging said cap forward portion, and wherein said fastening means comprise a pair of spring-biased pivoting means respectively interconnecting said mounting member portions and said first housing and said second housing to cause said mounting member portions and said first housing and said second housing to act as spring clamps to releasably clamp said mounting member to said brim.

14. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said cap includes a generally circular cap forward portion and a generally circular cap rearward portion, wherein said brim includes a rearward portion, wherein said helmet includes a ring member mounted pivotally to said brim rearward portion, wherein said mounting member portions include rearward portions, and wherein said fastening means comprise an elastic band or strap mounted to said rearward portions of said mounting member portions and for encircling and elastically engaging said brim rearward portion and a loop member fastened to said elastic band and for being looped through said ring member and fastened upon itself to further mount said mounting member to said helmet.

15. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said mounting member portions include forward portions and wherein said second mounting means comprise a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel display mounting members disposed generally perpendicularly with respect to and mounted to said forward portions of said mounting member portions and wherein said display mounting members are for mounting said display for reciprocal upwardly and downwardly vertical movement with respect to said display mounting members and thereby with respect to the face of a person wearing said combination.

16. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination further comprises elastic or adjustable straps mounted to said helmet and which straps mount said display apparatus to said helmet.

17. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said camera imparts torque to said helmet causing fatigue to the head of said person and wherein said combination further includes a counter balance mounted to said helmet substantially opposite said camera and substantially equal in weight to said camera and said counter balance imparting torque to said helmet substantially canceling said torque imparted by said camera and substantially eliminating said fatigue to said head of said person.