Flir Systems, Incorporated

Stewart W Evans

Raul Krivoy

Charles C Warner

John R Rae

Scott A Foster

Michael W Burke

Anca G Williams

A gimbal system, including components and methods of use, configured to track moving targets. More specifically, the disclosed system may be configured to orient and maintain the line of sight ('los') of the gimbal system toward a target, as the target and, in some cases, the platform supporting the gimbal system are moving. The system also may be configured to calculate an estimated target velocity based on user input, and to compute subsequent target positions from previous positions by integrating the estimated target velocity over time. A variety of filters and other mechanisms may be used to enable a user to input information regarding a target velocity into a gimbal controller.

Gimbal positioning with target velocity compensation

An infrared (IR) camera and associated electronics including power are systems, including devices and methods, for infrared imaging that can be switched or reprogrammed to produce or display at least two images associated with at least two temperature ranges.

Portable radiometry and imaging apparatus

An infrared (IR) camera and associated electronics including power are integrated into portable, self-contained, vision-enhancement apparatus useful in environments of dense air-borne particulate and thermal extremes such as encountered in fire fighting situations, in accordance with the invention. The IR camera is integral with a self-contained power supply so that the system is portable and requires no umbilical cord or other external connections. The camera includes an imager that is preferably an un-cooled focal plane array, and associated imaging, storing, processing and displaying electronics that are cooled in the extreme thermal environment using an integral plural phase heatsink.

A head-up display, an IR camera and associated electronics including power are integrated into portable, self-contained, wrap-around, face-worn vision-enhancement apparatus useful in environments of dense air-borne particulate and thermal extremes such as encountered in fire fighting situations, in accordance with the invention. Reflective and opaque lenses are provided at approximately eye level for IR, vision display and blinding purposes, respectively, to produce a clear bright picture of a scene otherwise obscured by darkness or obscurants. The IR camera is integral with wrap-around system along with a self-contained power supply so that the system is portable and requires no umbilical cord or other external connections. An optical axis of the IR camera and an axis describing the user's virtual line of sight through the viewing eye converge at a nominal arm's length in front of the user's viewing eye, e.g. 3 feet away. The imager is preferably an un-cooled focal plane array and associated imaging, storing, processing and displaying electronics are cooled in the extreme thermal environment using an integral plural phase heatsink. The apparatus is separate from, but compatible with, helmets and SCBA gear worn by the user so that it can easily be installed and removed by an individual user. Extended hands-free operation is provided in a lightweight package providing enhanced vision via color-coded temperature banding for display purposes, the color coding being performed in microprocessor-based firmware that forms part of the electronics. The apparatus may be temporarily affixed via a clip to the brim of a helmet and may be easily shifted on the user's face from its normal night-vision position to a temporary stowed position in front of the forehead whereby the user has virtually unobstructed binocular vision.

Growing community of inventors

Keizer, OR, United States of America

Stewart W Evans