Coating for light security
First Claim
1. A night vision system comprising:
- an eyepiece comprising;
an optical device including a front end facing an object to be viewed through the optical device, a back end opposite the front end, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end;
a layer of electrically switchable coating provided adjacent an exterior surface of the front end of the optical device, wherein the coating is selectively switchable via actuation of a button switch controlling electrical current to switch the coating between a transparent mode and an opaque mode, and wherein when the coating is in the transparent mode light enters the optical device through the front end, and wherein when the coating is in the opaque mode no light enters the front side of the optical device; and
a video camera operatively linked with the eyepiece to project a video image collected externally of the eyepiece in the optical device toward an eye of a user looking through the eyepiece, wherein the video image passes through the optical device and when the electrically switchable coating is in the opaque mode no light generated from the video image exits the optical device which is adapted to reduce the likelihood of detecting the night vision system from afar based on light generated by the video image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A night vision system includes an eyepiece and a video camera to capture a video image that can be remote to the eyepiece. The eyepiece includes an optical device with a front side and a back side. A splitting surface within the optical device reflects some of a video image toward an eye of a user of the eyepiece, and the splitting surface further allows some light of an optical image received from in front of the eyepiece to past through the eyepiece to the eye of the user. The layer of switchable coating on the eyepiece can be switched between a transparent mode and an opaque mode by the user. When in an opaque mode no light can leave the front side of the optical device and only the video image can be seen through the eyepiece.
23 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A night vision system comprising:
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an eyepiece comprising; an optical device including a front end facing an object to be viewed through the optical device, a back end opposite the front end, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; a layer of electrically switchable coating provided adjacent an exterior surface of the front end of the optical device, wherein the coating is selectively switchable via actuation of a button switch controlling electrical current to switch the coating between a transparent mode and an opaque mode, and wherein when the coating is in the transparent mode light enters the optical device through the front end, and wherein when the coating is in the opaque mode no light enters the front side of the optical device; and a video camera operatively linked with the eyepiece to project a video image collected externally of the eyepiece in the optical device toward an eye of a user looking through the eyepiece, wherein the video image passes through the optical device and when the electrically switchable coating is in the opaque mode no light generated from the video image exits the optical device which is adapted to reduce the likelihood of detecting the night vision system from afar based on light generated by the video image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21)
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16. A method comprising:
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allowing optical images in front of an eyepiece to enter the eyepiece; capturing video images with a camera and projecting them into the eyepiece through a splitting surface located rearwardly from the front of the eyepiece; switching, via actuation of a button switch controlling electrical current, an electrically switchable coating provided on a front end of the eyepiece from a transparent mode that allows the optical images to enter the eyepiece to an opaque mode that prevents light from entering at least the front end of the eyepiece and that prevents light from exiting at least the front end of the eyepiece, wherein video images projected into eyepiece when the electrically switchable coating is in the opaque mode no light generated from the video image exits the optical device which is adapted to reduce the likelihood of detecting the night vision system from afar based on light generated by the video image. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification