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US 9,674,413 B1Granted
Vision system and method having improved performance and solar mitigation
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsCarlo L. Tiana, Robert D. Brown, Robert B. Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enhanced vision system can be used on a vehicle such as an aircraft. The vision system includes a lens, a sensor array and a chromic layer disposed between the lens and the sensor array. A method can protect a focal plane array associated with an enhanced vision or other sensor from solar exposure. The method includes providing a focal plane sensor array and providing at least one photochromic layer in front of the focal plane array.
Claims20
An enhanced vision system, comprising:
- a lens;
- a sensor array;
- and
- a plurality of photochromic layers disposed in a sequential order, each photochromic layer disposed on a different plane between the lens and the sensor array, wherein a material of each photochromic layer of the plurality of photochromic layers is associated with a temporal response characteristic and a transmittance response characteristic;
- wherein, for each photochromic layer of the plurality of photochromic layers, the transmittance response characteristic is inversely proportional to an intensity of light received by the photochromic layer and proportional to a temperature of the photochromic layer;
- and
- wherein the temporal response characteristic corresponds to a type of light received by the plurality of photochromic layers.
4 more elements
A method of protecting a focal plane sensor array from solar exposure, the method comprising:
- providing the focal plane sensor array;
- and
- providing a plurality of photochromic layers in front of the focal plane array, wherein the plurality of photochromic layers are disposed in a sequential order, each photochromic layer disposed on a different plane, wherein a material of each of the at least one photochromic layer is associated with a first temporal response characteristic and a first transmittance response characteristic;
- wherein the first transmittance response characteristic is inversely proportional to an intensity of light received by the at least one photochromic layer and proportional to a temperature of the at least one photochromic layer;
- and
- wherein the first temporal response characteristic is based on the type of light received by the at least one photochromic layer.
3 more elements
A camera, comprising:
- a sensor array;
- a first photochromic layer having a first material associated with a first temporal response characteristic and a first transmittance response characteristic in response to receiving a first type of light;
- and
- a second photochromic layer having a second material associated with a second temporal response characteristic and a second transmittance response characteristic in response to receiving a second type of light;
- wherein the first photochromic layer and the second photochromic layer are disposed in front of the sensor array in a sequential order with each photochromic layer disposed on a different plane.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.