Raytheon Company

L-3 Communications Corporation

Other

Alexander L Kormos

Aaron T Raines

Ning Wu

Paul D Felts

A system is disclosed that includes a lens system that directs energy from a scene toward a detector and display unit coupled to the detector. The display unit forms an image using information received from the detector. The detector includes an array of detector elements, each detector element receiving energy from a portion of the scene and converting the received energy into information representative of the received energy. The detector sends the information associated with at least some of the detector elements to the display unit. The system further includes a computer coupled to the sensor. The computer selects the detector elements that should be used to form an image based on vehicle operating conditions and instructs the detector which detector elements should have their associated information provided to the display unit.

System and method for forming images for display in a vehicle

A chopper for an imaging system includes a frame and a sheet that have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The frame has a space within it, and has at least one opening that allows radiation to pass through the space. The sheet has structure which influences radiation passing through the sheet, and the sheet is movably disposed within the space in the frame, in a manner so that the sheet can expand and contract relative to the frame in a direction approximately parallel to the sheet. The frame prevents any significant movement of the sheet in a direction transverse to the sheet.

Method and apparatus for modulating infrared radiation

A system for forming images for display in a vehicle includes a lens system that directs energy from a scene toward a detector and d display unit coupled to the detector. The display unit forms an image using information received from the detector. The system also includes the detector, which includes an array of detector elements, each detector element receiving energy from a portion of the scene and converting the received energy into information representative of the received energy. The detector sends the information associated with at least some of the detector elements to the display unit. The system further includes a computer coupled to the sensor. The computer receives heading information, selects the detector elements that should be used to form an image based on the heading information, and instructs the detector which detector elements should have their associated information to the display unit.

A method and apparatus for displaying an image includes selecting a camera unit horizontal field of view (FOV) of about eighteen degrees and selecting a system magnification of between 0.4 and 1.0. The method and apparatus also includes determining an aspect ratio for the image based on the selected camera unit horizontal FOV and the selected system magnification, receiving energy from a scene for forming the image and displaying the image on a display.

Method and system for displaying an image

A system and method for providing images for an operator of a vehicle include the capability to receive electrical signals representing electromagnetic radiation at an image source and to generate a visual image based on the electrical signals. The system and method further include the capability to reflect different portions of the visual image with a magnifying optical element for presentation at different viewing locations, the visual image appearing as a virtual image, wherein at least one dimension of the visual image is larger than the magnifying optical element can use to present an image at one of the viewing locations.

System and method for providing images for an operator of a vehicle

A vehicle ( ) has a camera ( ) generating infrared images of a scene ahead, and a display ( ) which reflects images from the vehicle windshield ( ). Images from the camera are displayed at night, and operational information about the vehicle is displayed during the day. The display includes a mirror ( ) with day and night reflective surfaces ( ) that have different optical characteristics and are arranged at an angle. The mirror is pivoted to transition the display unit between modes. In an alternative display ( ), radiation from the two-sided mirror travels directly to a driver, without reflection from a windshield.

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Fairview, TX, United States of America

Alexander L Kormos