Low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system
By using a low-cost pure optical anti-rotation system and traditional optical element Behring prism, the problems of high cost and low reliability of low-light night vision equipment have been solved, enabling effective night vision for day and night observation and harsh environments.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing low-light night vision equipment is costly, unreliable, and susceptible to stray light interference in complex environments, making it difficult to meet the day and night observation needs of modern battlefields.
It adopts a low-cost pure optical image rotation correction system, which realizes image rotation correction and day and night observation functions through a three-channel conversion mechanism and traditional optical element Behring prism, avoiding the high-value-added control board software method.
It enables low-cost, reliable day and night observation, improves night vision distance, adapts to harsh environments, and reduces failure rate and production costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN121742013A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application belongs to the field of photoelectric imaging and night vision observation, and particularly relates to a low-cost uncooled infrared peripheral vision observation system. BACKGROUND
[0002] In the modern combat environment, the night vision capability of the vehicle directly affects the battlefield survival and combat effectiveness. As a traditional device, the low-light-level night vision equipment relies on the weak light of the environment to realize image enhancement, which is once adapted to low complexity scenes, but has been difficult to meet the current combat needs. The core component of the low-light-level image intensifier has some inherent limitations: such as short observation distance, which cannot adapt to long distance detection, easy to be disturbed by stray light in complex background, difficult to identify targets, low transmittance in rain, fog, snow and other bad weather, resulting in rapid attenuation of night vision capability and even failure. In addition, the existing low-light-level night vision equipment adopts the image rotation elimination technology of high value-added control board + software algorithm, which has the disadvantages of high cost and low reliability, and the structure of the day and night observation system is complex and the zoom is single, which is difficult to balance the cost and performance.
[0003] Therefore, it is an urgent need in the field to develop a low-cost pure optical image rotation elimination uncooled infrared peripheral vision system that integrates day and night peripheral vision, white light intermittent zoom function to improve night vision distance. SUMMARY
[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing low-light-level equipment, the purpose of the present application is to provide a low-cost uncooled infrared peripheral vision observation system, which achieves the effect of electronic image rotation elimination through a low-cost pure optical image rotation elimination system, realizes the product function, avoids the way of eliminating image rotation through high value-added control board software, and also realizes the functions of day and night peripheral vision observation, white light intermittent zoom, multiple observation ways, and the purpose of greatly improving the low-cost night vision distance.
[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application provides the following technical scheme: A low-cost uncooled infrared peripheral vision observation system, comprising a shell and an eyepiece assembly, the eyepiece assembly comprising an eyepiece and a reticle, characterized in that it further comprises a Berek prism assembly, a seat mirror is connected to the top of the shell through a rotating table, a three-channel conversion mechanism is rotatably arranged in the shell, a high-power lens group, a low-power lens group and an uncooled thermal imager are arranged in a fan shape along the rotating shaft of the three-channel conversion mechanism, the high-power lens group, the low-power lens group and the uncooled thermal imager can be switched in the reflection light path of the seat mirror by rotating the three-channel conversion mechanism, an LED display screen is integrated at the lower end of the uncooled thermal imager, an image rotating mirror group is arranged below the three-channel conversion mechanism, the eyepiece assembly is arranged on one side of the shell and corresponds to the image rotating mirror group, the Berek prism assembly is arranged between the eyepiece assembly and the image rotating mirror group, and the Berek prism assembly is drivingly connected with the rotating table through a transition gear structure. When the non-cooled thermal imager switches to the reflection light path of the seated mirror, the seated mirror reflects the downward image during the rotation of the rotating table, and the image is rotated into the non-cooled thermal imager, so that the image on the LED display screen is also rotated. The rotated image is turned 90 degrees by the image turning lens group and then enters the prismatic lens assembly. The rotating table drives the seated prismatic lens in the prismatic lens assembly to rotate through the transition gear structure to eliminate the rotation of the image, so that the image is imaged on the graticule of the eyepiece assembly, and is magnified by the eyepiece of the eyepiece assembly and imaged in the observer's eye.
[0006] Preferably, the rotating table comprises a large bearing, a sleeve, a base and a large gear; the base is a hollow structure, and the base is detachably connected to the top end of the shell through a flange bolt structure; the middle part of the sleeve is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the base through a large bearing; the large gear is fixedly sleeved on the outer periphery of the bottom of the sleeve and located in the shell; the seated mirror comprises a mirror and a bracket, and the mirror is rotatably connected to the two brackets correspondingly arranged on the two sides of the top end of the sleeve.
[0007] Preferably, the present application further comprises a panoramic driving mechanism for driving the rotation of the rotating table, the panoramic driving mechanism comprising a column gear, a connecting rod mechanism and a worm and gear mechanism, the column gear being engaged with the large gear, the connecting rod mechanism comprising a connecting rod and a bearing, the connecting rod being rotatably connected to the inside of the shell through the bearing, the column gear being fixedly sleeved on the top end of the connecting rod, and the bottom of the connecting rod being drivingly connected with a panoramic hand wheel through the worm and gear structure, the panoramic hand wheel being arranged on the outside of the shell.
[0008] Preferably, the transition gear mechanism comprises an upper gear, an adapter connecting rod and a lower gear, the adapter connecting rod being rotatably connected in the shell, the upper gear being fixedly sleeved on the top end of the adapter connecting rod and engaged with the large gear, and the lower gear being fixedly sleeved on the bottom end of the adapter connecting rod.
[0009] Preferably, the prismatic lens assembly comprises a seated prismatic lens, a bevel gear and a pinion, the pinion being engaged with the lower gear, and the bevel gear being engaged with the pinion and capable of driving the seated prismatic lens coaxial therewith to rotate when the bevel gear rotates.
[0010] Preferably, the three-channel conversion mechanism comprises a conversion body, a gear transmission mechanism and a conversion handle, the conversion body being rotatably connected in the shell, the conversion handle driving the conversion body to rotate in the shell through the gear transmission mechanism, and the conversion handle being arranged on the outside of the shell.
[0011] Preferably, the high-power lens group is a visible light 5.5 x lens group, and the low-power lens group is a visible light 1.5 x lens group.
[0012] The present application also includes other components that can be used normally, which are conventional means in the art, and the devices or components not defined in the present application, such as worm gear structure, prismatic mirror with seat, image conversion lens group, gear transmission mechanism, non-cryogenic thermal imager, etc. adopt the prior art in the art.
[0013] The working principle of the present application is that, by rotating the panoramic hand wheel, the column gear on the panoramic drive mechanism rotates with the rotation, drives the large gear on the rotating table to rotate, the large bearing and sleeve on the rotating table rotate accordingly, the prismatic mirror with seat mounted on the sleeve rotates accordingly, and the image reflected by the prismatic mirror rotates. The rotating image enters the non-cryogenic thermal imager, and is imaged on the LED display screen, causing the image on the screen to also rotate accordingly. Only by correcting the rotating image can the observer observe normally. Therefore, the present application designs a transition gear mechanism meshing with the large gear of the rotating table, which rotates synchronously with the rotation of the large gear of the rotating table, and the rotation of the transition gear mechanism drives the small gear on the prismatic mirror assembly to rotate, the bevel gear is driven to rotate by the small gear, and the prismatic mirror with seat is driven to rotate, thereby eliminating the rotation of the image through the rotation of the prismatic mirror, imaging on the graticule, and imaging in the observer's eye through the magnification of the ocular lens.
[0014] One of the innovations of the system is to eliminate the rotation of the image on the LED screen through the traditional optical element prismatic mirror, image on the graticule, and image in the observer's eye through the magnification of the ocular lens assembly. This avoids the way of eliminating image rotation through high-value control board software, i.e. not through high-cost electronic image rotation elimination. Since the electrical system has a higher failure rate than the pure optical system in use, the pure mechanical optical method greatly improves the product reliability. At the same time, since the product no longer needs control software, it avoids software design, document preparation, review and software evaluation, and many other additional expenses, greatly reducing the cost.
[0015] The second innovation of the system is that the LED display screen is integrated on the non-cryogenic thermal imager, which eliminates the cable connection, improves the reliability and reduces the power consumption, replaces the low-light image intensifier, and realizes observation and task execution in harsh natural environment conditions while maintaining the same structure. At the same time, through the three-channel conversion mechanism, the thermal image, visible light high magnification (5.5 x , i.e. 5.5 times) and visible light low magnification (1.5 x , i.e. 1.5 times) three channels are converted, achieving discontinuous zoom, day and night observation, and all-weather observation.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following beneficial effects: The system has advantages such as ingenious design, impact resistance, long life, good optical axis consistency, and good manufacturability. It can also reduce product costs and plays an important role in reducing the weight and size of the system and realizing the full functionality of the product. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention in the embodiment; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure on the right side; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the AA-direction cross-section structure; Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the BB-direction cross-section structure in the middle; Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the CC-direction cross-section structure in the middle; Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A partial top view of the structure after removing the mounted mirror and turntable; In the diagram: 1. Housing, 2. Eyepiece, 3. Reticle, 4. High-magnification lens group, 5. Low-magnification lens group, 6. Uncooled thermal imager, 7. LED display screen, 8. Image rotating mirror group, 9. Prism with mounting bracket, 10. Large bearing, 11. Sleeve, 12. Base, 13. Large gear, 14. Reflector, 15. Bracket, 16. Spur gear, 17. Linkage mechanism, 18. Worm gear mechanism, 19. Panoramic handwheel, 20. Upper gear, 21. Adapter link, 22. Lower gear, 23. Bevel gear, 24. Pinion, 25. Conversion body, 26. Gear transmission mechanism, 27. Conversion handle. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The invention will now be clearly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. This description is merely for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort to obtain all other embodiments should be included within the scope of protection of the invention.
[0019] Example like Figures 1-6As shown, this embodiment provides a low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system, including a housing 1, an eyepiece assembly, and a Behan prism assembly. The eyepiece assembly includes an eyepiece 2 and a reticle 3. A mounted reflector is connected to the top of the housing via a turntable. A three-channel conversion mechanism is rotatably arranged inside the housing. A high-magnification lens group 4, a low-magnification lens group 5, and an uncooled thermal imager 6 are arranged in a fan shape along the rotation axis of the three-channel conversion mechanism. By rotating the three-channel conversion mechanism, the high-magnification lens group, the low-magnification lens group, and the uncooled thermal imager can be switched in the reflected light path of the mounted reflector. An LED display screen 7 is integrated at the lower end of the uncooled thermal imager. A rotating mirror group 8 is correspondingly arranged below the three-channel conversion mechanism. The eyepiece assembly is arranged on one side of the housing and corresponding to the rotating mirror group. The Behan prism assembly is arranged between the eyepiece assembly and the rotating mirror group, and the Behan prism assembly is connected to the turntable via a transition gear structure. When the uncooled thermal imager switches to the reflected light path of the mounted mirror, the rotating stage drives the mounted mirror to rotate. As the mirror rotates, the downward-reflected image also rotates and enters the uncooled thermal imager, causing the image on the LED display screen to rotate as well. The rotated image passes through the rotating mirror group and then enters the Behan prism assembly after a 90° deflection of the light path. While the stage is rotating, the mounted Behan prism 9 in the Behan prism assembly is driven to rotate through the transition gear structure to eliminate the rotation of the image. The image is then projected onto the reticle of the eyepiece assembly and magnified by the eyepiece in the eyepiece assembly, thus being projected into the observer's eye.
[0020] In this embodiment, the turntable includes a large bearing 10, a sleeve 11, a base 12, and a large gear 13. The base is a hollow structure and is detachably connected to the top of the housing via a flange bolt structure. The middle part of the sleeve is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the base via the large bearing. The large gear is fixedly sleeved on the bottom outer periphery of the sleeve and located inside the housing. The mounted reflector includes a reflector 14 and a bracket 15. The reflector is rotatably connected to two brackets correspondingly arranged on both sides of the top of the sleeve.
[0021] Continuing with the above embodiments, the present invention further includes a panoramic drive mechanism for driving the turntable to rotate. The panoramic drive mechanism includes a spur gear 16, a connecting rod mechanism 17, and a worm gear mechanism 18. The spur gear meshes with a large gear. The connecting rod mechanism includes a connecting rod and a bearing. The connecting rod is rotatably connected to the housing through the bearing. The spur gear is fixedly sleeved on the top end of the connecting rod. The bottom end of the connecting rod is connected to a panoramic handwheel 19 through a worm gear structure. The panoramic handwheel is located on the outside of the housing.
[0022] Specifically, the transition gear mechanism includes an upper gear 20, a connecting rod 21, and a lower gear 22. The connecting rod is rotatably connected inside the housing. The upper gear is fixedly sleeved on the top end of the connecting rod and meshes with the large gear. The lower gear is fixedly sleeved on the bottom end of the connecting rod.
[0023] In this embodiment, the prism assembly includes a prism with a mounting, a bevel gear 23, and a pinion 24. The pinion is meshed with the lower gear, and the bevel gear is meshed with the pinion. When the bevel gear rotates, it can drive the coaxial prism with a mounting to rotate.
[0024] Continuing with the above embodiment, the three-channel conversion mechanism includes a conversion body 25, a gear transmission mechanism 26, and a conversion handle 27. The conversion body is rotatably connected inside the housing, and the conversion handle drives the conversion body to rotate inside the housing through the gear transmission mechanism. The conversion handle is located on the outside of the housing.
[0025] The high-magnification lens group is for visible light 5.5. x The lens group, wherein the low-magnification lens group is for visible light 1.5. x Lens group.
[0026] It should be noted that the worm gear structure, the prism with seat, the rotating mirror assembly, the gear transmission mechanism, and the uncooled thermal imager in this embodiment all adopt existing technologies in the field.
[0027] The working principle of this invention is as follows: by rotating the panoramic handwheel, the spur gear on the panoramic drive mechanism rotates, which in turn drives the large gear on the turntable to rotate. The large bearing and sleeve on the turntable rotate accordingly, causing the mounted reflector on the sleeve to rotate as well. The image reflected by the reflector then rotates. This rotating image enters the uncooled thermal imager and is imaged on the LED display screen, causing the image on the screen to also rotate. Only by correcting the rotated image can the observer observe normally. Therefore, this invention designs a transition gear mechanism that meshes with the large gear on the turntable. The rotation of the large gear on the turntable causes the transition gear mechanism to rotate synchronously. The rotation of the transition gear mechanism drives the small gear on the Beyburn prism assembly to rotate, which in turn drives the bevel gear to rotate, thereby rotating the mounted Beyburn prism. Through the rotation of the Beyburn prism, the image rotation is eliminated, and the image is projected onto the reticle. Through magnification via the eyepiece, the image is then projected onto the observer's eye.
[0028] One of the innovations of this system lies in its use of traditional optical elements, such as the Beyham prism, to eliminate image rotation on the LED screen. The image is then projected onto a reticle and magnified by the eyepiece assembly, resulting in an image seen through the observer's eye. This avoids the high-value-added software-based approach of eliminating image rotation, thus avoiding costly electronic anti-rotation methods. Since electrical systems have a higher failure rate than purely optical systems, this purely mechanical-optical approach significantly improves product reliability. Furthermore, because the product no longer requires control software, it avoids numerous additional expenses related to software design, documentation, review, and testing, resulting in a substantial cost reduction.
[0029] The second innovation of this system lies in its ingenious design. By integrating the LED display screen onto the uncooled thermal imager, cable connections are eliminated, improving reliability and reducing power consumption. This replaces the low-light image intensifier while maintaining the same structural approach, enabling observation and task execution even in harsh natural environments. Simultaneously, a three-channel conversion mechanism achieves high-magnification (5.5x) conversion between thermal imaging and visible light imaging. x ) and visible light at low magnification (1.5) x The switching of the three channels achieves the purpose of intermittent magnification, day and night observation, and all-weather observation.
[0030] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments.
Claims
1. A low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system, comprising a housing and an eyepiece assembly, the eyepiece assembly including an eyepiece and a reticle, characterized in that, It also includes a Behan prism assembly. The top of the housing is connected to a mounted reflector via a turntable. A three-channel conversion mechanism is rotatably installed inside the housing. A high-magnification lens group, a low-magnification lens group, and an uncooled thermal imager are arranged in a fan shape along the rotation axis of the three-channel conversion mechanism. By rotating the three-channel conversion mechanism, the high-magnification lens group, the low-magnification lens group, and the uncooled thermal imager can be switched in the reflected light path of the mounted reflector. An LED display screen is integrated at the lower end of the uncooled thermal imager. A rotating mirror group is correspondingly arranged below the three-channel conversion mechanism. The eyepiece assembly is located on one side of the housing and is arranged corresponding to the rotating mirror group. The Behan prism assembly is located between the eyepiece assembly and the rotating mirror group, and the Behan prism assembly is connected to the turntable via a transition gear structure. When the uncooled thermal imager switches to the reflected light path of the mounted mirror, the rotating stage drives the mounted mirror to rotate. As the mirror rotates, the downward-reflected image also rotates and enters the uncooled thermal imager, causing the image on the LED display screen to rotate as well. The rotated image passes through the rotating mirror group and then enters the Behan prism assembly after a 90° deflection. As the stage rotates, the Behan prism in the Behan prism assembly rotates through the transition gear structure to eliminate the image rotation, allowing the image to be projected onto the reticle of the eyepiece assembly. Through the magnification of the eyepiece in the eyepiece assembly, the image is then projected onto the observer's eye.
2. The low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The turntable includes a large bearing, a sleeve, a base, and a large gear. The base is a hollow structure and is detachably connected to the top of the housing via flange bolts. The middle part of the sleeve is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the base via the large bearing. The large gear is fixedly sleeved on the bottom outer periphery of the sleeve and located inside the housing. The mounted reflector includes a reflector and a bracket. The reflector is rotatably connected to two brackets corresponding to the top sides of the sleeve.
3. The low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a panoramic drive mechanism for driving the turntable to rotate. The panoramic drive mechanism includes a spur gear, a linkage mechanism, and a worm gear mechanism. The spur gear meshes with a large gear. The linkage mechanism includes a connecting rod and a bearing. The connecting rod is rotatably connected to the housing through the bearing. The spur gear is fixedly sleeved on the top end of the connecting rod. The bottom end of the connecting rod is connected to a panoramic handwheel through a worm gear structure. The panoramic handwheel is located on the outside of the housing.
4. The low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transition gear mechanism includes an upper gear, a connecting rod, and a lower gear. The connecting rod is rotatably connected inside the housing. The upper gear is fixedly sleeved on the top end of the connecting rod and meshes with the large gear. The lower gear is fixedly sleeved on the bottom end of the connecting rod.
5. A low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The prism assembly includes a prism with a mounting, a bevel gear, and a pinion. The pinion meshes with the lower gear, and the bevel gear meshes with the pinion. When the bevel gear rotates, it can drive the coaxial prism with a mounting to rotate.
6. The low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The three-channel conversion mechanism includes a conversion body, a gear transmission mechanism, and a conversion handle. The conversion body is rotatably connected inside the housing. The conversion handle drives the conversion body to rotate inside the housing through the gear transmission mechanism, and the conversion handle is located on the outside of the housing.
7. A low-cost uncooled infrared panoramic observation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The high-magnification lens group is for visible light 5.
5. x The lens group, wherein the low-magnification lens group is for visible light 1.
5. x Lens group.