L3harris Technologies, Inc.

Eric Ramsey

Jon D Burnsed

Jacob J Becker

James A LeBeau

A nightvision system includes an underlying device that provides output light in a first spectrum. A transparent optical device transmits light in the first spectrum from the underlying device through the transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes an active area of a semiconductor chip. The active area includes active elements that cause the underlying device to detect light from the underlying device and transparent regions formed in the active area which are transparent to the light in the first spectrum to allow light in the first spectrum to pass through from the underlying device to a user. An image processor processes brightness maps produced using light detected by the first plurality of active elements. A tunable filter array coupled to the image processor filters at least a portion of the input light into the underlying device the underlying device based on brightness map processing.

Semi-transparent detector array and spatially tunable filter array

An apparatus and method are provided for a night vision system including a transparent overlay display that transmit direct-view light representing an intensified image and emits display light representing a display image. To reduce the communication bandwidth with an external controller, a frame buffer is provided to locally update pixel values of the display image, at a first frame rate. Because many pixel values remain unchanged from frame to frame, an external controller may change the pixel values stored in the frame buffer as needed, reducing the amount of information that is needed from the external controller to control the display image. Additionally, to reduce the communication bandwidth the display information may be communicated from the external controller using a high-level language. Further, some of the display information may be determined using a local processor, rather than relying on the external controller for the display information.

Apparatus and method for simplifying a control interface of a night vision system using bi-directional detector/display overlay

An optical system has an underlying device configured to provide output light. A transparent optical device optically coupled to the underlying device transmits light from the underlying device through the transparent optical device to display a scene. The transparent optical device includes detector elements formed in an active area to detect light portraying at least a portion of the scene. The underlying device has transparent regions formed in the active area to allow light to pass through from the underlying device to a user. The optical system further includes an image processor that processes images produced using light detected by the detector elements to identify a specific instance of light in the scene. The image processor causes display elements in the active area of the transparent optical device to display an indicator, in the scene, correlated to the specific instance of light.

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Londonderry, NH, United States of America

Eric Ramsey