Weapon aiming device having microlenses and display element

• US 5,386,308 A
• Filed: 06/03/1994
• Issued: 01/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF
• Inventors: Le Pesant, Jean-Pierre, Michel, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, TAI V
• Application Number:
  US08/253,342
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 359/36, 359/40, 359/51, 359/52, 359/83, 359/410, 351/45, 351/54, 351/158, 345/8, 345/32, 345/33, 235/404, 235/407, 235/414, 235/415, 33/246, 33/251, 33/252, 33/DIG. 21, 42/84, 42/103, 356/252, 89/135
• US Class Current: 349/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using 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 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• 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 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection

Abstract

Material made up of a thin layer between two surfaces, a first and a second, to be used as the third layer of a transparent goggles face, the first layer being a screen and the second layer being a thickness layer, remarkable in that the material consists of a formable transparent polymer matrix having a refractive index and containing micro-cavities in the form of lenses, the micro-cavities being made from a transparent material different from that of the matrix, the refractive index of the material of the micro-cavities changing under the influence of an electric field applied across it, for a first field value the refractive index being equal to that of the matrix, and for a second field value being greater than that of the matrix, a pair of electrodes being associated with each micro-cavity.

Claims

1. A control system for a barreled weapon, comprising:

goggles including

(a) a first layer of transparent material having opposite surfaces, the material having its optical characteristics alterable under the influence of a changeable electric field applied thereacross;

(b) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross;

(c) a third layer, spaced from the first layer and having opposite surfaces and an intermediate transparent polymer matrix therebetween in which micro-cavities are enclosed which serve as micro-lenses having optical axes perpendicular to the two-third layer surfaces;

(d) the micro-cavities made from a transparent material different from that of the polymer matrix and having refractive indices which, is selectably changeable in response to changes in an electric field passing between the two third layer surfaces;

(e) the material of the micro-cavities having the same refractive index as the matrix material for a first electric field value, and a greater refractive index than the matrix material for a second electric field value;

(f) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the third layer surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross;

(g) a second intermediate layer interposed between the first and third layers and fabricated from a transparent polymer;

means located on the weapon for measuring the direction in which it is pointed;

means, mounted on the weapon, for transmitting data from the measuring means;

means mounted on the goggles for receiving direction measurement data;

means connected to a receiving means output for communicating direction measurement data to a computer; and

communication means for linking an output of the computer to the electrode arrays.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the third layer further comprises:

two attached transparent polymer half layers, each of which has two surfaces, one smooth and the other pitted with micro-cavities, the pitted surfaces of the half layers confronting each other to form aligned micro-cavities;

the micro-cavities being filled with electro-optic fluid having two refractive indices, switchable in response to an applied electric field; and

arrays of electrodes located on the half layers.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the micro-cavities are hemispheres.

4. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the half layers is thicker than the other.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the receiving means is an infrared receiver.

6. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the goggles further comprise an inflatable peripheral face seal.

7. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the transmitting means is an infrared transmitter.

8. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the weapon further comprises:

a range finding laser; and

a switch mounted to the weapon, for initiating a range measurement by the laser, and subsequently transmitting a code by the transmitting means.