Litton Systems, Inc.

Other

Opex Systems, Inc.

Rodney Lynn Doster

Antonio V Bacarella

Timothy B Hogan

Timothy Everett Ostromek

Jeffrey C Short

Joseph P Estrera

Roland M Morley

Jose Joaquin Aizpuru

Danny Robert Schoening

Kenneth W Sauter

Jerry Porter

Michael R Saldana

Timothy R Beystrum

Michael D Waterman

Robert F Lund

William R Boryshuk

Allan B Lewis

Ryan Little

The invention discloses a selectable offset image wedge assembly and various methods for making and for use with any optical system having a circular lens and an objective, comprising a housing with a rear-facing end that mounts onto the objective and a forward-facing end with a circular wedge lens mounted therein that is coaxially aligned with the circular lens of the optical system, wherein, the wedge is adjustable to any predetermined clocking position after detachment from the optical system, allowing quick and repeated reattachment to the optical system to an approximately exact vertical orientation of a first image produced by the wedge lens and a second image produced by the circular lens of the optical system.

Selectable offset image wedge

The present invention relates to an offset image wedge for use on a bore-sighted rifle that does not need to be exactly accurately mounted to the rifle because the offset image wedge is mounted directly onto the scope via a clamping mounting device and aligned optically by rotating the clamping mounting device on the scope until dual displayed images overlay each other. The offset image wedge allows for a dual image which allows it to be aligned in the field, and it allows for the user to choose either a bore-sighted image or an offset image without removing the wedge. This dual image capability is accomplished by having a wedge with a smaller diameter than the outer perimeter of the objective lens of the scope of the rifle. The use of a smaller diameter wedge allows the objective lens of the scope to continue to operate normally while the wedge delivers the offset image at the same time.

Offset image wedge with dual capability and alignment technique

A night viewer () is adaptable to generate an enhanced image suitable for viewing through an optical scope (). An input end () of the viewer () receives the image to be enhanced through an objective lens (). An image enhancing unit () enhances the image. The enhanced image is optically transmitted from a display () to the ocular lens () of the scope (). The display () is operably connected with the image enhancing unit () to display the enhanced image. A Risley prism () located in an image path () is used to controllably adjust and to maintain boresight alignment ().

Clip-on night vision device

An image intensification camera system (C) for gathering image data includes an image intensifier () for amplifying received light (). A relay optic assembly () is coupled between the image intensifier () and a digital image sensor (), such as a CMOS or CCD device. Digital logic () is used to process or output an image or related data ().

Digitally enhanced image intensification camera

An InGaAs Image Intensifier ('I2') Camera (C) detects and forms an image () to be viewed. An InGaAs photocathode Image Intensifier () is used to pass an amplified signal () from a screen (). The InGaAs image intensification tube () is optically coupled () to an imaging device () for passing output light. The output light () from the InGaAs tube () is transformed by an electronic circuit () producing a desired signal output (). The signal output () from the electronic circuit () may be further enhanced into an enhanced signal output (). The enhanced signal output may be formatted into a form for viewing or may be saved.

InGaAs image intensifier camera

A system (S) for combining multi-spectral images of a scene includes a channel ( ) for transmitting a scene image ( ) in a first spectral band. A separate, second detector ( ) senses the scene in a second spectral band. The second detector ( ) has an image output that is representative of the scene. A display ( ) displays an image ( ) in the second spectral band. A beam mixer ( ) combines the image output ( ) in the first spectral band with the displayed image ( ), and conveys the combined multi-spectral images to an output ( ) for a user (U).

Enhanced night vision goggle assembly

A system (S) for mounting and aligning a detector (D) about an observation instrument ( ) includes a first detector ( ) movably coupled to the observation instrument ( ) off an axis of observation centerline ( ) for the observation instrument ( ). A retainer ( ) is mounted with the observation instrument ( ) to secure the first detector ( ) to the observation instrument ( ). The retainer ( ) permits rotatable movement of the first detector ( ) about the axis of observation centerline ( ). The retainer ( ) also preferably includes an attachment point ( ) for mounting the first detector ( ) to the retainer ( ). The first detector ( ) should be adjustable at least about an axis ( ) essentially perpendicular to the axis of the observation centerline ( ) for the observation instrument ( ).

Method and system for mounting a detector

An integrated night vision device and laser range finder provides both night-time and day-time imaging by use of an image intensifier tube, as well as providing laser range finding operations both day and night. In a laser range finder mode of operation the device projects a pulse of laser light into a scene being viewed, and a power supply and laser range finder circuit of the device temporarily utilizes the image intensifier tube as a sensor to detect reflected laser light. During laser range finding, imaging is cut off for a very short time interval. Also, during imaging operations, the power supply and laser range finder circuit operates the image intensifier tube in a unique way in order to provide both improved automatic brightness control (ABC) and improved bright-source protection (BSP). The ABC and BSP functions are coordinated with the laser range finding function in order to prevent interference by the ABC or BSP functions with laser range finding operations.

Integrated night vision device and laser range finder

A machine vision apparatus (24) and method are provided which allows imaging by or with the aid of artificial observation devices, such as video cameras, binoculars, telescopes, and other optical observation devices (10) which have an objective lens (12) passing light from an object or scene being viewed to a focal plane (18) at which is located a surface (22) which is at least partially reflective. Conventionally, such optical observation devices provide a retro-reflective light return into the scene being observed. Such a light return from an observation device can be detrimental, for example, to certain experimental results, or to the accuracy of machine vision (i.e., imaging) employed in robotic manufacturing tools.

Machine vision

An iris recognition apparatus (12a) and method includes a camera (22) for imaging the human retina as seen through the pupil. The reflective retina and pupil are imaged as a luminous or retro-reflective spot located in a field of view (26). A direction to the spot (i.e., the retina spot at the pupil within the iris) in the field of view is determined, and a fine-focus video camera (48) is directed along this direction to capture an image of the iris surrounding the pupil of the eye. The captured iris image can be used for unique and individual identification of the human whose eye is imaged using known data storage, retrieval, and comparison methods.

Growing community of inventors

Garland, TX, United States of America

Rodney Lynn Doster