Low-light viewing device having camera assembly with image signal containing visible light and infrared energy components and method for controlling same
First Claim
1. A passive digital low-light viewing device comprising:
- a housing having an optical input aperture and an optical output aperture;
said housing having;
a lens assembly for focusing low intensity visible light received at the optical input aperture;
a camera assembly responsive to low intensity visible light and infrared energy received via said input aperture and said lens assembly for generating an output image signal containing components from the received visible light and the received infrared energy;
a signal processor coupled to said camera assembly for processing said output image signal;
a display assembly coupled to said camera assembly for displaying the processed image via said output aperture to a viewer; and
a control mechanism disposed on a surface of said housing said control mechanism operatively coupled to said camera assembly and said display assembly for controlling operating functions of said camera assembly and said display assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital low-light viewing device comprises a housing having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end defining an optical input aperture and the second end defining an optical output aperture; an infra-red camera assembly responsive to low intensity light and infra red energy received via the input aperture for generating an output image; a signal processor coupled to the camera assembly for processing the output image; a display assembly coupled to the camera assembly for displaying the processed image; a zoom lens assembly coupled to the camera assembly for electronically variably focusing the output image; and control electronics responsive to a control mechanism disposed on a surface of the housing for controlling operating functions of the low-light viewing device, the control mechanism navigable via a user'"'"'s digit for controlling the operating functions.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A passive digital low-light viewing device comprising:
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a housing having an optical input aperture and an optical output aperture;
said housing having;a lens assembly for focusing low intensity visible light received at the optical input aperture; a camera assembly responsive to low intensity visible light and infrared energy received via said input aperture and said lens assembly for generating an output image signal containing components from the received visible light and the received infrared energy; a signal processor coupled to said camera assembly for processing said output image signal; a display assembly coupled to said camera assembly for displaying the processed image via said output aperture to a viewer; and a control mechanism disposed on a surface of said housing said control mechanism operatively coupled to said camera assembly and said display assembly for controlling operating functions of said camera assembly and said display assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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8. A method of controlling a low-light viewing device having a housing, a lens assembly mounted on the housing, a camera assembly in the housing, the camera assembly responsive to low-intensity visible light and infrared energy and for outputting a display image, and a display assembly mounted on the housing for displaying the display image, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a power control signal from a user control mechanism operable by a digit of a user; powering on the device in response to receiving the power control signal; passively receiving low intensity visible light and infrared energy via the lens assembly; receiving a camera assembly control signal from the user control mechanism; and controlling the camera assembly in response to the camera assembly control signal; outputting a display image signal containing components from the received visible light and the received infrared energy from the camera assembly to the display assembly; and displaying the image via the display assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification