US 8,297,173 B1Granted

Modular weapon video display system

AssigneeWilcox Industries Corp.

InventorsJames W. Teetzel, Justin D. Harris, Linwood B. Davis, Marvin S. Carter, Ferdinand N. Ahlberg, Dominic R. Goupil

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Abstract

An improved modular video display system for a weapon having a video display module that can accommodate multiple camera inputs. The video display module contains a video control panel and human-viewable display screen, which enables the operator to switch between viewing and controlling a thermal sight and a left and right rotating camera. The video display module and cameras are powered by a power supply, which is electrically coupled to the weapons accessory devices, once each device is mounted on the modular rails. The cameras are connected to the video display module and the weapons operator may select either a thermal display using the thermal sight or an image display of the left or right using the left and right rotating camera. The control panel enables the operator to personalize the display screen in order to best suit their current situational needs with controls for camera select, reticle style, reticle color, reticle intensity, bore sight keys, black hot/white hot image select, digital zoom, and display brightness. In conjunction with the modular video display system additional accessory devices may be used, such as laser sights, spotting scopes, and handgrip units.

A modular video display system for mounting on a weapon of a type having a barrel and a mounting rail system, said modular video display system comprising:

a first camera for generating a first video signal;
a first fastener connected to said first camera, said first fastener for removably attaching said first camera to a first position on said mounting rail system;
said first camera having an optical axis which is parallel to the barrel of the weapon when the first camera is attached to the first position on the mounting rail system;
a second camera for generating a second video signal;
a second fastener connected to said second camera, said second fastener for removably attaching said second camera to a second position on said mounting rail system, the second position being different from the first position;
said second camera having an optical axis and being pivotable between a first pivoted position and a second pivoted position, wherein the optical axis of the second camera extends in a first direction which is generally perpendicular to the barrel of the weapon when the second camera is attached to the weapon and pivoted to the first pivoted position and a second direction which is opposite the first direction when the second camera is attached to the weapon and pivoted to the second pivoted position;
a display module removably attachable to the weapon and including a video display screen, said display module adapted to selectively receive the first video signal via a first transmission link between the first camera and the video display module and the second video signal via a second transmission link between the second camera and the video display module for display on the video display screen;
a third fastener connected to said display module, said third fastener for removably attaching said display module to a third position on said mounting rail system which is different from the first position and the second position;
and
a power supply electrically coupled to said first camera, said second camera, and said display module.

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Abstract

Claims17