Surveillance window

• US 7,187,498 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Finizio, Francesco, Grich, Richard, Bengoechea, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): LAVARIAS, ARNEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/156,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 359/454, 359/494, 359/839, 359/359, 491/68, 250/566, 313/112, 340/784, 345/87
• US Class Current: 359/485.04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses

Abstract

A surveillance window including at least one set of linear polarizer and quarter-waveplate and a reflecting surface. The surveillance window appears dull and opaque to a subject, while allowing a relatively high percentage of light to be transmitted to an observer. Various enhancements including an illuminator and detector, camouflaging, fire resistance, and improvements to the opacity are also described.

Claims

1. An aircraft surveillance system comprising:

a wall separating a cockpit of an aircraft from the cabin of the aircraft;

a cockpit door disposed within an opening within the wall, the wall having an aperture located proximate to the cockpit door;

a window disposed within the aperture;

a camera disposed on the cockpit side of the wall in a position adjacent to the window so as to receive light that passes through the window;

the window comprising;

a first circular polarizer having a linear polarizer side and a quarter-waveplate side, the linear polarizer side facing the cabin, the quarter-waveplate side facing the cockpit;

a second circular polarizer attached to the first circular polarizer, the second circular polarizer having a linear polarizer side and a quarter-waveplate side, the linear polarizer side facing the quarter-waveplate side of the first circular polarizer, the quarter-waveplate side being oriented toward the cockpit,

the camera being located between the cockpit and the second circular polarizer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second circular polarizers are attached to one another with a layer of adhesive.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flame retardant plate attached to the first circular polarizer on its linear polarizer side.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flame retardant plate attached to the second circular polarizer on its quarter-waveplate side.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first flame retardant plate attached to the linear polarizer side of the first circular polarizer and a second flame retardant plate attached to the quarter-waveplate side of the second circular polarizer.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plate attached to the window on the side of the window facing the cockpit, the plate having an aperture, wherein the camera extends through the aperture.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first polycarbonate plate attached to the linear polarizer side of the first circular polarizer and a second polycarbonate plate attached to the quarter-waveplate side of the second circular polarizer.

8. An aircraft surveillance system comprising:

a wall separating a cockpit of an aircraft from the cabin of the aircraft;

a cockpit door disposed within an opening within the wall, the wall having an aperture located proximate to the cockpit door;

a window disposed within the aperture;

a camera disposed on the cockpit side of the wall in a position adjacent to the window so as to receive light that, passes through the window; and

the window comprising;

a first circular polarizing means having a linear polarizer side and a quarter-waveplate side, the linear polarizer side facing the cabin, the quarter-waveplate side facing the cockpit;

a second circular polarizing means attached to the first circular polarizing means, the second circular polarizing means, having a linear polarizer side and a quarter-waveplate side, the linear polarizer side facing the quarter-waveplate side of the first circular polarizing means, the quarter-waveplate side being oriented toward the cockpit,

the camera being located between the cockpit and the second circular polarizing means.