Wide angle sighting apparatus

Claim 2

In an aircraft control system, the combination of: a. a source of a narrow beam of light mounted on the aircraft; b. means for projecting said beam of light out of said aircraft along a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft; and c. viewing means fixed with respect to and moveable with the pilot''s line of vision for enabling said pilot to distinguish the point of impact of said beam on terrain flown over by said aircraft while moving his line of vision without causing optical aberrations affecting orientation of said point of impact with respect to said terrain whereby said point of impact will constitute an aiming point.

Claim 3

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense beam of substantially monochromatic light; b. reflecting means for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain with respect to which said aircraft has a predetermined attitude; c. light viewing means moveable with the pilot of said aircraft and interdicting the sight of one eye of said pilot to permit him to maintain unimpaired observation of said spot while performing normal functions; and d. said light viewing means including means for enhancing visibility of said spot against the terrain background whereby said pilot sees said spot as a bright spot on the terrain.

Claim 4

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense beam of substantially monochromatic light; b. reflecting means for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain with respect to which said aircraft has a predetermined attitude; c. light viewing means moveable with the pilot of said aircraft and interdicting the sight of one eye of said pilot to permit him to maintain unimpaired observation of said spot while performing normal functions; and d. said light viewing means including means for enhancing visibility of said spot against the terrain background whereby said pilot sees said spot as a bright spot on the terrain.

Claim 5

image intensifier means amplifying the laser infrared radiation reflected from said spot, and

Claim 6

image intensifier means amplifying the laser infrared radiation reflected from said spot, and

Claim 7

image intensifier means amplifying the laser radiation reflected from said spot; f. said image intensifier means being pulsed synchronously with said laser means to enhance contrast between said spot and said background.

Claim 8

image intensifier means amplifying the laser radiation reflected from said spot; f. said image intensifier means being pulsed synchronously with said laser means to enhance contrast between said spot and said background.

Claim 9

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. laser means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense pulsed beam of substantially monochromatic light; b. adjustable reflecting means for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft; c. means responsive to flight parameters of said aircraft for determining the proper direction and for driving said means for directIng to align said beam so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain representing the ground point to which said aircraft has a predetermined orientation at any time; d. light viewing means interdicting the sight of one eye of the pilot and being fixed with respect to said eye to permit said pilot to observe said spot while performing normal functions without causing optical aberrations affecting the location of said spot on said terrain; e. said light viewing means including:

Claim 10

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. laser means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense pulsed beam of substantially monochromatic light; b. adjustable reflecting means for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft; c. means responsive to flight parameters of said aircraft for determining the proper direction and for driving said means for directIng to align said beam so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain representing the ground point to which said aircraft has a predetermined orientation at any time; d. light viewing means interdicting the sight of one eye of the pilot and being fixed with respect to said eye to permit said pilot to observe said spot while performing normal functions without causing optical aberrations affecting the location of said spot on said terrain; e. said light viewing means including:

Claim 11

infrared viewing means converting said reflected laser infrared radiation to energy frequencies visible to said pilot whereby said pilot sees said spot as a bright spot on the terrain; f. said image intensifier means being pulsed synchronously with said laser means to enhance contrast between said spot and said background.

Claim 12

infrared viewing means converting said reflected laser infrared radiation to energy frequencies visible to said pilot whereby said pilot sees said spot as a bright spot on the terrain; f. said image intensifier means being pulsed synchronously with said laser means to enhance contrast between said spot and said background.

Claim 13

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. laser means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense pulsed beam of substantially monochromatic light in the infrared spectrum; b. reflecting means gimballed about two axes for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft; c. automatic computing means responsive to flight parameters of said aircraft for determining the proper direction and for driving said means for directing according to such determination to direct said beam so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain with respect to which said aircraft has a predetermined orientation at any time; d. light viewing means interdicting the sight of one eye of the pilot and being mounted for movement with said pilot to permit said pilot to observe said spot while performing normal functions without causing optical aberrations which would affect the said orientation of the aircraft; e. said light viewing means including:

Claim 14

Airborne wide angle sighting apparatus for an aircraft control system comprising: a. laser means attached to an aircraft for generating a narrow, intense pulsed beam of substantially monochromatic light in the infrared spectrum; b. reflecting means gimballed about two axes for directing said beam out of said aircraft in a predetermined direction with respect to said aircraft; c. automatic computing means responsive to flight parameters of said aircraft for determining the proper direction and for driving said means for directing according to such determination to direct said beam so that impact of said beam with the terrain over flown illuminates a spot on said terrain with respect to which said aircraft has a predetermined orientation at any time; d. light viewing means interdicting the sight of one eye of the pilot and being mounted for movement with said pilot to permit said pilot to observe said spot while performing normal functions without causing optical aberrations which would affect the said orientation of the aircraft; e. said light viewing means including: