# US 5,353,134 A · Weapon aiming device

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- Number: US 5,353,134 A
- Document ID: US5353134A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/978,775
- Filed: 1992-11-19
- Granted: 1994-10-04
- Earliest claimed: 1991-11-19
- Assignees: Thomson-CSF
- Inventors: Claude Michel; Jean-Pierre Le Pesant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5353134A

## CPC

- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- F41G 3/165: {using a TV-monitor}
- G02B 27/017: {Head mounted}
- G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features}
- G02B 27/32: Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system
- G02F 1/1333: Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)
- G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
- G02F 1/1347: Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
- G02F 1/29: for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
- G02B 2027/0132: {comprising binocular systems}
- G02B 2027/0138: {comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera}
- G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems}
- G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)}
- G02B 2027/0187: {slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye}
- G02B 2027/0198: {System for aligning or maintaining alignment of an image in a predetermined direction}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

Material made up of a thin layer between two surfaces, a first and a second, to be used as the third layer of a transparent goggles face, the first layer being a screen and the second layer being a thickness layer, remarkable in that the material consists of a formable transparent polymer matrix having a refractive index and containing micro-cavities in the form of lenses, the micro-cavities being made from a transparent material different from that of the matrix, the refractive index of the material of the micro-cavities changing under the influence of an electric field applied across it, for a first field value the refractive index being equal to that of the matrix, and for a second field value being greater than that of the matrix, a pair of electrodes being associated with each micro-cavity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control system for a barreled weapon, comprising: substantially transparent goggles including
(a) first layer of transparent material having opposite surfaces, the material having its optical characteristics alterable under the influence of a changeable electric field applied thereacross;
(b) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross;
(c) a third layer, spaced from the first layer and having opposite surfaces and an intermediate transparent polymer matrix therebetween in which micro-cavities are enclosed which serve as micro-lenses having optical axes perpendicular to the two third layer surfaces;
(d) the micro-cavities made from a transparent material different from that of the polymer matrix and having refractive indices which are selectably changeable in response to changes in an electric field passing between the two third layer surfaces;
(e) the material of the micro-cavities having the same refractive index as the matrix material for a first electric field value, and a greater refractive index than the matrix material for a second electric field value;
(f) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the third layer surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross;
(g) a second intermediate layer interposed between the first and third layers and fabricated from a transparent polymer;
means located on the weapon for measuring the direction in which it is pointed;
means for receiving direction measurement data;
means connected to a receiving means output for communicating direction measurement data to a computer; and
communication means for linking an output of the computer to the electrode arrays.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the receiving means is mounted to the goggles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the layers includes moveable indicia representing the direction in which the goggles are facing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system set forth in claim 3 wherein the goggles further comprise means for sensing the direction in which the goggles are facing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system set forth in claim 4 wherein the sensing means comprises a magnetometer and an inclination meter.