US4755664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Night vision systems
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
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Filing: 1986-07-23
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Granted: 1988-07-05
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Expires: 2006-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle night vision system comprising a headgear mounted night vision goggle 11 incorporating an image intensifier which produces an intensified image of a scene forward of the goggle superimposed on a user's direct view of the scene through the goggle wherein the intensity of the image produced by the intensifier is reduced when the user views a vehicle interior display via the goggle to prevent interference with the user's direct view of the display through the goggle.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy H. Holmes
- 👤 David G. Irwin
- 👤 David F. Waghorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/12; G02B23/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A night vision system for a vehicle comprising: a headgear mounted night vision goggle having a combiner eyepiece through which a wearer of the headgear is able to view a scene forward of the goggle and image intensifier means for projecting into the said eyepiece an intensified image of said forward scene for transmission via said eyepiece to an eye of the wearer; a viewing zone in the vehicle interior in which is presented a display to be viewed by a wearer of the headgear during the operation of the vehicle; a radiation source operable to emit radiation in a waveband substantially outside the visible portion of the spectrum; a sensor responsive to radiation emitted by said source and arranged so as to receive radiation from said source substantially only when the wearer is viewing said viewing zone through said goggle; and means for controlling the intensity of said intensified image in response to the output of said sensor so that when the sensor is receiving radiation from said source the intensity of said intensified image is reduced to a level sufficient not to interfere substantially with the helmet wearer's view of the viewing zone through said eyepiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A night vision system for a vehicle comprising: a headgear mounted night vision goggle having a combiner eyepiece through which a wearer of the headgear is able to view a scene forward of the goggle and image intensifier means for projecting into the said eyepiece an intensified image of said forward scene for transmission via said eyepiece to an eye of the wearer; a viewing zone in the vehicle interior in which is presented a display to be viewed by a wearer of the headgear during the operation of the vehicle; a radiation source operable to emit radiation in a waveband substantially outside the visible portion of the spectrum; a sensor responsive to radiation emitted by said source and arranged so as to receive radiation from said source substantially only when the wearer is viewing said viewing zone through said goggle; and means for controlling the intensity of said intensified image in response to the output of said sensor so that when the sensor is receiving radiation from said source the intensity of said intensified image is reduced to a level sufficient not to interfere substantially with the helmet wearer's view of the viewing zone through said eyepiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is mounted on said night vision goggle and said source is mounted in a fixed position relative to said viewing zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein the radiation emitted by said source is confined to a solid angle which is not less than a solid angle subtended by an area of sensor motion at the position of said source, and said sensor is receptive only to radiation from said source within a solid angle not greater than a solid angle subtended by said viewing zone at the position of said sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said source emits radiation in a waveband substantially invisible to said image intensifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said radiation is infra-red radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said radiation is radiation in the waveband 800 to 1400 nM.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a photo-transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said source comprises an incandescent lamp associated with a filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the intensity comprises a power supply regulator connected between said image intensifier means and a power supply for said image intensifier means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said display presented in said viewing zone is a display presented by a head-up display unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-05 | 1992-01-04 | 1992-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-05 | 1996-01-04 | 1996-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-05 | 2000-01-04 | 2000-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |