US4722028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Night vision compatible and sunlight readable, lighted, word indicating pushbutton switch and indicator
Assignee: STACO SWITCH Inc A CORP OF DE
•
Filing: 1986-06-10
•
Granted: 1988-01-26
•
Expires: 2006-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A pushbutton switch having an illuminated display or other instrumentation data or control display device is made compatible both with unassisted night time vision of the display as well as vision assisted by a night vision imaging system or night vision goggles. The display is backed with a plurality of selectively activated light sources. Each light source is characterized by a spectral range. At least one of the light sources has a spectral range compatible with the night vision imaging system. At least another one of the light sources has a spectral range compatible with unassisted night vision. In the preferred embodiment, the light source is comprised of a conventional incandescent bulb disposed within a domed glass filter. The domed glass filter has a spectral transmissivity which is compatible with the night vision imaging system. In particular, the filter has a transmissivity approximately equal to either ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, or Yellow. The light source compatible with unassisted night vision is comprised of a conventional incandescent bulb disposed in a domed filter having a spectral transmissivity within the red portion of the spectrum. The display may be selectively illuminated by any one of the ANVIS colors, a combination of the ANVIS colors, or by the red night light. Therefore, every displayed instrumentation device within the cockpit of an aircraft may be immediately converted from conventional night vision illumination to one compatible with night vision goggles.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Brannon
- 👤 James F. Gust
- 👤 Henry Castro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D11/00; G01D11/28; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H13/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box; a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; wherein at least one other one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity in a wavelength range compatible with uansssisted night vision, and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box; a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; wherein at least one other one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity in a wavelength range compatible with uansssisted night vision, and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box; a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision, wherein at least one half of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system, and wherein each of the remaining one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity and wavelength range compatible with unassisted night vision.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box; a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, including selectively illuminating all of said plurality of filter elements for daytime vision, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems unassisted night vision and daytime vision, wherein at least one half of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system, and wherein each of the remaining one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity and wavelength range compatible with unassisted night vision.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter element has a spectral transmissivity characterized by a selected one of the colors, ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, and ANVIS Yellow.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems, wherein one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements are characterized by distinct spectral transmissivities compatible with said night vision imaging system, and with unassisted night vision, wherein at lest one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements is characterized by spectral transmissivity compatible with unassisted daylight vision.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for selectively illuminating a display for compatible unassisted night vision illumination and illumination for a night vision imaging system, comprising: a light box a plurality of three-dimensional filter elements disposed in said light box, said light box disposed behind said display, at least one of said three-dimensional filter elements having a predetermined spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system; and means for selectively illuminating said plurality of said three-dimensional filter elements, whereby said apparatus illuminates said display in compatible manner with night vision imaging systems, wherein one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements are characterized by distinct spectral transmissivities compatible with said night vision imaging system, and with unassisted night vision, wherein at lest one of said plurality of three-dimensional filter elements is characterized by spectral transmissivity compatible with unassisted daylight vision.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Green A.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Green B.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one three-dimensional filter element has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to ANVIS Yellor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for illumination of a display for unassisted daylight vision, unassisted night vision, and vision with a night vision imaging system comprising: a plurality of light sources; a corresponding plurality of individual filter elements disposed over each light source, light being emitted by said light source and transmitted through said corresponding filter element, the transmitted light being characterized by the spectral transmissivity of each corresponding filter element, at least one of said filter elements being characterized by a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system and at least one other one of said plurality of filter elements having a spectral transmissivity compatible with a selected one of said daytime vision and unassisted night vision; a light box for receiving said plurality of filter elements and light sources contained within said filter elements, said light box characterized by an internal reflecting surface; and means for embodying said display opposing said plurality of filter elements and light sources disposed within said light box, whereby a single apparatus is provided for illumination of said display under variable spectral vision illumination conditions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for illumination of a display for unassisted daylight vision, unassisted night vision, and vision with a night vision imaging system comprising: a plurality of light sources; a corresponding plurality of individual filter elements disposed over each light source, light being emitted by said light source and transmitted through said corresponding filter element, the transmitted light being characterized by the spectral transmissivity of each corresponding filter element, at least one of said filter elements being characterized by a spectral transmissivity compatible with said night vision imaging system and at least one other one of said plurality of filter elements having a spectral transmissivity compatible with a selected one of said daytime vision and unassisted night vision; a light box for receiving said plurality of filter elements and light sources contained within said filter elements, said light box characterized by an internal reflecting surface; and means for embodying said display opposing said plurality of filter elements and light sources disposed within said light box, whereby a single apparatus is provided for illumination of said display under variable spectral vision illumination conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of filter elements is a glass domed filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of said filter elements has a spectral transmissivity approximately equal to a selected one chosen from ANVIS Green A, ANVIS Green B, and ANVIS Yellow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of filter elements is a glass domed filter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least another one of said plurality of filter elements has a spectral transmissivity compatible with unassisted night vision.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for selectively providing illumination of a display with a selected spectral range compatible with a night vision imaging system, unassisted daytime vision, and unassisted night vision, comprising the steps of: selectively activating the light source enclosed within a three dimensionally shaped filter, said filter having a selected spectral transmissivity corresponding to said night vision imaging system; selectively illuminating a second light source enclosed within said three dimensionally shaped filter disposed adjacent to said display, said second filter having a spectral transmissivity compatible with said unassisted night vision; and selectively activating both said first and second light sources to illuminate said display with a spectral range compatible with said unassisted daytime vision.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for selectively providing illumination of a display with a selected spectral range compatible with a night vision imaging system, unassisted daytime vision, and unassisted night vision, comprising the steps of: selectively activating the light source enclosed within a three dimensionally shaped filter, said filter having a selected spectral transmissivity corresponding to said night vision imaging system; selectively illuminating a second light source enclosed within said three dimensionally shaped filter disposed adjacent to said display, said second filter having a spectral transmissivity compatible with said unassisted night vision; and selectively activating both said first and second light sources to illuminate said display with a spectral range compatible with said unassisted daytime vision.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1666041A
Cited
GB580427A
Cited
US2751584A
Cited
US3473015A
Cited
US4318158A
Cited
US4535396A
Cited
US4479173A
Cited
US4559582A
Cited
US4614316A
Cited
US4581683A
Cited
US4580196A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-25 | 1991-07-27 | 1992-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-25 | 1995-07-27 | 1996-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-25 | 1999-07-27 | 2000-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |