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US 9,426,389 B1Granted
Second imaging device adaptable for use with first imaging device and method for using same
AssigneeVectronix AG
InventorsWilliam B. Hornback, Douglas Harwood, Brian Tussey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A second imaging device such as a thermal imager adapted for use with a first imaging device such as an image intensifier night vision goggle system whereby the output image of the second imaging device is collimated and projected upon the objective lens of the first imaging device to provide an optically fused image to the viewer.
Claims21
A device for optically fusing thermal and intensified images of a scene, comprising:
- a first imaging device configured to view ambient light reflected from the scene, the first imaging device having a first objective lens with a first field of view and a center, an image intensifier tube arranged to receive and intensify ambient light from the first objective lens imaged thereon, and at least one eyepiece for viewing the intensified ambient light as the intensified image of the scene;
- and
- a second imaging device removably and adjustably mounted to the first imaging device, the second imaging device configured to view infrared light emitted from the scene, the second imaging device having a second objective lens with a second field of view that is substantially the same as the first field of view, a focal plane array arranged to receive an infrared image of the scene from the second objective lens, an electronic display operably connected to the focal plane array and configured to output a visible representation of the thermal image, and projection optics for receiving the visible representation of the thermal image and projecting it into the first objective lens offset of the center thereof and proximal thereto so that the visible representation of the thermal image is in at least approximate alignment with the intensified image of the scene when viewed through the at least one eyepiece of the first imaging device.
A method of presenting a scene to a viewer, comprising:
- collecting reflected visible ambient light from the scene with a first objective lens having a center, and forming a first image from the collected visible ambient light;
- intensifying the first image to form an intensified first image and then presenting the intensified first image through at least one eyepiece;
- collecting infrared light emitted from the scene with a second objective lens and forming a thermal image;
- converting the thermal image to a visible representation of the thermal image;
- and
- projecting the visible representation of the thermal image into the first objective lens at a location offset from the center of the first objective lens so as to not completely obscure said first objective lens and so as to present, through the at least one eyepiece, the visible representation of the thermal image in alignment with the intensified first image in a fused image.
3 more elements
A device for viewing a scene at visible and infrared wavelengths, comprising:
- a night-vision device configured to receive visible ambient light from a scene with a first objective lens having a center and form an intensified image of the scene using an image intensifier, the intensified image being viewable through at least one eyepiece;
- and
- a thermal imager that is removably mounted to the night-vision device with a mounting device, the thermal imager having a second objective lens and being configured to form a thermal image of the scene at the infrared wavelength and convert the thermal image to a visible representation of the thermal image of the scene using imaging electronics, the thermal imager further including a projector configured to project the visible representation of the thermal image into the first objective lens so that the visible representation of the thermal image and the intensified image can be simultaneously viewed through the at least one eyepiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.