US4530010A — Dynamic infrared scene projector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A dynamic infrared scene projector including first and second infrared light sources, first and second condenser optics, and projection optics for projecting cinematic, two-dimensional spatially distributed scene data to an infrared sensor, the improvement comprising: first and second optical modulators, each comprising means for exhibiting hysteretic behavior in an optical property as a function of a stimulus for storing frames of the scene data and for modulating incident infrared light, and an optical framing switch for controlling the storage of said scene data frames on the first and second optical modulators and the presentation of scene data frames to the sensor.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A dynamic infrared scene projector including first and second infrared light sources, first and second condenser optics, and projection optics for projecting cinematic, two-dimensional spatially distributed scene data to an infrared sensor, the improvement comprising: first and second optical modulators, each comprising means for exhibiting hysteretic behavior in an optical property as a function of a stimulus for storing frames of the scene data and for modulating incident infrared light, and an optical framing switch for controlling the storage of said scene data frames on the first and second optical modulators and the presentation of scene data frames to the sensor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 1 wherein said first and second optical modulators comprise a film of vanadium dioxide deposited on an optical substrate material, said film comprising means for exhibiting substantial changes in transmittance and reflectance of infrared light as a function of temperature for storing said scene data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 67 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 1 wherein said framing switch comprises means for creating successive conjugate focal planes in register with respective ones of said optical modulators and in alignment with said projection optics, and wherein said first and second optical modulators include surfaces oriented perpendicularly in said conjugate focal planes of the projection optics created by the presence or absence of the framing switch.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 3 wherein said optical framing switch comprises a semicircular annulus oriented at a 45° angle to the surfaces of said optical modulators, said annulus having front and back mirrored surfaces.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The infrared scene projector of claim 4 wherein said semicircular annulus comprises means for rotating in and out of a cone of light collected by the projection optics that has been transmitted through said first and second optical modulators for controlling presentation of the scene data frames.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The infrared scene projector of claim 4 including a modulated laser beam and wherein said semi-circular annulus comprises means for rotating in and out of the regions scanned by said modulated laser beam to control the recording of scene data for storage alternately on said first and second optical modulators.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 1 further including an erase/rebias means for erasing the frames of scene data from the first and second optical modulators and for rebiasing the first and second optical modulators to receive subsequent frames of the scene data.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 7 wherein the erase/rebias means includes a pair of nozzles for discharging liquified gas over the first and second optical modulators for erasing the scene data.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 8 further including a bandpass filter to define an infrared frequency band to be projected into said sensor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 131 words

A dynamic infrared scene projector including infrared light source means, condenser optics means, and projection optics for projecting cinamatic two-dimensional, spatially distributed scene data to an infrared sensor, the improvement comprising: first and second optical modulators, each comprising means exhibiting a hysteretic behavior in an optical property as a function of a stimulus for storing frames of the scene data and for modulating incident infrared light, an optical framing switch for controlling the storage of said scene data frames on the first and second optical modulators and the presentation of scene data frames to the sensor, and an erase/rebias means for erasing the frames of scene data from the first and second optical modulators and for rebiasing the first and second optical modulators to receive subsequent frames of the scene data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 131 words

A dynamic infrared scene projector including infrared light source means, condenser optics means, and projection optics for projecting cinamatic two-dimensional, spatially distributed scene data to an infrared sensor, the improvement comprising: first and second optical modulators, each comprising means exhibiting a hysteretic behavior in an optical property as a function of a stimulus for storing frames of the scene data and for modulating incident infrared light, an optical framing switch for controlling the storage of said scene data frames on the first and second optical modulators and the presentation of scene data frames to the sensor, and an erase/rebias means for erasing the frames of scene data from the first and second optical modulators and for rebiasing the first and second optical modulators to receive subsequent frames of the scene data.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 52 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 10 wherein said first and second optical modulators comprise a film of vanadium dioxide deposited on an optical substrate material, said film comprising means for exhibiting substantial changes in transmittance and reflectance of infrared light as a function of temperature for storing said scene data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector claim 10 wherein said framing switch comprises means for creating successive conjugate focal planes in register with respective ones of said optical modulators and in alignment with said projection optics and wherein said first and second optical modulators includes surfaces oriented perpendicularly to define a plane axis in said conjugate focal planes of the projection optics created by the presence or absence of said framing switch.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 12 wherein said optical framing switch comprises a semicircular annulus oriented at a 45° angle to the surfaces of said optical modulators, said annulus having front and back mirrored surfaces.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The infrared scene projector of claim 13 wherein said semicircular annulus comprises means for rotating in and out of a cone of light collected by the projection optics that has transmitted through said first and second optical modulators for controlling presentation of the scene data frames.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 50 words

The infrared scene projector of claim 14 including a modulated laser beam and wherein said semi-circular annulus comprises means for rotating in and out of the regions scanned by said modulated laser beam to control the recording of scene data for storage alternately on said first and second optical modulators.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The dynamic infrared scene projector of claim 10 further including a bandpass filter to define an infrared frequency band to be projected into said sensor.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for projecting prerecorded cinematic, two-dimensional, spatially distributed scene data from a dynamic infrared scene projector to an infrared sensor, comprising the steps of: modulating an infrared light beam as a function of the prerecorded scene data; scanning the beam in a two-dimensional pattern to record (write) the scene data for storage in a frame-by-frame manner on first and second optical modulators capable of modulating incident infrared light; and projecting the stored scene data frames from the first and second optical modulators in an alternating manner to produce a flicker-free image presented to the sensor.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for projecting prerecorded cinematic, two-dimensional, spatially distributed scene data from a dynamic infrared scene projector to an infrared sensor, comprising the steps of: modulating an infrared light beam as a function of the prerecorded scene data; scanning the beam in a two-dimensional pattern to record (write) the scene data for storage in a frame-by-frame manner on first and second optical modulators capable of modulating incident infrared light; and projecting the stored scene data frames from the first and second optical modulators in an alternating manner to produce a flicker-free image presented to the sensor.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 17 further including the step of erasing the frame of scene data on the first optical modulator while the frame of scene data on the second optical modulator is being projected into the sensor.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 18 wherein the erasure of the scene data is accomplished by lowering the temperature of the first optical modulator below a predetermined temperature.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 18 further including the step of rebiasing the first optical modulator while the frame of scene data on the second optical modulator is being projected into the sensor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 20 wherein the rebiasing of the first optical modulator is accomplished by raising the temperature of the first optical modulator to a predetermined bias temperature.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 21 further including the step of writing a new frame of scene data into the first optical modulator while the frame of scene data on the second optical modulator is being projected into the sensor.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the writing of said new frame of scene data is accomplished by varying the intensity of the scanned beam across the surface of the first optical modulator to produce stored spots of varying contrast.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the new frame of scene data on the first optical modulator is projected onto the sensor while the frame of scene data on the second optical modulator is erased.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 24 wherein the second optical modulator is rebiased and a new frame of scene data is recorded (written) thereon while the frame of scene data on the first optical modulator is being projected into the sensor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the stored scene data is projected into the sensor by projecting with optical components infrared radiation (light) that has been transmitted through the first and second optical modulators.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-07-15	1989-01-14	1989-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-07-15	1993-01-14	1993-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-07-15	1997-01-14	1997-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dynamic infrared scene projector

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