Digital image overlay in image intensified and day sight system
AssigneeQioptiq Limited
InventorJames Babington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical system for overlaying a first image of a scene and a second image includes a first imaging device providing the first image, a second imaging device with an image display and collimation optics providing the second image, and a waveguide. The waveguide has a first diffraction grating configured to receive the first image, a second diffraction grating configured to receive the second image, and a guide portion disposed between the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating configured to convey the second image to the first grating. The first diffraction grating is configured to overlay the first image and the second image.
Claims13
An optical system for overlaying a first image of a scene and a second image of the scene, comprising;
- a first imaging device comprising a first objective lens providing the first image;
- a second imaging device comprising a second objective lens an image display, and collimation optics providing the second image;
- and
- a waveguide comprising:
- a first diffraction grating configured to receive the first image;
- a second diffraction grating configured to receive the second image;
- and
- a guide portion disposed between the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating configured to convey the second image to the first grating,
- wherein the first diffraction grating is configured to overlay the first image and the second image.
The system as claimed in 1, wherein the second imaging device comprises a a thermal camera.
The system as claimed in 9, wherein the second imaging device and the collimation optics operate at one times magnification.
A method for combining a first image and a second image with a planar waveguide comprising a first coupler to a first diffraction grating in optical communication with the waveguide and a second coupler to a second diffraction grating in optical communication with the waveguide, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first image of a scene by a first objective lens of a first imaging device:
- receiving a second image of the scene by a second objective lens of a second imaging device;
- receiving the first image from the first imaging device by a first input coupler to the first diffraction grating;
- receiving the second image from the second imaging device by a second input coupler to the second diffraction grating;
- conveying the second image from the second diffraction grating to the first diffraction grating via the waveguide;
- and
- overlaying the second image and the first image to produce a combined image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.