US3760181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal viewer for far infrared
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1972-03-03
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1992-03-03
Abstract
Abstract The viewer is an all solid-state device employing diode detectors and display diodes of the light emitting type. Mechanical-optical scanning is employed to economize on diodes and to avoid the use of tube scanners. Novel optical arrangements are provided particularly in the IR portion of the device to provide a broad range of operation with a minimum of critical optical components. The image quality is maximized by a special configuration of the diode arrays and novel processing techniques of the analog electrical signals generated.
Inventors
- 👤 P Daly
- 👤 Derlaske D Van
- 👤 H Orlando
- 👤 J Perry
- 👤 W Grogg
- 👤 S Layman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; H04N3/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In an infrared viewing system wherein a plurality of detector diodes are scanned with an infrared image and wherein each resultant diode output signal is processed by a separate channel including at least one amplifier receiving power and at least one amplifier receiving gain bias from at least one d.c. source with each channel output applied to a separate display device: a first manually controlled attenuating means coupled between said d.c. source and said channel amplifiers to vary the d.c. voltage supplied to said amplifiers; a second manually controlled attenuating means coupled between said d.c. source and said channel amplifiers to vary a common bias control signal to each of said amplifiers, whereby the average brightness of said display device and the gain of said amplifiers can be independently controlled; a separate tunable filter coupled between each of said channel amplifiers and its display device; and a single tuning means gang coupled between all of said filters to tune each to the same cutoff frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In an infrared viewing system wherein a plurality of detector diodes are scanned with an infrared image and wherein each resultant diode output signal is processed by a separate channel including at least one amplifier receiving power and at least one amplifier receiving gain bias from at least one d.c. source with each channel output applied to a separate display device: a first manually controlled attenuating means coupled between said d.c. source and said channel amplifiers to vary the d.c. voltage supplied to said amplifiers; a second manually controlled attenuating means coupled between said d.c. source and said channel amplifiers to vary a common bias control signal to each of said amplifiers, whereby the average brightness of said display device and the gain of said amplifiers can be independently controlled; a separate tunable filter coupled between each of said channel amplifiers and its display device; and a single tuning means gang coupled between all of said filters to tune each to the same cutoff frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An infrared viewing system according to claim 1 wherein said detector diodes have a vertical height greater than the vertical spacing between next adjacent diodes and are mounted on a series of flat support members joined end to end with the centers of said support members tangent to the curved field of said infrared image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A viewing system according to claim 1 wherein: said filters are low-pass filters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A viewing system according to claim 1 wherein: said filters are high-pass filters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A viewing system according to claim 1 wherein: a pair of separate tunable filters are coupled between each of said channel amplifiers and its display device, one a high-pass type and the other being a low pass type, and a separate single tuning means is gang coupled between all of said filters of the same type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A viewing system according to claim 1 wherein the infrared image is formed by a lens system including: an objective lens to focus images at moderate ranges; and an afocal lens having substantially identical configured ends reversibly mounted with its optical axis collinear with the optical axis of said objective lens whereby said lens system can be converted to either a wide angle close range system or a narrow angle long range system depending on which of said identically configured ends is adjacent said objective lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A viewing system according to claim 6 wherein said afocal lens is mounted for at least 180* rotation about an axis perpendicular to said optic axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A viewing system according to claim 6 wherein adjustable means interconnect said objective and afocal lenses to translate one relative to the other independently in three onthogonal directions and to independently adjust the azimuth and elevation angles of said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A viewing system according to claim 8 wherein said afocal lens is mounted for at least 180* rotation about an axis perpendicular to said optical axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A viewing system according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said means to translate and one of said means to rotate the optic axis of said afocal lens is motorized for remote control application.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1669128A
Cited
US1705993A
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US1891297A
Cited
US3508051A
Cited
US3699341A
Cited
US3641348A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |