Head mounted video display and remote camera system

• US 4,884,137 A
• Filed: 03/14/1988
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varo, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Varo, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Charles M., Koester, Vaughn J., Fallstrom, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/168,137
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 358/113, 455/617, 224/181, 89/41.05
• US Class Current: 348/158
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2611 coacting with a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• 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 2027/0198 System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/023 for viewing X-ray images using image converters, e.g. radioscopes X-ray screens G21K4/00; X-ray image conversion tubes H01J31/50; circuit arrangements for X-ray apparatus incorporating image intensifiers H05G1/64
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/006 for locating or ranging of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A video system is disclosed having a weapon-mounted video camera (12) transmitting video signals to a remotely located video display (14). The video display is mounted to the helmet (40) of a soldier (36), and includes a sight reticle (50) superimposed on the image of the target (46) so that the soldier (36) can aim the weapon (38) by moving it until the target object (46) as displayed by the video display (14) is aligned with the sight reticle (50). A low probability of transmission interception of the video signals is accomplished by using a nonvisible light carrier wavelength in free space, which wavelength is characterized by a high degree of absorption due to atmospheric water vapor.

Claims

1. A video system, comprising:

an imaging system for generating video signals representative of an object;

a video receiver and display remotely located from said imaging system;

an optical link operating between a short UV and a far IR wavelength for transmitting said video signals between said imaging system and said video receiver;

means for presenting to the person different images superimposed one on another so that plural images can be viewed simultaneously, said presenting means comprising a partially reflecting mirror disposed in the paths of two images; and

means removably attachable to a person'"'"'s head, including means for mounting thereto said video display in a position such that the person can view the display without the use of the person'"'"'s hands and wherein the person can move about in an unimpeded manner.

2. The video system of claim 1 further including means for movably mounting said display to said attachable head means so that said display can be moved out of the line of sight vision of the person;

and

means for pivotally mounting said receiver to said attachable head means and being integral with said display.

3. The video system of claim 1 further including a night vision goggle attachable to said attachable head means so that an object can be viewed simultaneously by the use of said video display and said night vision goggle.

4. The video system of claim 1 further including in said video camera, means for transmitting said video signals to said video display through a free space transmission medium with a wavelength of greater than approximately 150 nanometers;

and

means for transmitting video signals from said imaging system to said display through a physical medium.

5. The video system of claim 1 wherein said video display comprises a vacuum fluorescent video display.

6. A video system of claim 1 further including in said transmission system means for transmitting the video signals with a carrier wavelength having a high degree of atmospheric absorption according to a desired atmospheric parameter.

7. The video system of claim 1 further including a plurality of remotely located video displays, each said display including means for receiving the video signals and displaying the object toward which said video imaging system is directed.

8. The video system of claim 1 further including a plurality of video transmission systems, each transmitting at a different carrier frequency.

9. The video system of claim 1 further including illumination means for transmitting nonvisible light in a travel path of the person, and said imaging system includes means for receiving the nonvisible light reflected from objects in the travel path, and means for transmitting video signals representative of the objects in the travel path, whereby said video display displays the travel path to the person.