WO2012170229A1 - Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles - Google Patents
Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2012170229A1 WO2012170229A1 PCT/US2012/039825 US2012039825W WO2012170229A1 WO 2012170229 A1 WO2012170229 A1 WO 2012170229A1 US 2012039825 W US2012039825 W US 2012039825W WO 2012170229 A1 WO2012170229 A1 WO 2012170229A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light
- wavelength
- night vision
- target
- receive
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
- F41G1/00—Sighting devices
- F41G1/32—Night sights, e.g. luminescent
- F41G1/34—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light
- F41G1/35—Night sights, e.g. luminescent combined with light source, e.g. spot light for illuminating the target, e.g. flash lights
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
- G02B23/12—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices with means for image conversion or intensification
- G02B23/125—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices with means for image conversion or intensification head-mounted
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
- G02B23/12—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices with means for image conversion or intensification
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
- H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
- H01J31/50—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output
- H01J31/506—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output tubes using secondary emission effect
- H01J31/507—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output tubes using secondary emission effect using a large number of channels, e.g. microchannel plates
Definitions
- the present invention in general, relates to night vision goggles and, more particularly, the present invention relates to laser target designators for night vision goggles.
- Detecting human targets is a primary task of an infantry soldier.
- Completing this task at night poses peculiar difficulties to the soldier.
- the soldier must be able to see the target and then aim his weapon at the target to ensure hitting the target.
- Soldiers are outfitted with night vision goggles (NVGs) that permit target detection at night.
- NVGs night vision goggles
- the soldier has a laser aiming light mounted on, and boresighted to his weapon.
- the aiming light provides energy at a particular wavelength that the image intensifier (I 2 ) tube in the NVG can detect.
- I 2 image intensifier
- the soldier sees the target with the NVG.
- He also sees the aiming light through his night vision goggle and, thus, can move the aiming light onto the target. Since the aiming light is boresighted with his weapon , he can pull the trigger when viewing the aiming light on the target.
- the aiming light which is sensed by the night vision goggle is not visible to the human eye.
- this combination enabled the advantage of covert operation; e.g. the solder can see the enemy, but the enemy cannot see the soldier.
- the enemy is capable of fielding a night vision goggle that can detect the aiming light. Consequently, covert operation is no longer possible.
- covert operation is no longer possible.
- the enemy can see him and can engage to target him.
- the laser projecting light includes : a laser module for projecting light onto a target.
- the light operates at a wavelength outside of a wavelength band detectable by a night vision goggle system.
- the laser module is removably attached to a weapon system, and is boresighted to the weapon system.
- the light may operate at a wavelength longer than 950 nanometers.
- the light may operate at a short wave infrared (SWIR) wavelength.
- SWIR short wave infrared
- the light may also operate at a wavelength shorter than 400 nanometers.
- a target engagement system including a night vision goggle system operating within a wavelength band, a laser module for projecting light onto a target, the light operating at a wavelength and outside of the wavelength band. Also included is a receive system for receiving the light reflected from the target and converting the light into a wavelength within the wavelength band. The receive system provides the converted light to the night vision goggle system, and the night vision goggle system amplifies the converted light for viewing by a user.
- the receive system includes a clip-on device for removably attaching the receive system between the target and the night vision goggle system.
- the receive system is configured to up-convert the received light into a wavelength detectable by the night vision goggle system.
- the receive system may include a relay objective, a fold mirror and an insertion beam combiner for relaying the received light to the night vision goggle system.
- the receive system may include a fiber optic bundle for relaying the converted light directly into the night vision goggle system.
- the light reflected from the target is invisible to the user, and the converted light is visible to the user.
- Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a target engagement system including a night vision goggle system operating within a wavelength band; a laser module, boresighted to a weapon system, for projecting light onto a target, the light operating at a wavelength outside of the wavelength band detectable by the night vision goggle system; a receive system for receiving light reflected from the target and converting the light into a wavelength within the wavelength band; and a clip-on device for removably disposing the receive system between the target and the night vision goggle system.
- the receive system sends the converted light to the night vision goggle system, and the night vision goggle system amplifies the converted light for viewing by a user.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a covert target designation system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an SWIR receive system coupled to an I 2 night vision goggle system, which forms a part of the covert target designation system of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of another SWIR receive system coupled to an I 2 night vision goggle system, which forms a part of the covert target designation system of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a clip-on receive system
- FIG. 1 there is shown an embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as a covert target designation system 10.
- the system includes two components : an aiming light module 12 that transmits light which is not detectable by Gen II or Gen III night vision goggles and a clip-on detection device 14 that attaches to a night vision goggle system 16.
- a typical light module 12 may include a short wave infrared (SWIR) targeting laser which is boresighted to a soldier's weapon.
- the aiming ligh t module 12 may include a battery, a laser and a collimating lens, packaged as a unit and mounted to the weapon, with the aid of a mechanical device to permit attachment and removal from the weapon.
- the wavelength of the aiming light may be any wavelength longer than 950 nm, It is preferred that a laser be the source of the aiming light, as a laser has a collimated beam, which projects a small spot onto the target at a long range.
- the typical laser sight is mounted on the top of a weapon, or on the bottom of the weapon.
- the laser sight when properly aligned, places a red dot of light on the target, where the bullet will also strike when the gun is fired .
- This type of sight enables the soldier to rapidly position the weapon and verify the desired target.
- Using a laser sight enables accurate shots to be fired at distances of more than 50 feet.
- the SWIR receive system 14 may be a clip-on device which includes a light collection lens, an up-converting phosphor, and either an optical system or a fi beroptic bundle to relay and invert the image for presentation to an input of the I 2 system 16 in the night vision goggle system .
- the SWIR receive system 14 and the I 2 system 16 are shown in greater detail.
- the receive system 14 includes relay objective 20, fiber inverter 21, up-converting phosphor surface 22, mirror 23, relay eyepiece 24, and beam combiner 25.
- the objective lens 20 focuses the received image onto the up-converting phosphor surface 22.
- the up-converting phosphor detects light from the SWIR targeting laser 12 and up-converts the light to a shorter wavelength . That is, by example, if the laser wavelength is 1.55nm, then the phosphor surface detects this energy and outputs light at 810nm wavelength.
- the 1.55nm wavelength cannot be detected by the I 2 system 16, but the 810nm is spectrally positioned near the peak sensitivity of the I 2 system .
- the image formed by the phosphor su rface needs to be inverted, tra nslated and collimated, in order to be observed properly by the night vision device.
- the image inversion is accomplished by depositing an u p -converting phosphor layer onto a fiber optic mod ule.
- the translation and/or the inversion may be accomplished by two fold mirrors 23 and 25, and the collimation is accomplished by a relay eyepiece 24, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the image is presented to the NVG I 2 system 16, which can amplify and output the out-of band laser wavelength to the soldier as part of his nig ht vision scene.
- one of the fold mirrors namely i nsertion beam combiner 25, is coated as a beam spl itter.
- the coating is desig ned to be hig hly reflective at the emission wavelength of the phosphor su rface (for example, 95% reflective at 810nm) and highly transmissive at all other wavelengths.
- the nig ht vision goggle ( NVG) I 2 system 16 is positioned to receive the lig ht reflected from beam combiner 25, includ ing the u p -converted retu rned SWIR energy reflected from the target. Of cou rse, the NVG I 2 system 16 also receives light from the target that is transmitted through beam combiner 25. Thus, if the SWIR receive system 14 is disabled, the NVG system 16 remains operational in order to view a target in the normal night vision scene.
- the NVG I 2 system 16 includes objective lens 26, image intensifier assembly 27 and eyepiece 28.
- the soldier clips the SWIR receive system 14 onto the front of his nig ht vision gogg le.
- the out-of- band laser is turned ON, the sold ier sees a round dot, wherever the laser reflects off a target. He also sees other objects i n the scene by way of the insertion beam combiner 25.
- FIG. 3 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG . 3, which provides increased efficiency when compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
- an u p-converti ng phosphor designated as 32
- 32 may be " pu mped" with light from an LED pu m p 30.
- the LED pump 30 may be placed in a position in which the LED light can strike the up-converting phosphor, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It is desirable that the wavelength of the LED pumping light be blue ( ⁇ 500nm) and , therefore, not be visible to the NVG I 2 system.
- the LED pump may be powered by a battery 31, such as a small
- the pumping of the LED pump may be, optionally (as shown by a
- FIG. 4, i o which functionally illustrates a clip -on receive system 42 that is located on top of, or beside an NVG system 40.
- the clip-on receive system 42 is removably attached to NVG system 40 by way of clips, or hinges, generally indicated as 48.
- the eyepiece lens of the NVG system and the up-converting phosphor layer of the clip-on receive system,
- the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 relocates the relay objective and the phosphor layer, so that they are disposed beside the NVG system
- 25 clip-on device moves the center of gravity further away from the neck, thereby more easily tiring the soldier, when the NVG is used for an extended period of time.
- a fiber optic cable 50 is used, as shown in FIG. 4, to translate the image toward the front of the NVG system from the back of the phosphor plane.
- the fiber optic inverter may be
- optical inversion may be done with the fiber cable that transl ates the image.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Optical Radar Systems And Details Thereof (AREA)
- Telescopes (AREA)
- Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (8)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL12729765T PL2718659T3 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
CN201280028350.8A CN103635773A (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
KR1020147000642A KR101780001B1 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
JP2014514489A JP6100763B2 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Target indication detector clipped to night vision goggles |
CA2836329A CA2836329C (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
EP12729765.3A EP2718659B1 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
AU2012268659A AU2012268659B2 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
IL229406A IL229406A (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2013-11-12 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/156,696 US8735817B2 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2011-06-09 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
US13/156,696 | 2011-06-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2012170229A1 true WO2012170229A1 (en) | 2012-12-13 |
Family
ID=46354467
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2012/039825 WO2012170229A1 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-05-29 | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
Country Status (10)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8735817B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2718659B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6100763B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101780001B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103635773A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2012268659B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2836329C (en) |
IL (1) | IL229406A (en) |
PL (1) | PL2718659T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012170229A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8735817B2 (en) * | 2011-06-09 | 2014-05-27 | Exelis, Inc. | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
US10175030B2 (en) * | 2017-03-13 | 2019-01-08 | Sensors Unlimited, Inc. | Threat detection |
CN108759566B (en) * | 2018-08-23 | 2020-07-07 | 中国人民解放军总参谋部第六十研究所 | Aiming and transmitting integrated transmitter |
FR3097658B1 (en) * | 2019-06-20 | 2022-07-08 | Photonis France | VISION DEVICE OFFERING NIGHT VISION AND DIRECT VISION OF A SURROUNDING SCENE |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020030163A1 (en) * | 2000-08-09 | 2002-03-14 | Zhang Evan Y.W. | Image intensifier and LWIR fusion/combination system |
US20050083567A1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-04-21 | National Research Council Of Canada | Wavelength conversion device with avalanche multiplier |
EP1724623A1 (en) * | 2005-05-18 | 2006-11-22 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Long-wavelength infra-red night vision goggles |
WO2008109978A1 (en) * | 2007-03-13 | 2008-09-18 | Gennadii Ivtsenkov | Cost-effective friend-or-foe (iff) battlefield infrared alarm and identification system |
US20090224154A1 (en) * | 2007-01-18 | 2009-09-10 | Jancic Dale A | Swir vision and illumination devices |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8708846D0 (en) * | 1987-04-13 | 1994-11-30 | British Aerospace | Viewing system |
US5035472A (en) * | 1990-06-20 | 1991-07-30 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Integrated multispectral man portable weapon sight |
US5383200A (en) * | 1993-12-20 | 1995-01-17 | Alliedsignal Inc. | Eye safe laser imaging system |
US6045677A (en) * | 1996-02-28 | 2000-04-04 | Nanosciences Corporation | Microporous microchannel plates and method of manufacturing same |
US8431881B2 (en) * | 2000-09-15 | 2013-04-30 | Kollsman, Inc. | Night vision goggles with pellicle |
US6762884B2 (en) * | 2002-06-05 | 2004-07-13 | Litton Systems, Inc, | Enhanced night vision goggle assembly |
WO2003107040A2 (en) * | 2002-06-17 | 2003-12-24 | International Technologies (Lasers) Ltd. | Auxiliary optical unit attachable to optical devices, particularly telescopic gun sights |
US7302174B2 (en) * | 2003-12-31 | 2007-11-27 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for capturing images using a color laser projection display |
US20060081793A1 (en) * | 2004-01-26 | 2006-04-20 | Microvision, Inc. | Head-worn video display with viewing screen |
US7288679B2 (en) * | 2004-08-06 | 2007-10-30 | Agfa-Gevaert | Device provided with a dedicated dye compound |
IL166042A (en) * | 2004-12-29 | 2014-04-30 | Elbit Systems Ltd | Night vision coloring |
US20060285350A1 (en) * | 2005-06-17 | 2006-12-21 | Bwt Property, Inc. | A Lighting System for Navigational Aids |
US7483213B2 (en) * | 2006-03-24 | 2009-01-27 | Omnitech Partners | Image combining viewer |
US20080060248A1 (en) * | 2006-09-08 | 2008-03-13 | Jerrold Scott Pine | Stealth Laser Sighting System For Firearms |
US8735817B2 (en) * | 2011-06-09 | 2014-05-27 | Exelis, Inc. | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles |
-
2011
- 2011-06-09 US US13/156,696 patent/US8735817B2/en active Active
-
2012
- 2012-05-29 CN CN201280028350.8A patent/CN103635773A/en active Pending
- 2012-05-29 JP JP2014514489A patent/JP6100763B2/en active Active
- 2012-05-29 CA CA2836329A patent/CA2836329C/en active Active
- 2012-05-29 EP EP12729765.3A patent/EP2718659B1/en active Active
- 2012-05-29 KR KR1020147000642A patent/KR101780001B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2012-05-29 WO PCT/US2012/039825 patent/WO2012170229A1/en unknown
- 2012-05-29 AU AU2012268659A patent/AU2012268659B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2012-05-29 PL PL12729765T patent/PL2718659T3/en unknown
-
2013
- 2013-11-12 IL IL229406A patent/IL229406A/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020030163A1 (en) * | 2000-08-09 | 2002-03-14 | Zhang Evan Y.W. | Image intensifier and LWIR fusion/combination system |
US20050083567A1 (en) * | 2003-10-15 | 2005-04-21 | National Research Council Of Canada | Wavelength conversion device with avalanche multiplier |
EP1724623A1 (en) * | 2005-05-18 | 2006-11-22 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Long-wavelength infra-red night vision goggles |
US20090224154A1 (en) * | 2007-01-18 | 2009-09-10 | Jancic Dale A | Swir vision and illumination devices |
WO2008109978A1 (en) * | 2007-03-13 | 2008-09-18 | Gennadii Ivtsenkov | Cost-effective friend-or-foe (iff) battlefield infrared alarm and identification system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2012268659B2 (en) | 2016-05-12 |
CA2836329C (en) | 2017-07-11 |
KR20140034903A (en) | 2014-03-20 |
EP2718659B1 (en) | 2020-09-09 |
PL2718659T3 (en) | 2021-04-19 |
US8735817B2 (en) | 2014-05-27 |
AU2012268659A1 (en) | 2013-11-28 |
CN103635773A (en) | 2014-03-12 |
KR101780001B1 (en) | 2017-09-19 |
IL229406A (en) | 2017-03-30 |
JP6100763B2 (en) | 2017-03-22 |
EP2718659A1 (en) | 2014-04-16 |
CA2836329A1 (en) | 2012-12-13 |
JP2014519011A (en) | 2014-08-07 |
US20120313007A1 (en) | 2012-12-13 |
IL229406A0 (en) | 2014-01-30 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7784192B2 (en) | SWIR vision and illumination devices | |
US7325318B2 (en) | Compact multifunction sight | |
US7225578B2 (en) | Aiming sight having fixed light emitting diode (LED) array and rotatable collimator | |
US9057583B2 (en) | Sight system | |
US20070236384A1 (en) | Cost-effective friend-or-foe (IFF) combat infrared alert and identification system (CID) | |
US20120097741A1 (en) | Weapon sight | |
US20070209268A1 (en) | Laser rangefinder sighting apparatus and method | |
EP2676098B1 (en) | Fire-control system | |
AU2002228568B2 (en) | Two aligning devices and an alignment method for a firing simulator | |
CA2836329C (en) | Clip-on target designation sensor to night vision goggles | |
US20100273131A1 (en) | Laser transmitter for simulating a fire weapon and manufacturing method thereof | |
CN217383990U (en) | Sighting telescope and laser ranging module thereof | |
US7434346B2 (en) | Sighting device for a firearm and firearm with an installation possibility for a sighting device | |
WO2023113869A2 (en) | Automatic multi-laser bore-sighting for rifle mounted clip-on fire control systems | |
CA2549727C (en) | Cost-effective friend-or-foe (iff) battlefield infrared alarm and identification system | |
US20200404194A1 (en) | Reflex sight incorporating an infrared camera | |
KR101538733B1 (en) | Apparatus for protecting laser with electronic control in target optical | |
EP1346187B1 (en) | A device, a use and a method for tracer stream simulation |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 12729765 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2836329 Country of ref document: CA |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2012268659 Country of ref document: AU Date of ref document: 20120529 Kind code of ref document: A |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2014514489 Country of ref document: JP Kind code of ref document: A |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 20147000642 Country of ref document: KR Kind code of ref document: A |