Optical positioning aiming system

• US 9,791,699 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Eye Protection IP Holding
• Original Assignee: Advanced Eye Protection IP Holding
• Inventors: Chen, Stephen Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US14/209,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20160290764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 359 13- 14, 359727, 359618-619, 359625, 359629, 359639, 359443, 359626, 359621, 359454-455, 359630-634, 345 7- 9
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/04 for dispersing fire from a battery ; for controlling spread of shots; for coordinating fire from spaced weapons
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/00 Systems for controlling missiles or projectiles, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0174 holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

An optical positioning aiming system including an optical positioning subsystem (subsystem). The subsystem is configured to determine relative positions of a weapon and a head mounted display. The subsystem includes a processing unit, infrared (IR) emitters mounted to a weapon, IR emitters mounted to the head mounted display, IR cameras mounted to the weapon, and IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display. The IR cameras mounted to the weapon are configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display and to communicate the relative position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display to the processing unit. The IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display are configured to determine a relative position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon and communicate the relative position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon to the processing unit.

Claims

1. An optical positioning aiming system comprising:

an optical positioning subsystem including;

a processing unit;

one or more infrared (IR) emitters mounted to a weapon;

one or more IR emitters mounted to a head mounted display;

one or more IR cameras mounted to the weapon that receive an IR signal emitted from the one or more IR emitters mounted to the head mounted display; and

one or more IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display that receive an IR signal emitted from the one or more IR emitters mounted to the weapon,

wherein during operation of the optical positioning subsystem;

the IR cameras mounted to the weapon determine, based at least partially on the IR signal emitted from the one or more IR emitters mounted to the head mounted display, a position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display relative to the weapon;

the IR cameras mounted to the head mounted display determine, based at least partially on the IR signal emitted from the one or more IR emitters mounted to the weapon, a position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon relative to the head mounted display, and

the processing unit receives the position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display, the position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon, determines a line of sight of a user based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display, determines a point of aim of the weapon based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon, and determines a holographic aiming reticle to be displayed within a field of view of the user such that the holographic aiming reticle is positioned in the field of view at the point of aim of the weapon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more IR cameras mounted on the head mounted display are configured to detect:

a first IR signal from an IR emitter of a team member, the first IR signal having a first wavelength;

a second IR signal from an IR emitter of the weapon, the second IR signal having a second wavelength; and

a third IR signal from the IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display, the third IR signal having a third wavelength, wherein the first, the second, and the third wavelengths are different and changeable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the holographic aiming reticle is free to move within the field of view as a position of the holographic aiming reticle is determined.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein during operation:

the processing unit determines information pertaining to a team member,

the information is used to generate components of a holographic image, and

the components include an identification tag that is superimposed over the team member within the field of view of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein during operation:

the processing unit determines a holographic image including an overlay;

the overlay includes a non-visible light overlay; and

the non-visible light overlay includes one or more of an IR overlay and a thermal overlay; and

the overlay is superimposed over an object within the field of view.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ballistic sensor, wherein during operation:

the processing unit determines a holographic image projected onto a mounted display based on data acquired by the ballistic sensor and the optical positioning subsystem.

7. A method of superimposing a holographic image in a field of view of a head mounted display (mounted display), the method comprising:

receiving user input including a selection of holographic image components to include in a holographic image;

detecting IR emitters of a weapon and IR emitters of a mounted display;

obtaining images from an IR camera of the weapon and an IR camera of the mounted display;

determining whether the IR emitters are in a field of view of the IR cameras;

in response to the IR emitters not being in the field of view of the IR camera, continuing to obtain images from the IR camera of the weapon and the IR camera of the mounted display until the IR emitters are in the field of view of the IR cameras;

in response to the IR emitters being in the field of view of the IR camera;

calculating an orientation and a position of the mounted display with respect to the weapon based at least partially on the IR emitters of the weapon;

calculating an orientation and a position of the weapon with respect to the mounted display based at least partially on the IR emitters of the mounted display;

reconciling the orientation and the position of the mounted display with respect to the weapon with the orientation and the position of the weapon with respect to the mounted display;

determining a line of sight of a user based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display,

determining a point of aim of the weapon based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon,

determining a position of a holographic aiming reticle to be displayed within in the field of view of the mounted display based on the reconciled relative positions and orientations; and

superimposing the holographic aiming reticle in the field of view at the point of aim of the weapon.

8. An optical positioning subsystem configured to determine relative positions of a weapon and a head mounted display and to generate and position a holographic image into a field of view of the head mounted display, the optical positioning subsystem including:

an infrared (IR) emitter mounted to a weapon;

an IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display;

an IR camera mounted to the weapon that receive an IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display;

an IR camera mounted to the head mounted display that receive an IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the weapon; and

a processing unit,

wherein during operation of the optical positioning subsystem, the processing unit;

receives a first signal from the IR camera mounted to the weapon, the first signal being indicative of the IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the head mounted display and a position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display relative to the weapon;

receives a second signal from the IR camera mounted to the head mounted display, the second signal being indicative of the IR signal emitted from the IR emitter mounted to the weapon;

determines a relative position and orientation of the weapon with respect to the head mounted display based at least partially on first signal;

determines a relative position and orientation of the head mounted display with respect the weapon based at least partially on first signal;

reconcile the relative positions and orientations;

determines a line of sight of a user based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted on the head mounted display,

determines a point of aim of the weapon based at least partially on the position of the IR emitters mounted to the weapon,

determines a position of a holographic aiming reticle to be displayed within in the field of view of the head mounted display based on the reconciled relative positions and orientations such that the holographic aiming reticle is positioned in the field of view; and

superimposes the holographic aiming reticle in the field of view at the point of aim of the weapon.

9. The optical positioning subsystem of claim 8, wherein during operation of the optical positioning subsystem, the processing unit receives an IR signal from a friendly force and superimposes an identification tag image in the field of view.

10. The optical positioning subsystem of claim 8, wherein during operation of the optical positioning subsystem, the processing unit receives an image from a forward-facing camera mounted to the weapon and superimposes a pop up picture in the field of view.