US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Kyle R Bryant

Richard J Heimer

Colin E Reese

An optical assembly uses a plastic prism with one flat surface and a collimating lens optic to provide the capability of imaging a color micro-display to the eye. The collimating optic and flat prism surface can allow for aberration-free diopter adjustment and an image with very low-magnitude, nearly-symmetric distortion. The collimating optic can also provide environmental protection of the prism involving an optical plastic device. The input illumination from the micro-display enters the prism, is reflected two times within the prism, exits the prism, and passes through the collimating optic before being viewed by the eye. Such an optical assembly can provide a field of view with eye-relief and exit pupil when viewing a full-color micro-display.

Near eye display prism optic assembly

A common-aperture, multispectral device uses a folded beamsplitter to simultaneously image near infrared (NIR) and long wave infrared (LWIR) spectral bands. The folded-path optical design makes the sensor extremely compact and lightweight without compromising the F/# or field of view. The design is split into two channels; a NIR channel and a LWIR channel. A Zinc Sulfide environmental window provides the input to the device. The input first is split into the two channels via a Germanium (Ge) beam-splitter. For the NIR Channel, the input is focused directly onto a faceplate through a series of optics. For the LWIR Channel, the input is focused onto the Ge window via a folded design including a first Ge lens, a fold mirror, and then a second Ge lens. From the faceplate of the NIR channel and the Ge window of the LWIR channel, the input is then processed by respective focal planes.

Common-aperture multispectral objective

A multi-spectral objective lens comprising a primary lens for receiving light reflected from an object, the light including wavelengths in the SWIR and LWIR spectral bands, and optical elements spaced from the receiving means for simultaneously imaging the SWIR light in one focal plane and the LWIR light in another focal plane, thereby allowing real-time image and sensor fusion.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Kyle R Bryant