Thermal sight trainer
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsAlbert H. Marshall, Bon F. Shaw
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simulated thermal sight utilizes a computer to store digitized video data erived from photographs of actual thermal images. The computer inserts video images formed from the data into optical telescopes, via a miniature TV and mirror system, to simulate a thermal image for a trainee. An IR detector and emitter, whose location corresponds to the apparent location of the thermal image, are used to measure aim error and provide an input to the computer.
Claims14
An apparatus for simulating a thermal sight comprising:
- a telescopic sight;
- means for transmitting infrared radiation (IR) movably positioned within view of said sight;
- means for sensing said IR boresighted to said sight and having an output in accordance therewith;
- means for inserting pseudo-thermal images into said sight;
- means for controlling the position of said transmitting means and coordinating said inserting means with said sensing means to present a pseudo-thermal image in said sight corresponding to the position of said transmitting means in relation to said sight, having an input from said sensing means, an output to said inserting means, and an output to said transmitting means.
An apparatus for simulating a thermal sight comprising:
- a terrain board having therein a slot of predetermined width and configuration;
- a fiber optic bundle extending through said terrain board via said slot, having a definite direction of propagation of light transmitted therethrough,
- a source of infrared radiation cooperatively positioned to provide IR for transmission through said terrain board via said fiber optic bundle;
- means for moving said fiber optic bundle about said terrain board within said slot;
- a telescopic sight;
- means for sensing said IR transmitted via said fiber optic bundle mounted on said telescopic sight and having an output from which said sight's optical alignment with said bundle may be determined;
- a miniature television picture tube, having an input and located proximal said telescopic sight, whereby images may be produced;
- mirror means for reflecting images produced by said television tube cooperatively positioned therefor;
- beam splitter means for combining light from said terrain board with images reflected from said mirror to form a composite scene to be viewed through said telescopic sight;
- and
- computer means receiving an input from said sensing means and having an output to said TV tube and said moving means, programmed to calculate deviations in said telescopic sight's optical alignment with said fiber optic bundle and to control said moving means, having stored within an internal memory digitized TV images for output to said TV tube in accordance with said calculated deviation.
A method of training in the use of an infrared sight comprising the steps of:
- making video recordings of thermal images presented by operational infrared sights;
- selecting desired aspect angles and particular images for use in training;
- converting video data corresponding to said selections into digital data;
- storing said digital data in a computer memory;
- moving an IR source on a modelboard under the control of said computer;
- sensing said IR source proximal a telescopic sight;
- determining the deviation of said IR source from the optical axis of said sight;
- generating video images from said digital video data;
- and
- inserting said generated video into said sight in correspondence with said IR source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.