Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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OPTICAL-ELECTRONIC SIGHTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ITS OPERATION
Technical Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates in general to sighting systems for firearms, and
more
particularly relates to optical sights in conjunction with wireless video
cameras and wireless head
mounted displays permitting the user to view a scene and to target the firearm
either through the
optical sight or from a safety position using a display remotely located from
the video camera and
the firearm.
Background
Video targeting and remotely monitoring systems for use with firearms are well
known in
the art. Over the years, various techniques and devices have been developed to
help a person
accurately detect, recognize, identify, aim, and engage targets from a
position of safety.
U.S. Pat. No. 2359032 describes such a video control system which remotely
aims and fires
a gun. The system includes a television camera, mounted on the weapon, and a
television receiver
remotely located from the gun. All components of the system are connected
through wires and
supplied by a battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,621 describes a video camera mounted at the rear end of a
gun sight so
that the target is observed and aimed through the viewfinder of the camera.
The main object of
the invention is to monitor "live" the shooting action or to play back a
recording of the shooting
action. The invention does not include a remotely monitoring device.
Operations in an urban environment are particularly hazardous for attacking
soldiers.
Enemy soldiers are usually well camouflaged and, therefore, the attackers are
forced to expose
themselves around corners, in windows, etc. There are a number of new sighting
systems, which
do support urban operations. While the benefits of these aiming sights are
well known, soldiers
still have to expose themselves when acquiring targets. Over the past 15
years, therefore, army
has investigated the use of weapon-mounted sensors and helmet mounted sights
to overcome this
risk. With only the arms exposed to enemy fire, such indirect or video
shooting offers significant
improvements to survivability and lethality for the soldier. A number of
soldier modernization
programs have incorporated a video sighting system into their future soldier
system ensemble. A
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video sighting system includes a video camera mounted to the rifle barrel of
the soldier's personal
weapon, which can be used to remote the sight image to a
Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). By using a video sighting system soldiers can
limit the duration
and extent of exposure to enemy fire by remaining behind cover while observing
the field of fire
through their video sight.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,786,966; 4,884,137; 4,970,589; 5,005,213; and 5,200,827,
describe a
complex video sighting system including a video camera mounted on the weapon
for aiming and
monitoring the target, and a helmet mounted display (HMD) on which the image
is holographically
presented and which also includes a sight reticle superimposed on the image of
the target so that
the soldier can aim the weapon by moving it until the target displayed by the
HMD is aligned with
the sight reticle. The video signal is transmitted from the camera to the
display through a wireless
means. However, the system is complex and does not enable soldiers to maintain
their situation
awareness in rapidly changing pace of battle.
US Pat No 5,834,676 describes a system which enables a user to aim a weapon
and monitor
the actions of a person from a position of safety relative to a location to be
monitored. It includes
an imager mounted on the weapon for generating video images of the location
and person being
monitored. It further includes a viewer for receiving the video images
generated by the imager so
as to be viewed by the user, which viewer is adapted to be worn by the user.
It also includes
elements for electronically connecting the imager to the viewer, for receiving
the video images of
the location generated by the imager, processing the video images, and
directly transmitting the
processed video images to the viewer for viewing by the user of the location
and person being
monitored. An inconvenient of this system is that the all components a
connected through wires
and also, the system does not enable soldiers to maintain their situation
awareness.
Systems like the abovementioned ones are inefficient when speed and aggression
are keys
in the assault. According to the military researches, in such kind of
situations, the optical sight is
preferred for its speed and ease of target detection and engagement and for
enabling the soldier
to maintain their situation awareness in rapidly changing pace of battle.
Thus, soldiers were able
to detect targets in urban streets three times faster with the optical sight
than with the video sight
and, in wooded and in-building terrain, participants were twice as fast at
detecting targets with
the optical sight over the video sight. On the other hand, the video sight and
remotely monitoring
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system offers advantages in static defensive positions for minimizing
detection by the enemy,
where the high speed-zoom capability can be employed effectively, and in close
quarter battle
situations in complex urban terrain where survivability risks can be reduced
at dangerous crossing
areas and in buildings.
From the foregoing, a need has arisen for a firearm sighting system which
includes both
optical and electronic sighting options. While the above cited references
introduce and disclose a
number of noteworthy advances and technological improvements within the art,
none completely
fulfills the specific objectives achieved by this invention.
Summary Of The Invention
In accordance with the present invention, an optical-electronic sighting
system and method
of its operation are disclosed which substantially eliminate or reduce the
problems associated with
the prior art techniques, enabling the user to detect, recognize, identify,
aim and engage targets
either through the OPS or using a HMD-W remotely located from video cameras
and the firearm.
Thus, the input end of the OPS receives from the area of observation the image
of the target to be
monitored or aimed through its objective lens assembly. The image is optically
transmitted and
magnified by a prism assembly and an eyepiece assembly of the OPS. The
eyepiece assembly of
the OPS forms an exit pupil image at a point to the rear of it. This is the
point with which the pupil
of the user's eye or the MWVC's objective lenses should be aligned for best
viewing of the virtual,
erect and magnified images of the monitored or aimed target. This sighting
system allows the user
to engage targets both through the OPS and through the HMD-W remotely located
from the OPS.
When the targets are engaged through the HMD-W, the MWVC is coupled to the
eyepiece
assembly of the OPS with the aid of a CNT. The exit pupil image formed by the
OPS's eyepiece
assembly is received by the objective lenses of the MWVC. The MWVC converts
the optical images
in electronic signals and sends them to the MWVT. The MWVT processes the
electronic signals
received from MWVC and transmits them wireless to the HMD-W. The HMD-W
converts the
electronic signals in video images and displays them to the user. When the
targets are engaged
through the OPS, the MWVC is uncoupled from the OPS's eyepiece assembly with
the aid of a CNT
and the image formed by the OPS's eyepiece assembly is received directly by
the pupil of the
user's eye. The HMD-W is activated and deactivated by the user through a MD-
Swt placed either
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on the firearm, on the CNT, or on the HMD-W. Optionally, the sighting system
can include a
SWVC-T which can be adjusted for the same frequency with HMD-W; SWVC-T has the
same
features like the MWVC. The SWVC-T is carried separately by the user. The SWVC-
T enables the
user to monitor the target when the use of the MWVC for monitoring the target
is unsafe. The
SWVC-T receives the image of the target from the area of observation, converts
the optical images
in electronic signals and sends the signals to its own transmitting unit. The
SWVC-T has a SD-Swt
which is activated as long as it is kept pressed by the user. When the SD-Swt
is kept pressed and
the MD-Swt is OFF, the HMD-W displays the images generated only by SWVC-T.
When the MD-Swt
is ON, the HMD-W displays the images generated by the MWVC.
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a
modular optical-
electronic sighting system for firearms which combines an optical sight for
firearms with wireless
video cameras and a wireless head mounted display, system developed to enable
a person
accurately to detect, recognize, identify, aim and engage targets either
through the optical sight,
for maintaining the situation awareness, or from a position of safety using a
display remotely
located from the video cameras and the firearm.
Another object of this invention is to provide a MWVC, adapted to be mounted
at the rear
end of the OPS, for generating video images of the target being monitored and
aimed through the
OPS.
Another object of this invention is to provide a SWVC-T, adapted to be carried
separately
by the user for enabling the user to monitor the target when the use of the
MWVC for monitoring
the target is unsafe.
Another object of this invention is to provide a HMD-W, adapted to be worn
over the left
or right eye of the user, for viewing the video images generated by the MWVC
and SWVC-T.
Another object of this invention is to provide a MWVT, adapted to be mounted
on the
firearm or on the fixed part of the CNT, for receiving, processing and
transmitting wireless video
images from MWVC to HMD-W.
Another object of this invention is to provide a CNT, adapted to be mounted on
the OPS,
for enabling the user to monitor and aim targets either through the OPS or
through the HMD-W.
The CNT consists of two parts: the first part is fixed to the OPS and can
include the MWVT and
batteries; the second part is mobile and includes the MWVC. When the two parts
are uncoupled,
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the user aims the target directly through the OPS. When the two parts are
coupled, the MWVC
takes over the images from the OPS, and the user aims the target indirectly
through the HMD-W.
Another object of this invention is to provide a MD-Swt for activating and
deactivating the
HMD-W. The MD-Swt can be mounted either on the firearm, on the CNT, or on the
HMD-W.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent throughout the
specification and
claims hereinafter related.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
A more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above is
available from
the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and discussed in further
detail below.
Through this reference, it can be seen how the above cited features, as well
as others that will
become apparent, are obtained and can be understood in detail. The drawings
nevertheless
illustrate only typical, preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to
be considered
limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the connector as mounted on the optical
sight of the
rifle, a perspective view of the wireless head (helmet) mounted display as a
eyeglasses with a
monocular viewing system integrated within the eyeglass lens, a side view of
the connecting unit
with the two parts coupled or uncoupled, a side view of the second wireless
video camera with a
swivel head, and a side view of a military firearm comprising an optical sight
and a connector
mounted on the optical sight of the rifle.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the optical path through the optical sight of
the present
invention.
FIG. 3 shows a side view of a military firearm comprising an optical sight
with a connector
mounted on the optical sight of the rifle, in which the two parts of the
connector are coupled.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of a military firearm comprising an optical sight
with a connector
mounted on the optical sight of the firearm, in which the two parts of the
connector are
uncoupled.
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Detailed Description Of The Invention
The principles and concepts of the invention are best understood by referring
first to FIG.1.
The optical-electronic sighting system, according to the invention, includes
an OPS (1) mounted on
a conventional military rifle (2), a CNT (3), a MWVT (4), a MWVC (5), a HMD-W
(6), a MD-Swt (7),
and, optionally, a SWVC-T (8) with SD-Swt (20). The target to be monitored or
aimed is shown in
FIG. 2 as a tree (9). Thus, as shown in FIG.2, the input end of the OPS (1)
receives the image of the
target (9) to be monitored or aimed through an objective lens assembly (10).
The image is optically
transmitted and magnified by a prism assembly (11) and an eyepiece assembly
(12) of the OPS.
The eyepiece assembly of the OPS forms an exit pupil image at a point to the
rear of it. This is the
point with which the pupil of the user's eye or the MWVC objective lenses
should be aligned for
best viewing of the virtual, erect and magnified images (9") of and the
monitored or aimed target.
This optical-electronic sighting system allows the user to engage targets both
through an OPS and
through a HMD-W remotely located from the OPS. When the targets are engaged
through the
HMD-W, as shown in FIG.3, the MWVC is couplet to the eyepiece assembly of the
OPS with the aid
of a CNT. The exit pupil image formed by the OPS's eyepiece assembly is
received by the objective
lenses of the MWVC. The MWVC converts the optical images in electronic signals
and sends them
to the MWVT. The MWVT processes the electronic signals received from MWVC and
transmits
them wireless to the HMD-W. The HMD-W converts the electronic signals received
from the
MWVT in video images and displays them to the user. When the targets are
engaged through the
OPS, as shown in FIG.4, the MWVC is uncoupled from the OPS's eyepiece with the
aid of a CNT and
the image formed by the OPS's eyepiece assembly is received directly by the
pupil of the user's
eye. The HMD-W is activated and deactivated by the user through a MD-Swt
placed either on the
firearm, on the CNT, or on the HMD-W.
The user can carries separately a SWVC-T which can be adjusted for the same
frequency
with HMD-W, and which has the same features like the MWVC. The SWVC-T has a SD-
Swt. The
SWVC-T enables the user to monitor the target when the use of the MWVC for
monitoring the
target is unsafe. The SWVC-T receives the image of the target from the area of
observation,
converts the optical images in electronic signals and sends the signals to its
own wireless
transmitting unit; the own wireless transmitting unit sends the signal
wireless to the HMD-W by
using the SD-Swt. The SWVC-T is ACTIVATED as long as the SD-Swt is kept
pressed by the user and
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the MD-Swt is OFF. When the SWVC-T is ACTIVATED, the HMD-W displays the images
generated
by SWVC-T and transmitted wireless by its own transmitter to the HMD-W. When
the MD-Swt is
ON, the HMD-W displays only the images generated by the MWVC.
More particularly, referring to FIG. 2, the optical system of the OPS
comprises an objective
lens assembly (10), a prism assembly (11), an eyepiece assembly (12) and a
reticule assembly (13).
Parallel rays of light from a point on a distant target strike the surface of
the objective lens
assembly (10). The rays pass through the lens and, by refraction, are caused
to converge so that
they form a totally inverted image of the distant target in the image plane.
The converging rays
emerge from the objective lens assembly (10) travelling towards the prism
assembly (11). The rays
pass through the incident face of the prism assembly (11) to the reflective
surfaces of the prism
assembly (11). The rays strike the surfaces and are totally reflected
internally. The reflected rays
travel toward the emergent face of the prism assembly (11). The converging
rays of light exit the
prism assembly (11) travelling toward the eyepiece assembly (12). Also, the
eyepiece assembly
(12) receives the diffused light rays from the reticule assembly (13). The
correcting lens (14) of the
eyepiece assembly (12) receives the diverging rays from the reticule assembly
(13) and the
reflected rays from the reflecting surfaces of the prism assembly (11). The
rays pass through the
correcting lens (14) and, by refraction, are caused to be less divergent,
without affecting the
characteristics of the image. The correcting lens (14) improves the field of
view and eliminates all
aberrations. The divergent rays emerge from the correcting lens (14)
travelling toward the field
lens (15) of the eyepiece assembly (12). The diverging rays from the
correcting lens (14) strike the
surface of the field lens (15). They pass through the lens and, by refraction,
are caused to be less
divergent from one another while having no effect on the characteristics of
the image. The
diverging rays emerge from the field lens (15) travelling toward the eye-lens
(16) of the eyepiece
assembly. The eye-lens (16) receives the diverging rays from the field lens
(15). They pass through
the lens and, by refraction, they emerge from the lens still slightly
divergent from one another.
The emergent rays form an exit pupil image (9") at a point to the rear of the
eyepiece assembly
(12). This is the point with which the pupil of the user's eye or the MWVC's
objective lenses should
be aligned for best viewing of the virtual, erect and magnified images (9") of
target (9). The image
(9") can be viewed by the user either directly by his/her eye, or indirectly
through the HMD-W.
These options are obtained using the CNT.
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Referring to FIG. 1, CNT (3) consists of two parts that can be coupled or
uncoupled either
by sliding or by rotating around a hinge (17). The first part (18) is fixed to
the OPS (1) and includes
two batteries' (21) cases, and can includes also one MWVT (4) case. The second
part (19) is mobile
and includes the MWVC (5). When mobile part (19) is uncoupled (flip-up or
slide-up) from fixed
part (18), the user aims the target directly through the OPS (1). When the
mobile part (19) is
coupled (flip-down or slide-down) to the fixed part (18), the exit pupil image
formed by the OPS's
eyepiece assembly is received by the objective lenses of the MWVC (5).
The MWVC is a miniaturized wireless CCD colour video camera with reduced size
and
weight and which performs consistently after the shock of weapon firing. The
MWVC is a low-
range high resolution wireless camera with high resolution and magnification
minimum X2 optical.
The zoom has both capabilities: automatic high-speed zoom adjustment and
manually zoom
adjustment which can be continuous or stepped. Best compromise is a manual two-
stage lens
system, unmagnified - magnified image. Also, the MWVC includes: high-sensitive
automatic and
manual iris adjustment; automatic and manual gain control; automatic and
manual contrast
adjustment and images stabilization; night vision capability with both Image
Intensification and
Thermal System; Red Dot Aiming system, which is switchable between day and
night use, or laser
range finder; and text-on-screen superimposed over the image to produce aiming
reticule on the
HMD-W. The MWVC converts the optical images received from OPS in electronic
signals and sends
them to the MWVT.
The MWVT processes the electronic signals received from MWVC and transmits
them
wireless to the HMD-W.
The HMD-W converts the electronic signals received from MWVT in video images
and
displays them to the user. HMD-W is a monocular high quality display featuring
Bluetooth wireless
technology and includes: high resolution, minimum 800(H) x 600(V) x RGB;
display type 0.49 inch
1.44 million pixel LCD; Virtual Image Size 44' viewed at 2m; Eye Relief 25 mm;
fast refresh frame-
rate video signal. The HMD-W can be: integrated eyewear; see-through prism
display; transparent
virtual retina display; holographic display; off-head tablet display; or
Bluetooth short-range digital
wireless viewer with minimum 12-bit qVGA color display.
The HMD-W is activated and deactivated by the user through a MD-Swt () placed
either on
the firearm, on the CNT, or on the HMD-W.
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Referring to FIG. 1, the user can carries separately a SWVC-T (8) which can be
adjusted for
the same frequency with HMD-W (6), and which has the same features like the
MWVC (5). The
SWVC-T (8) has a SD-Swt (20). The SWVC-T enables the user to monitor the
target from a position
of safety when the use of the MWVC for monitoring the target is unsafe. The
SWVC-T receives the
image of the target from the area of observation, converts the optical images
in electronic signals
and sends the signals to the own transmitting unit. The own transmitting unit
processes the
electronic signals received from the SWVC-T and transmit them wireless the HMD-
W by using the
SD-Swt. The SWVC-T is ACTIVATED as long as the SD-Swt is kept pressed by the
user and the MD-
Swt is OFF. Only when the SWVC-T is ACTIVATED the HMD-W displays the images
generated by
SWVC-T. When the MD-Swt is ON, the SWVC-T is DEACTIVATED, and the HMD-W
displays the
images generated by the MWVC.
Although one embodiment has been illustrated and described in detail, it will
be
understood that various substitutions, additions, modifications and
alterations are possible
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as
defined by the following
claims.
