Face mounted extreme environment thermal sensor system

• US 9,998,687 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haghani, Shadan E
• Application Number:
  US13/833,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• 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

A system for the display of thermal imaging data is provided with a hands free thermal imaging camera; a transparent display directly coupled to said thermal imaging camera; a head mounted lens; the display being integrated into the head mounted lens in front of at least one eye of a user.

Claims

1. A system for the display of thermal imaging data in a unitary face mounted mask, the system comprising:

a head mounted thermal imaging camera, wherein said thermal imaging camera is an infrared sensor;

a transparent display disposed proximate to said thermal imaging camera and directly coupled to said thermal imaging camera, wherein said thermal imaging camera is disposed on an outboard side of said display, wherein said thermal imaging camera is connected by direct wiring to the transparent display;

a head mounted protective lens;

said transparent display being integrated into said head mounted protective lens and fixed in position in front of at least one eye of a user;

a respirator apparatus, wherein the respirator apparatus is fitted on said head mounted protective lens;

a lens insert in the head mounted protective lens; and

at least one fenestration in said lens insert whereby the position of said transparent display within said fenestration may be changed;

wherein said head mounted protective lens with said transparent display and the respirator apparatus form the unitary face mounted mask that is configured to be sealed around a user'"'"'s face;

and wherein brightness of said transparent display is controllable by a user when in operation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said transparent display is disposed in front of only one eye.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said transparent display is sealed to said insert lens closing said fenestration.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said display extends across the face piece and is disposed in front of both eyes of the user.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said lens is configured to protect said display from hostile environmental conditions.

6. The system of claim 1 where said system is hands free.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein an image displayed by said transparent display is moved vertically/horizontally by shifting the pixels on horizontal or vertical axis by a user to align the image to said users eye.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a storage device whereby video from said system is recorded and stored.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transparent display displays messages transmitted to a user.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein video is transmitted in real time to an external viewer.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein opacity of said transparent display is adjustable by said user with multiple settings.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said thermal imaging camera can be detached from said head mounted protective lens and used in a hand held application.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said thermal imaging camera is mounted on one side of said head mounted protective lens and said transparent display is mounted on the opposite side of said head mounted protective lens.

14. A firefighting mask having a display of thermal imaging data,

the firefighting mask comprising:

a thermal imaging camera mounted on the firefighting mask, wherein said thermal imaging camera is an infrared sensor;

a see through protective lens disposed about the firefighting mask;

a transparent display mounted to the see through protective lens and disposed in front of at least one eye of a user;

a ventilator fitted to the see through protective lens;

a lens insert in the see through protective lens; and

at least one fenestration in said lens insert whereby said transparent display is placed within said fenestration thereby sealing said fenestration;

wherein said see through protective lens, transparent display and the ventilator form a unitary face mounted mask that is configured to be sealed about a user'"'"'s face permitting use in high temperatures and harsh environments to prevent entrapment of smoke, fumes particulates and debris between the see through lens and the transparent display;

and wherein the thermal imaging camera is mounted on one side of the see through protective lens and said transparent display is mounted on an opposite side of the see through protective lens and the thermal imaging camera is connected by direct wiring to the transparent display for viewing.