Patent EP0384880A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0384880A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Direct incorporation of night vision in a helmet mounted display
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-20
Abstract
Abstract Helmet mounted display apparatus for use in aircraft and rotorcraft includes an first image source (84) for generating images comprising pilotage symbol information, a second image source (201) for sensing and generating images of the exterior scene, and relay optical components that optically superimpose the two images together and subsequently project the superimposed image into the observer's forward field of view.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph T. Fournier, Jr.
- 👤 Harry R. Mckinley
- 👤 Stephen J. Smith
- 👤 William E. Mclean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:48
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/017; G02B27/0176; A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/0406; A42B3/042; G02B13/00; G02B13/16; G02B23/00; G02B23/12; G02B23/125; G02B27/0101; G02B27/0149; G02B27/0172; G02B2027/0138; G02B2027/0154; G02B2027/0156; G02B2027/0159; G02B27/0179; G02B2027/0187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
Helmet mounted apparatus for use in a display system, comprising: a helmet, adapted to be worn by an observer, having an outer surface with an opening provided in proximity to the eyes of the observer; a first image source disposed on said helmet to provide an image; relay optic means, comprising a plurality of optical components and being disposed on said helmet outer surface, for receiving the image from said first image source at an entrance pupil thereof and for guiding the image along an optical path to an intermediate image focal plane located in proximity to said outer surface opening, said plurality of optical components including a first lens disposed along the optical path at a predetermined distance from said first image source, said relay optic means being adapted to engage an eyepiece; a second image source disposed on said helmet to provide an image; an optical beamsplitter component disposed in the optical path between said first image source and said first lens both to reflect the image provided by said second image source in a direction along the optical path toward said first lens and to transmit the image from said first image source along the optical path toward said first lens, an optical path distance from said second image source to said first lens being equal to the predetermined optical path distance from said first image source to said first lens, said beamsplitter component being so spatially positioned as to effectively superimpose the image from said second image source upon the image from said first image source, the image in proximity to said intermediate image focal plane being a focused form of the superimposed image at said first lens; and eyepiece means for receiving the superimposed image from said intermediate image focal plane at an input aperture thereof and for presenting, in the observer's forward field of view, the superimposed image as focused in the optical path in proximity to said intermediate image focal plane, said eyepiece means being adapted to releasably engage said relay optic means, said eyepiece means, when engaged, receiving the superimposed image from said intermediate image focal plane and presenting the image in the observer's forward field of view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
Helmet mounted apparatus for use in a display system, comprising: a helmet, adapted to be worn by an observer, having an outer surface with an opening provided in proximity to the eyes of the observer; a first image source disposed on said helmet to provide an image; relay optic means, comprising a plurality of optical components and being disposed on said helmet outer surface, for receiving the image from said first image source at an entrance pupil thereof and for guiding the image along an optical path to an intermediate image focal plane located in proximity to said outer surface opening, said plurality of optical components including a first lens disposed along the optical path at a predetermined distance from said first image source, said relay optic means being adapted to engage an eyepiece; a second image source disposed on said helmet to provide an image; an optical beamsplitter component disposed in the optical path between said first image source and said first lens both to reflect the image provided by said second image source in a direction along the optical path toward said first lens and to transmit the image from said first image source along the optical path toward said first lens, an optical path distance from said second image source to said first lens being equal to the predetermined optical path distance from said first image source to said first lens, said beamsplitter component being so spatially positioned as to effectively superimpose the image from said second image source upon the image from said first image source, the image in proximity to said intermediate image focal plane being a focused form of the superimposed image at said first lens; and eyepiece means for receiving the superimposed image from said intermediate image focal plane at an input aperture thereof and for presenting, in the observer's forward field of view, the superimposed image as focused in the optical path in proximity to said intermediate image focal plane, said eyepiece means being adapted to releasably engage said relay optic means, said eyepiece means, when engaged, receiving the superimposed image from said intermediate image focal plane and presenting the image in the observer's forward field of view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first image source is a cathode ray tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second image source is an image intensifying device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more optical components disposed to guide the image from said second image source to said beamsplitter component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 4, wherein said one or more components includes a mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of said beamsplitter component nearest to said first lens is coated with an optical coating having a reflectivity in the range of from eighty to ninety five percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beamsplitter component comprises optical quartz material having a thickness of approximately one millimeter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beamsplitter component comprises a pellicle type beamsplitter component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said eyepiece means includes an optical reflecting component disposed in the observer's forward field of view to reflect, into the observer's forward field of view, the superimposed image as focused at said input aperture, said reflecting component being opaque to the exterior scene image disposed in the observer's forward field of view beyond said reflecting component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical components comprising said relay optic means includes a plurality of lenses of different material composition disposed in proximity to one another, whereby each said lens pair reduces chromatic abberrations of the optical signals that are guided through said lenses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical components comprising said relay optic means includes a mirror disposed to reflect the superimposed image along the optical path in the direction of said intermediate image focal plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The helmet mounted apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the optical path from said entrance pupil to said intermediste image focal plane is in the range of 100 - 400 millimeters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
248 words
Head mounted apparatus for use in a display system, comprising: helmet means, adapted to permit attachment of optical components, having an opening in proximity to the eyes of the observer; first image source means, being self luminous and adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for providing an image, the average brightness of said first image source means being variable over a substantial range of luminance values; second image source means, being self luminous and adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for providing an image, the average brightness of said second image source means being of relatively low luminance; and optic means, adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for presenting a virtual image of said first and second image source means at a focus of from one meter to infinity in the observer's visual field, said optic means including first and second coupling optic means, common relay optic means and two separate interchangeable optical eyepiece means, each said eyepiece means comprising an arrangement of optical components, said common relay optic means comprising an arrangement of optical components common for usage with each said eyepiece means, said common relay optic means being adapted to releasably engage each said eyepiece means, only one of said eyepiece means being engaged to said relay optic means at any time, said first and second coupling optics means comprising means for directing light rays from a corresponding one of said image source means into said common relay optic means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
248 words
Head mounted apparatus for use in a display system, comprising: helmet means, adapted to permit attachment of optical components, having an opening in proximity to the eyes of the observer; first image source means, being self luminous and adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for providing an image, the average brightness of said first image source means being variable over a substantial range of luminance values; second image source means, being self luminous and adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for providing an image, the average brightness of said second image source means being of relatively low luminance; and optic means, adapted to be mounted to said helmet means, for presenting a virtual image of said first and second image source means at a focus of from one meter to infinity in the observer's visual field, said optic means including first and second coupling optic means, common relay optic means and two separate interchangeable optical eyepiece means, each said eyepiece means comprising an arrangement of optical components, said common relay optic means comprising an arrangement of optical components common for usage with each said eyepiece means, said common relay optic means being adapted to releasably engage each said eyepiece means, only one of said eyepiece means being engaged to said relay optic means at any time, said first and second coupling optics means comprising means for directing light rays from a corresponding one of said image source means into said common relay optic means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said common relay optic means optical components includes a first lens disposed in an optical path, the optical path length from said first image source means to said first lens being equal to the optical path length from said second image source means to said first lens, whereby the equal optical path lengths result in both said first and second image source means being optically equivalent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first image source means is disposed along the optical path of said common relay optics means, said second coupling optic means including optical beamsplitter means disposed along the optical path between said first image source means and said first lens of said common relay optic means, said beamsplitter means comprising means for simultaneously reflecting the light rays from said second image source means into the optical path of said common relay optic means and transmitting the light rays from said first image source means along the optical path of said common relay optic means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first image source means comprises a miniature cathode ray tube having an active image diameter in the range of 16 - 25 millimeters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said second image source means comprises an image intensifier device having a input sensing surface for sensing external scenes of low luminance disposed beyond said sensing surface and having an output image surface with an active image diameter in the range of 16 - 25 millimeters, whereby said image intensifier presents a low luminance image of said sensed exterior scene on said output surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said second coupling optic means include optical reflecting means disposed in an optical path following said second image source means, said reflecting means comprising means for folding said second coupling optic means thereby positioning the field of view of said image intensifier device in the observer's visual field, said reflecting means further comprising means for reflecting the light rays from said second image source means along the optical path of said second optic means toward said optical beamsplitter means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said optical reflecting means includes a mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said optical reflecting means includes a prism.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said common relay optic means comprises means for forming an intermediate real image of said first image source means superimposed with said second image source means at a distance of up to 400 millimeters from said first image source means, said intermediate real image having a magnification of from 0.5 to 4.0 times that of both said image provided by said first image source means and said image provided by said second image source means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each said eyepiece means comprises means for presenting a virtual image of said intermediate real image at a focus of from one meter to infinity in the observer's forward visual field.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a first said arrangement of optical components comprising a corresponding one of said eyepiece means is catadioptric, said catadioptric eyepiece comprising partially reflective, partially transmissive optical components for superimposing said virtual image in the observer's view of the external scene, said virtual image occupying a portion of the observer's visual field having a minimum subtense of 10 degrees at the observer's eye, whereby said catadioptric eyepiece is optimized for viewing said first image source means image, said first image source means image being of substantially greater brightness than said second image source means image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said catadioptric eyepiece comprises a partially transmissive, partially reflective plane beamsplitter disposed in front of the observer's eye, and a second partially transmissive, partially reflective curved combiner optical component disposed in front of said plane beamsplitter along the observer's line of sight.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a surface of said combiner nearest to the observer's eye is coated with a partially reflective, partially transmissive optical coating having reflectivity in the range of 20 - 60 percent for visible light in the wavelength range of 400 - 700 nanometers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a surface of said plane beamsplitter farthest from the observer's eye is coated with a partially reflective, partially transmissive optical coating having reflectivity in the range of 20 - 60 percent for visible light in the wavelength range of 400 - 700 nanometers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a secondary surface of each of said plane beamsplitter and said combiner is coated with an antireflective optical coating for visible light in the wavelength range of 400 - 700 nanometers, whereby said antireflective coating reduces spurious reflections of visible light in the wavelength range of 400 - 700 nanometers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said combiner comprises a lightweight glass material such as fused silica.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said plane beamsplitter comprises a lightweight glass material such as fused silica.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said combiner comprises optical plastic material such as polycarbonate or acrylic.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said plane beamsplitter comprises optical plastic material such as polycarbonate or acrylic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the effective focal length of said first coupling optic means together with said common relay optic means optical components and said catadioptric eyepiece optical components is in the range of 15 - 55 millimeters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said catadioptric eyepiece optical components are mounted in a goggle assembly, said catadioptric eyepiece goggle assembly disposed to releasably engage said common relay optic means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a second said arrangement of optical components comprising a corresponding one of said eyepiece means is refractive, said refractive eyepiece comprising a totally reflective plane mirror disposed in front of the observer's eye in the observer's line of sight and at least one lens disposed between the observer's eye and said plane mirror, said plane mirror and said lens disposed to present said intermediate real image into the observer's visual field, said intermediate real image occupying a portion of the observer's visual field having a minimum subtense of 20 degrees at the observer's eye, whereby said refractive eyepiece is optimized for viewing said low luminance superimposed image.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the effective focal length of said second coupling optic means together with said relay optic means optical components and said refractive eyepiece optical components is in the range of 15 - 55 millimeters.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said refractive eyepiece optical components are mounted in a goggle assembly, said refractive eyepiece goggle assembly disposed to releasably engage said relay optic means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the optical path length of said first or second coupling optic means together with said common relay optic means and any engaged one of said eyepiece means is a maximum of 400 millimeters as measured either from said first or second image source means to the observer's eye.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said common relay optic means optical components are comprised of different optical materials so as to control chromatic abberrations of visible light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said different optical materials include fused silica glass and F4 glass.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said different optical materials include acrylic and polycarbonate
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said common relay optic means optical components have spacing therebetween to allow folding of said optic means to conform to the contour of said helmet means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said common relay optic means optical components together with said first image source means and said beamsplitter means are mounted in a modular assembly, said relay modular assembly being attached to an outer surface of said helmet means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said second image source means and a portion of said second coupling optic means from said second image source means up to said beamsplitter means are mounted in a modular assembly, said image intensifier modular assembly being attached to said relay modular assembly, whereby said image intensifier modular assembly is removed from said helmet means and said beamsplitter means is rotated out of the optical path from said first image source means to said first lens of said common relay optic means when the observer desires to view said virtual image superimposed on the observer's view of the external scene using said catadioptric eyepiece engaged to said common relay optic means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
232 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first image source means includes an output image surface positioned for direct optical coupling of said first image source means image to said common relay optic means, said common relay optic means optical components including a plurality of lenses and a plane folding mirror, said catadioptric eyepiece optical components including at least one field lens, said catadioptric eyepiece optical components together with said first image source means output image surface and said common relay optic means optical components having the following optical prescription characteristics and inter-component spacing: Component Type Surface No. Radius (mm) Curve Type Thick/Dist (mm) Mat'l Img Src 1 84 40.000000 CV 61.863200 AIR Lens 85 35.488000 CX 3.000000 F4 Lens 86 21.770000 CV 1.792300 AIR Lens 87 33.991000 CX 6.000000 SIO2 Lens 88 85.875000 CX 21.905600 AIR Lens 89 201.985000 CV 5.500000 SIO2 Lens 90 24.617000 CX 5.209200 AIR Lens 91 175.000000 CX 4.500000 SIO2 Lens 92 54.941000 CX 1.433000 AIR Lens 93 30.044000 CV 3.000000 F4 Lens 94 384.855000 CX 34.294000 AIR Mirror 95 -- -- 19.000000 AIR Lens 96 221.803000 CV 5.000000 SIO2 Lens 97 74.673000 CX 81.356900 AIR Lens 98 2000.000000 CX 5.000000 ACRYL Lens 99 221.803000 CV 33.643100 AIR Beamsplitter 100 -- -- 34.801353 AIR Combiner 101 128.165000 CV 35.941353 AIR Beamsplitter 100 -- -- 3.000000 ACRYL Beamsplitter 102 -- -- 51.420000 AIR 103 -- -- -- --
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
254 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said first image source means includes an output image surface positioned for direct optical coupling of said first image source means image to said common relay optic means, said common relay optic means optical components including a plurality of lenses and a plane folding mirror, said refractive eyepiece optical components including at least one eyepiece lens, said refractive eyepiece optical components together with said first and second image source means output image surfaces and said common relay optic means optical components having the following optical prescription characteristics and inter-component spacing: Component Type Surface No. Radius (mm) Curve Type Thick/Dist (mm) Mat'l Img Src 2 200 40.000000 CV 61.863200 AIR Lens 85 35.488000 CX 3.000000 F4 Img Src 1 84 40.000000 CV 61.863200 AIR Lens 85 35.488000 CX 3.000000 F4 Lens 86 21.770000 CV 1.792300 AIR Lens 87 33.991000 CX 6.000000 SIO2 Lens 88 85.875000 CX 21.905600 AIR Lens 89 201.985000 CV 5.500000 SIO2 Lens 90 24.617000 CX 5.209200 AIR Lens 91 175.000000 CX 4.500000 SIO2 Lens 92 54.941000 CX 1.433000 AIR Lens 93 30.044000 CV 3.000000 F4 Lens 94 384.855000 CX 34.294000 AIR Mirror 95 -- -- 19.000000 AIR Lens 96 221.803000 CV 5.000000 SIO2 Lens 97 74.673000 CX 93.000000 AIR Lens 112 1863.457201 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 113 39.515000 CX 21.000000 AIR Mirror 114 -- -- 20.500000 AIR Lens 115 -- -- 4.000000 ACRYL Lens 116 83.478000 CX 0.500000 AIR Lens 117 39.515000 CX 4.500000 ACRYL Lens 118 -- -- 25.000000 AIR 103 -- -- -- --
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
237 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first image source means includes an output image surface positioned for optical coupling of said first image source means image to said common relay optic means by said first optical coupling means, said common relay optic means optical components including a plurality of lenses and a plane folding mirror, said catadioptric eyepiece optical components including at least one field lens, said catadioptric eyepiece optical components together with said first image source means output image surface, said common relay optic means optical components and said first optical coupling means having the following optical prescription characteristics and inter-component spacing: Component Type Surface No. Radius (mm) Curve Type Thick/Dist (mm) Mat'l Img Src 1 84 40.000000 CV 42.360000 AIR Lens 130 149.880000 CX 3.000000 POLYC Lens 131 53.660000 CV 18.418400 AIR Lens 132 110.449000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 133 57.279000 CX 21.000000 AIR Mirror 134 -- -- 43.000000 AIR Lens 135 316.793000 CX 4.000000 ACRYL Lens 136 316.793000 CX 69.000000 AIR Lens 137 163.725000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 138 42.692000 CX 0.000000 AIR Lens 139 42.692000 CV 2.000000 POLYC Lens 140 135.158000 CX 130.000000 AIR Mirror 141 -- -- 76.000000 AIR Lens 142 65.596000 CV 4.200000 ACRYL Lens 143 55.139000 CX 64.000000 AIR Beamsplitter 144 -- -- 25.300000 AIR Combiner 145 135.158000 CV 26.500000 AIR Beamsplitter 144 -- -- 3.000000 ACRYL Beamsplitter 146 -- -- 47.000000 AIR Beamsplitter 103 -- -- -- --
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
318 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said first image source means includes an output image surface positioned for optical coupling of said first image source means image to said common relay optic means by said first coupling optic means, said common relay optic means optical components including a plurality of lenses and a plane folding mirror, said refractive eyepiece optical components including at least one eyepiece lens, said second coupling optic means comprising optical components including a plurality of lenses, a plane mirror and an optical beamsplitter, said refractive eyepiece optical components together with said first and second image source means output image surfaces, said common relay optic means optical components and said first and second coupling optic means optical components having the following optical prescription characteristics and inter-component spacing: Component Type Surface No. Radius (mm) Curve Type Thick/Dist (mm) Mat'l Img Src 2 200 40.000000 CV 43.208237 AIR Lens 220 149.880000 CX 3.000000 POLYC Lens 221 53.660000 CV 18.472773 AIR Lens 222 110.449000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 223 57.279000 CX 24.000000 AIR Mirror 224 -- -- 33.000000 AIR Lens 225 316.793000 CX 4.000000 ACRYL Lens 226 316.793000 CX 33.000000 AIR Beamsplitter 208 -- -- 36.000000 AIR Lens 137 163.725000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Img Src 1 84 40.000000 CV 42.360000 AIR Lens 130 149.880000 CX 3.000000 POLYC Lens 131 53.660000 CV 18.418400 AIR Lens 132 110.449000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 133 57.279000 CX 21.000000 AIR Mirror 134 -- -- 43.000000 AIR Lens 135 316.793000 CX 4.000000 ACRYL Lens 136 316.793000 CX 69.000000 AIR Lens 137 163.725000 CX 7.000000 ACRYL Lens 138 42.692000 CX 0.000000 AIR Lens 139 42.692000 CV 2.000000 POLYC Lens 140 135.158000 CX 130.000000 AIR Mirror 141 -- -- 114.000000 AIR Lens 173 84.312000 CX 8.000000 POLYC Lens 174 84.312000 CX 23.000000 AIR Mirror 175 -- -- 21.000000 AIR Lens 176 34.836000 CX 5.000000 ACRYL Lens 177 -- -- 24.000000 AIR 103 -- -- -- --
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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