Improved sighting or observation scope

Abstract

Sighting or observation scope having a sighting or observation axis and comprising, in a mechanical structure (SM): a camera (CI), a first video micro-display (MA1) displaying an image of the exterior landscape acquired by the camera, called the first object, a first eyepiece (OC1) associated with the first video micro-display and forming a first image of the first object at infinity, a first pupil-expanding light guide (PE1) optically arranged downstream of the first eyepiece and adapted to extend a pupil of the first eyepiece in two directions in space and to superimpose the first image on the exterior landscape.

Description

Title of the invention: Improved sighting or observation scope Technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of shooting glasses, in particular reflex sights, which make it possible to superimpose a reticle on the observed scene. Prior art

[0002] To accomplish his various missions with his weaponry, the infantryman has the following needs: - Day and night shooting capability, requiring precise aiming to make the most of your weapon, ideally for effective shooting beyond 300 meters; - Fast aiming in dynamic combat situations; - Maintaining good situational awareness to deal with any threat that may arise on the battlefield, day or night. This situational awareness includes maintaining a wide field of vision encompassing the surrounding area; - Ability to “decamouflage” or perceive threats, day and night; - Discretion, which is reflected in particular at night by the absence of light emission from the sighting devices; - No need for sight adjustment operation to switch from day to night sighting and vice versa, to save time and ensure sighting reliability; - Mobility and endurance, which requires equipment that is as light and compact as possible.

[0003] These needs translate into high demands on the sights equipping the assault rifle with which the infantryman is equipped. In practice, these requirements are only partially met and are not met with a single piece of equipment that is both compact and lightweight.

[0004] Common solutions for ensuring aiming on an assault rifle are as follows. For daytime aiming, the weapon has a basic peephole-front sight assembly. This assembly is simple, robust and inexpensive, but offers little accuracy.

[0005] The weapon may also include a clear (or "reflex") sight for daytime aiming, i.e. an optical assembly allowing a symbol or a luminous point to be superimposed on the exterior in the aiming axis. This clear sight may optionally be associated with a switchable magnifying optic. It may also include a laser pointer and a daytime magnifying glass.

[0006] For night aiming, the weapon may include: a laser pointer, a light-intensified shooting scope known as "IL", an infrared shooting scope known as "IR", an adapter or "Clip-on" with light intensifier or infrared positioned upstream of a daytime shooting scope, a sighting device comprising night vision binoculars associated with a clear sight attached to the weapon.

[0007] These known solutions each have advantages and disadvantages, but none of them completely meets the overall need identified above.

[0008] The clear viewfinder solution is particularly appreciated because it offers good precision, while preserving a good perception of the overall situation, the clear viewfinder transmitting the landscape without magnification.

[0009] Aiming using a laser pointer, widely used, especially at night, is very interesting because it allows rapid shooting in dynamic combat, without requiring the eye to be aligned behind a sight, or even to shoulder the weapon in extreme situations. On the other hand, the laser pointer remains indiscreet, especially at night. Even when it is a pointer emitting in the near infrared, it is easily detectable with night vision binoculars or even with certain equipment using a camera sensitive in the near infrared.

[0010] Shooting scopes in general, whether day or night, light intensification or thermal infrared, have the advantage of their precision, thanks in particular to their magnification. They have the disadvantage of requiring the eye used for aiming to be positioned close to an eyepiece; moreover, the user cannot use the other eye for overall perception. This operation takes a certain amount of time, which constitutes a loss of effectiveness in dynamic combat. In addition, the shooter is momentarily cut off from his environment and can then ignore new threats. Finally, at night, if he is equipped with night vision binoculars, the combatant must clear them to be able to correctly position a free eye behind the shooting scope. Here again, this represents an additional delay in the action and a break from the combatant's environment.

[0011] Infrared or thermal shooting glasses have the same disadvantages but offer some significant advantages: night vision, including in total darkness, improved vision in the fog and smoke of the battlefield and above all the ability to "decamouflage" any hot target.

[0012] To try to provide a suitable response, it is possible to juxtapose several systems in a single piece of equipment. For example, as seen in [Fig.l], some sighting equipment combines an IL or IR shooting scope topped with a clear viewfinder. In this case, the scope includes a thermal camera and a viewing device. The thermal camera includes a focusing lens 1 and a receiver photosensitive 2. The viewing device comprises a micro-display 3 and an eyepiece 4. The clear viewfinder comprises a luminous symbol 5 and a collimating optic 6 and a superposition optic (typically a splitter plate) with the direct vision 7.

[0013] These solutions lead to relatively bulky equipment that offers a juxtaposition of functions without, however, combining them. At a given moment, the user must choose to use either the clear sight or the scope and therefore never benefits from the combined advantages of the two systems. In the case of a system combining a thermal infrared scope and a clear sight, the user must choose between benefiting from the rapid aiming and situational awareness offered by the clear sight, or benefiting from the decamouflage and night vision offered by the thermal scope.

[0014] An improved solution is illustrated in [Fig.2]. The same references as those in [Fig.l] designate the same elements as those described in [Fig.l]. The architecture of [Fig.2] consists of combining an “advanced” reflex viewfinder architecture with a single display 3 which is responsible for displaying everything: video stream, symbology, reticle, etc. The image of the display is returned to infinity using an eyepiece 3. The fusion with the scene is done using a semi-reflecting plate 7. Alternatively, this element allowing the superposition of the image formed by the eyepiece and the observed scene is a splitter cube or a prism.

[0015] The reflex sight with display of [Fig.2], coupled with a camera 2 with light intensification or infrared thus presents a real added value because it provides additional assistance for highlighting a target in difficult conditions (target camouflage, darkness, etc.) by compactly combining “night” and “day” vision.

[0016] The solution of Figure 2, although presenting a clear improvement compared to the architecture of Figure 1, nevertheless has a drawback. Indeed, the element 7 allowing the superposition of the image formed by the eyepiece and the observed scene is particularly bulky. Its size along the x axis, that is to say the dimension along the x axis of the projection of the element 7 on the axis (referenced by the dimension Dx in [Fig.2]) is typically greater than 4 cm taking into account the elements which protect this blade.

[0017] The significant bulkiness of this combiner element along the x axis contributes to a tunnel effect which encloses the user's vision and prevents him from having perfect knowledge of the environment around him. In addition, this bulk limits the compactness of the glasses of the prior art, which is a crucial parameter for a reflex viewfinder.

[0018] The invention aims to overcome some of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0019] For this purpose, an object of the invention is a sighting or observation telescope having a sighting or observation axis x and comprising, in a mechanical structure: a camera, a first video micro-display displaying an image of the exterior landscape acquired by the camera, called the first object a first eyepiece associated with the first video micro-display and forming a first image of the first object at infinity a first pupil-expanding light guide comprising at least two first planar and parallel faces, the first pupil-expanding light guide being optically arranged downstream of the first eyepiece and adapted to expand a pupil of the first eyepiece in two spatial directions and to superimpose the first image on the external landscape, a structure of the first pupil-expanding light guide being adapted so that an overall size of the first pupil-expanding light guide (PE1) along the x axis is less than 2 cm.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first pupil expansion light guide is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the x axis.

[0021] According to one embodiment, in the first pupil-expanding light guide, a dimension along the x axis of each of the first planar and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm.

[0022] According to one embodiment, an arrangement of the first pupil expansion light guide, the camera, the first eyepiece and the first video micro-display is adapted so that an overall size of the scope along the x axis is less than 15 cm.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first pupil-expanding light guide comprises two elementary light guides coupled so as to expand said pupil of the first eyepiece in two directions, the first elementary light guide comprising said first two planar and parallel faces and the second elementary light guide comprising two additional planar and parallel faces perpendicular to the first two planar and parallel faces, and in which: a dimension along the x axis of each of the first flat and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm a distance along the x axis separating the additional flat and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the field of the first eyepiece is between 10° and 16° degrees on at least one of its axes.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the telescope further comprises a second video microdisplay displaying a second object, a second eyepiece associated with the second video microdisplay and forming a second image of the second object at infinity and a second pupil expansion light guide comprising at least two second planar and parallel faces, the second pupil expansion light guide being optically arranged downstream of the second eyepiece and adapted to extend a pupil of the second eyepiece in two directions of space and to superimpose the second image on the first image and on the external landscape. Preferably, the second microdisplay is a microdisplay with low power consumption compared to the first microdisplay. Even more preferably, the second object is a red dot or a luminous symbol.

[0026] According to a particular variant of the previous embodiment, the glasses have a battery powering the camera, the first and second video micro-displays and a processor, said processor being configured to operate the glasses in two modes consisting of: - in a first mode, powering the first video micro-display and not powering the second video micro-display or powering the first and second micro-displays when a battery capacity is greater than a predetermined limit or when the user so chooses, for example by pressing a remote control member on said mechanical structure, - in a second mode, powering the second video micro-display and not powering the first video micro-display when a battery capacity is less than the predetermined limit, or when the processor detects a malfunction of the first display, or when the user so chooses, for example by pressing a remote control member on said mechanical structure. Preferably, the predetermined limit corresponds to a battery life in the first operating mode of less than 1 hour of use.

[0027] In the preceding embodiment, preferably, the first microdisplay emits radiation in a first spectral range and the second microdisplay emits radiation in a second spectral range, separate from the first spectral range or the first and second microdisplays emit radiation in the same spectral range but having a cross-polarization.

[0028] In the preceding embodiment, preferably, a structure of the first and second pupil expansion light guides is adapted so that a size of the respectively first and second pupil expansion light guides pupil expansion along the x axis is less than 2 cm. Preferably, an arrangement of the first and second pupil expansion light guides, the camera, the first eyepiece and the first video micro-display, the second eyepiece and the second video micro-display is adapted so that a footprint of the telescope along the x axis is less than 16 cm. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description given with reference to the appended drawings given by way of example and which represent, respectively:

[0030] [Fig-1] a schematic view of a prior art rifle scope,

[0031] [Fig.2] a schematic view of a prior art rifle scope,

[0032] [Fig.3A], a perspective view of a sighting or observation scope according to the invention,

[0033] [Fig.3B], a schematic view of a sighting or observation scope according to the invention,

[0034] [Fig.3C], a sectional view of an example of the first expanding light guide of the pupil of the sighting or observation scope according to the invention,

[0035] [Fig.3D], a sectional view of an example of the first expanding light guide of the pupil of the sighting or observation scope according to the invention,

[0036] [Fig.3F], a sectional view of an example of the first pupil-expanding light guide of the sighting or observation scope according to the invention,

[0037] [Fig.4], a schematic representation of an embodiment of the telescope of the invention,

[0038] [Fig.5], a schematic representation of an embodiment of the telescope of the invention,

[0039] In the figures, unless otherwise indicated, the elements are not to scale and identical references designate identical elements. Description of the embodiments

[0040] Figure 3A shows a perspective view of a sighting or observation scope 10 according to the invention. We denote x the sighting or observation axis of the scope 10. We denote Dtx, the dimension of the scope along the x axis (hereinafter called “dimensions”).

[0041] Figure 3B is a schematic representation along a plane AV of the elements included in the mechanical structure SM of the telescope according to the invention. The telescope 10 essentially comprises two main sub-assemblies which are a camera CI and a viewing device DV whose structure is detailed more precisely in [Fig.3B].

[0042] The display device DV comprises a first micro-display MAI, a first eyepiece OC1 associated with the first display MAI and a first pupil expansion light guide PE1. All of the optical and electronic components are integrated into the sealed mechanical structure SM which protects them from the external environment and from shocks.

[0043] This SM structure includes a mechanical IF fixing interface allowing it to be fixed to a weapon equipped with a standard interface. This interface is, for example, a “Picatinny” rail or its equivalent.

[0044] The structure SM also includes a set IC of buttons and control members allowing in particular the On / Off controls of the various functions of the equipment, the brightness adjustments of the first video micro-display MAI, the electronic and mechanical adjustments of simbleautage, the electronic adjustments of superposition of the various images generated on the external landscape. It can be arranged on one of the two lateral sides of the bezel. As a non-limiting example, in [Fig.3A], the set includes three buttons arranged on the left lateral side of the bezel, other buttons being arranged on the right side of the bezel.

[0045] According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3B, the camera CI is a thermal camera, comprising an infrared objective OI operating in the spectral band located between 8 pm and 12 pm and an infrared sensor CPT sensitive in the same spectral band or between 3 and 5 pm.

[0046] Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the camera is a low light level camera implementing a low noise CPT “CMOS” sensor, “CMOS” being the acronym for “Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor” or an “EB-CMOS” sensor, acronym for “Electro-Bombarded CMOS” or any other digital low light level camera.

[0047] The camera can also be a “SWIR” camera, acronym for “Short Wave InfraRed” operating in the spectral band between 1pm and 2pm, capturing night light from night luminescence or “night glow” and also offering decamouflage capabilities.

[0048] The CI camera comprises electronics for power supply, sensor control and image processing as well as a power supply box (not shown) receiving several batteries or a rechargeable battery pack so as to ensure its autonomy which is for example arranged at the rear of the telescope, on the observer's eye side.

[0049] The DV display device comprises the first video micro-display MAI, the first eyepiece OC1 forming an image of the first video micro-display at infinity and the electronics necessary for powering and controlling the first micro-display.

[0050] The first micro-display MAI displays a video aiming reticle, possibly enhanced with elevation correction elements or stadimetric symbols or graduations. It also displays an image of the exterior landscape acquired by the camera, called the first object. According to another embodiment, the first micro-display MAI only displays the image of the exterior landscape acquired by the camera.

[0051] The first MAI video micro-display is, for example, an “OLED” display, an acronym meaning “Organic Light Emitting Diode”, “LCD”, an acronym meaning “Liquid Crystal Display”, or “LCOS”, an acronym meaning “Liquid Crystal On Silicon”.

[0052] The viewing device DV further comprises the first pupil expansion light guide PE1 optically arranged downstream of the first eyepiece and adapted to expand a pupil of the first eyepiece in two spatial directions and to superimpose the first image on the external landscape.

[0053] A pupil expansion light guide PE is a component known per se, made of a transparent material and comprising at least two flat and parallel faces FP1, FP1'. This element is usually used in head-up displays (HUD for the English acronym) in which it is positioned close to the eye in order to create a superposition between the external landscape and an image of a micro-display by an eyepiece.

[0054] Figure 3C illustrates a sectional view of an example of an elementary light guide SGI of the waveguide PE of the invention allowing an extension of the pupil of the first eyepiece OC1 in the direction S

[0055] The elementary light guide SGI comprises at least two flat and parallel faces FP1, FPL. The light beams Fl coming from the first micro-display MAI and collimated by the first eyepiece OC1 enter, for example, the elementary light guide through one of its lateral faces FPL. Entry into the guide can be made, as in the case shown, using a prism PR1, but also with a grating, which is then called an input grating.

[0056] The beams Fl propagate in the elementary light guide SGI by total reflections on the parallel faces FP1, FP1' of the guide SGI as illustrated in [Fig.3C].

[0057] In order for the observer Y to perceive the image of the first micro-display, it is necessary to make it come out of the guide SGI. For this, several optical solutions exist. As a first example, the guide SGI of [Fig.3C] comprises two semi-reflecting plates LR1, LR1' parallel and arranged at an angle relative to the parallel faces FP1, FP1 so as to extract a part of the collimated beams Fl.

[0058] According to a second example, instead of the parallel semi-reflecting blades LR1, LR1', the guide SGI comprises a network of microstructures or micro-prisms which provides the same light extraction function.

[0059] According to a third example illustrated in [Fig.3D], instead of the parallel semi-reflecting plates LR1, LR1', the SGI guide comprises a diffraction grating RD which diffracts a portion of the light towards the outside of the SGI guide in the desired direction. This diffraction grating RD is located on one of the two faces FP1, FP1' of the SGI guide or the very inside of the SGI guide.

[0060] In order to extend the pupil of the first eyepiece OC1 in two directions of space, the waveguide PE1 of the invention comprises for example two elementary light guides SGI, SG2 coupled as illustrated in [Fig.3F]. The elementary light guide SG2 comprises two planar and parallel faces (only one face FPA is visible in [Fig.3F]) which are substantially perpendicular to the faces FP1, FP1' of the guide SGI. Thus, the waveguide PE is suitable for extending the pupil in two dimensions.

[0061] In the remainder of the document, the term "extraction means" refers to the element of the elementary guides SGI, SG2 adapted to extract the light reflected by total internal reflection on the parallel faces of the elementary guides SGI, SG2.

[0062] Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 3F, these two directions are the directions and are normal to each other and are normal to the x-axis of view. This allows for a more consistent superposition of the first image onto the exterior landscape. In the example of Figure 3F, the circled crosses indicate that the light propagates in a plane perpendicular to that of the sheet, in a direction parallel to the x-axis.

[0063] Thanks to the use of a pupil expansion light guide PE1 performing a function of superimposing the first image and the external landscape, the glasses 10 of the invention have a reduced size Dtx compared to the glasses of the prior art.

[0064] Indeed, the waveguide PE1 of the invention has a structure and an arrangement such that its size Dx along the line of sight x is significantly smaller than that of the optical combination devices usually used in the glasses of the prior art. This size Dx is allowed mainly by appropriately selecting the dimensions of the planar and parallel faces of the waveguide PE1 on which the beams F1 are reflected in order to propagate in the light guide (for example the faces FP1, FP1' of the guide SGI of FIG. 3C) and / or the distances separating these faces. As mentioned previously, the optical combination devices used in the glasses of the prior art have a size along the axis A typically greater than 4 cm.Conversely, the waveguide PE1 of the invention has a structure and an arrangement such that its size D, along the line of sight x, is less than 2 cm, preferably less than 1 cm. Indeed, . through numerous experiments, the inventors have identified that the tunnel effect caused by a combination optical element becomes significantly less troublesome when it has a size along the line of sight of less than 2 cm. By taking into account the various protection elements of the light guide In addition, the viewing device DV is the most fragile part of the telescope and it must be protected via a frame (for example the metal structure SM of figure 3A). Thanks to a thin waveguide PE1, the protective frame can also be thinner, which allows a reduction in the overall mass of the telescope of the invention. The size Dx is measured here by taking into account the protection elements of the waveguide PE1.

[0065] Due to its function of superimposing the first image and the external landscape, the PE1 waveguide is designed at least partially with transparent elements in the visible range (typically the flat and parallel faces). By "transparent", it is meant here that the PE waveguide has a transmission in the visible range greater than 90%.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the PE waveguide has a vertical dimension (in the -j direction) of 24 mm and a horizontal dimension (in the 'J direction) of 30 mm. The field of view is between 10° and 16° for the vertical and horizontal axes. It is preferably 14° along the horizontal axis and 10° along the vertical axis. In addition, the transmission coefficient for the MA1 microdisplay is 3% and the transmission coefficient for the external landscape is 90%.

[0067] Preferably, the first micro-display emits radiation in a first spectral range having a spectral extent less than or equal to 20 nm. It is then easier to design and manufacture a first guide PE1 having a high transmission in the visible for the ray coming from the external landscape and a high transmission for the beams Fl coming from the first micro-display.

[0068] Preferably, the first pupil expansion light guide is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the x axis to minimize the bulk of the scope.

[0069] In the embodiment of figures 3C to 3F, this size Dx can for example be obtained by selecting: - a dimension along the x axis between 2 and 5 mm for the faces FP1, FP1' of the elementary guide SGI, and - a distance between 2 and 5 mm separating the parallel faces of the elementary guide SG2 extending along the plane

[0070] Preferably, in the embodiment MP, an arrangement of the first pupil expansion light guide PE1, the camera CI, the first eyepiece and the first video micro-display MAI is adapted so that the size D[x of the telescope along the axis A is less than 15 cm. Thus, the telescope 10 is significantly more compact than the glasses of the prior art.

[0071] Preferably, the field of view of the first eyepiece is between 10° and 16° on at least one of its axes. Preferably, the field of view at the output of the first guide PE1 is identical to that of the first eyepiece.

[0072] Preferably, the means for extracting the PE guide are adapted so that the light has, at the output of the PE guide, a substantially equal luminance in a plane perpendicular to the x axis. By "substantially equal luminance" is meant here a luminance equal to ± 25%. Thus, homogeneity of the luminance perceived by the user is ensured for any position of the eye and for any angle of vision.

[0073] There are several ways known to those skilled in the art for obtaining this equal luminance. For example, in the embodiment of [Fig.3C] where the extraction means is formed by the semi-reflecting plates LR1, LR1', this equal luminance can be obtained by choosing a higher reflection coefficient for the plate LR1' than for the plate LR1.

[0074] Alternatively, in the embodiment of figure 3D where the extraction means is a diffraction grating RD, the diffraction efficiency can be increasing along the direction S

[0075] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3B and 3C, the telescope of the invention is a reflex viewfinder and the optical chain consisting of the camera, the first micro-display and the eyepiece has a unit magnification, the image of the first micro-display being consistent with that of the external landscape. The PE waveguide then ensures the perfect superposition of the image of the micro-display on the external landscape.

[0076] Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the telescope has a magnification greater than one. For this, the telescope 1 comprises for example an afocal optical system optically arranged downstream of the PE waveguide to form a superimposed image of the first micro-display and the scene observed with a magnification greater than 1.

[0077] [Fig.4] illustrates an embodiment of the eyeglass of the invention in which the eyeglass comprises a second video micro-display MA2. The image displayed by the second video micro-display MA2 is called the second object.

[0078] The telescope 10 further comprises a second eyepiece OC2 associated with the second video micro-display and forming a second image of the second object at infinity and a second pupil-expanding light guide PE2. The second light guide PE2 comprises at least two second planar and parallel faces and plays a role similar to the role of the first light guide PE1. Also, the second pupil-expanding light guide PE2 is optically arranged downstream of the second eyepiece and is adapted to expand a pupil of the second eyepiece OC2 in two directions of space and to superimpose the second image on the first image and on the exterior landscape.

[0079] The first and second video micro-displays MAI, MA2, are, by way of example, “OLED” displays, an acronym meaning “Organic Light Emitting Diode”, “LCD”, an acronym meaning “Liquid Crystal Display”, or “LCOS”, an acronym meaning “Liquid Crystal On Silicon”.

[0080] The use of two displays makes it possible to make the scope of the invention more versatile by combining several functions (for example, one display relaying an IR image and another relaying a thermal image). In addition, this makes the scope of the invention more robust, for example by allowing switching to the second microdisplay during a malfunction of the first microdisplay.

[0081] Furthermore, by selecting a micro-display with low power consumption compared to the other micro-display, the scope of the invention allows operation in a “degraded” mode via the display of a customizable red dot / reticule with a battery life of a few hundred hours. Thus, the user can extend his mission or when the capacity of the battery powering the sight drops below a critical threshold.

[0082] More specifically, according to a first embodiment M1, the second microdisplay is a microdisplay with low power consumption compared to the first microdisplay. By “low power consumption”, it is meant here that the second microdisplay has a power consumption of between 0.5 mW and 10 mW, while the first microdisplay has a power consumption greater than or equal to 50 mW.

[0083] Preferably, in embodiment M1, the second microdisplay displays a red dot or a luminous symbol. The luminous object being fixed over time, the electrical consumption of the second microdisplay is greatly reduced.

[0084] Preferably, in embodiment M1, the second microdisplay has a refresh rate less than or equal to 2 Hz in order to reduce its power consumption. In addition, the refresh rate of the first microdisplay is high in order to be compatible with a video stream. Also, the first microdisplay has a refresh rate greater than or equal to 20 Hz.

[0085] As a non-limiting example, in embodiment M1, the first video microdisplay MAI is an OLED MDP07 from Microoled. It allows the reflex viewfinder to operate nominally by projecting all available information: reticle, symbology, image, video stream, etc.

[0086] As a non-limiting example, in embodiment M1, the second micro- MA2 video display is an OLED MDP05 from Microoled.

[0087] According to a variant (denoted VI) of the embodiment M1, the first micro-display MAI only displays the image of the exterior landscape acquired by the camera, while the second micro-display MA2 displays a targeting reticle.

[0088] Compared to a prior art telescope, the use of two light guides PE1, PE2 makes it possible to reduce the size Dtx of the telescope of the invention.

[0089] Preferably, a structure of the first and second pupil expansion light guides PE1, PE2 adapted so that a size of the first and second light guides PE1, PE2 respectively along the x axis is less than 2 cm.

[0090] Even more preferably, an arrangement of the first and second pupil expansion light guides PE1, PE2, of the camera CI, of the first eyepiece and of the first video micro-display MAI, of the second eyepiece and of the second video micro-display MA2, is adapted so that a size Dtx of the telescope along the x axis is less than 16 cm.

[0091] In order to facilitate the design and transmission of the guides PE1 and PE2, the first micro-display emits radiation in a first spectral range and the second micro-display emits radiation in a second spectral range, separate from the first spectral range, advantageously, the first and second spectral ranges have a spectral extent less than or equal to 20 nm, for example by the addition of spectral filters arranged in front of the micro-displays. This makes it possible to further simplify the design of the guides PE1 and PE2,

[0092] Alternatively, in order to simplify the design of the guides PE1 and PE2, the two micro-displays MAI, MA2 emit radiation RI, R2 in the same spectral range but having a cross-polarization so that each guide PE1, PE2 only acts on the radiation coming from the micro-display MAI and the micro-display MA1MA2 respectively.

[0093] [Fig.5] illustrates a preferred embodiment of embodiment M1, in which the glasses 10 comprise a battery BT powering the camera CI, the first and second video micro-displays MAI, MA2 and a processor UT controlling the operation of the battery according to a first and a second mode.

[0094] In the first mode, the battery powers the first video micro-display and does not power the second video micro-display when a battery capacity is greater than a predetermined limit. Alternatively, according to variant VI, the battery powers the two micro-displays MAI, MA2 in the first operating mode.

[0095] In the second mode of operation, the battery powers the second video microdisplay and does not power the first video microdisplay when a capacity of the battery is lower than the predetermined limit. Thus, the UT processor allows the battery to operate in a second “degraded” mode in order to save the autonomy of the scope 10 when the battery capacity falls below a limit defined by the user or the manufacturer. In this degraded mode, only a simple reticle can then be used by the user. Alternatively, the reticle is displayed in combination with at least one element displaying information on the sight, for example a low battery indicator and / or elements allowing various adjustments to be made such as electronic sight adjustment, brightness adjustment, etc.

[0096] Preferably, the predetermined limit of the battery corresponds to a battery life in the first operating mode of less than 1 hour of use. As a non-limiting example, this limit is equal to 1000 mAh at ± 50%. This limit makes it possible to continue to obtain the display of a red dot with a battery life of a few hundred hours via switching to the second operating mode of the battery.

[0097] In a first variant of the embodiment of [Fig.3C], the processor is further configured so that the battery operates in the second mode (powering the second video micro-display and not the first video micro-display) when the processor detects a malfunction of the first display or of the CI camera. For example, the malfunction may be a power supply problem. This variant makes it possible to obtain a more robust bezel 10.

[0098] In a second variant of the embodiment of [Fig.3C], which can be combined with the first variant, the processor is further configured so that the battery operates in the second mode or in the first mode according to the user's selection, for example by pressing one of the control members IC remoted on the mechanical structure SM. This variant makes it possible to obtain a more versatile scope by selecting an enriched mode (first mode) or degraded mode (second mode) depending on the mission and the evolution of the latter.

[0099] In all its embodiments, the sighting scope according to the invention may comprise complementary modular optical systems making it possible to modify the perception of the external landscape. Thus, it is possible to have downstream of the waveguide(s) PE1, PE2 a magnifying afocal optic with a magnification of 3 for example. In the same way, upstream of the waveguide(s) PE1, PE2 an optical module with a light intensifier invariant in magnification and axis deviation may be arranged. The user thus perceives both an intensified image and a thermal image of the external landscape.

Claims

Claims

1. Sighting or observation scope having a sighting or observation axis x and comprising, in a mechanical structure (SM): - a camera (CI), - a first video micro-display (MAI) displaying an image of the external landscape acquired by the camera, called the first object - a first eyepiece (OC1) associated with the first video micro-display and forming a first image of the first object at infinity - a first pupil expansion light guide (PE1) comprising at least two first plane and parallel faces (FP1, FP1'), the first pupil expansion light guide (PE1) being optically arranged downstream of the first eyepiece and adapted to extend a pupil of the first eyepiece in two directions in space and to superimpose the first image on the external landscape,a structure of the first pupil expansion light guide (PE1) being adapted so that a size (D) of the first pupil expansion light guide (PE1) along the x axis is less than 2 cm.,

2. The eyeglass of claim 1, wherein the first pupil-expanding light guide is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the x-axis.

3. A spectacle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the first pupil-expanding light guide (PE1), a dimension along the x axis of each of the first planar and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm.

4. A scope according to the preceding claim, wherein an arrangement of the first pupil expansion light guide (PE1), the camera (CI), the first eyepiece and the first video micro-display (MAI) is adapted so that an overall size of the scope along the x axis is less than 15 cm.

5. A spectacle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first pupil-expanding light guide (PE1) comprises two elementary light guides (SGI, SG2) coupled in so as to extend said pupil of the first eyepiece in two directions, the first elementary light guide (SGI) comprising said two first flat and parallel faces (FP1, FPL) and the second elementary light guide (SG2) comprising two additional flat and parallel faces (FPA) perpendicular to the two first flat and parallel faces (FP1, FP1'), and in which: - a dimension along the x axis of each of the first flat and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm - a distance along the ^ axis separating the additional flat and parallel faces is between 2 and 5 mm.

6. A telescope according to any preceding claim, wherein the field of the first eyepiece is between 10° and 16° degrees on at least one of its axes.

7. A pair of glasses according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second video microdisplay (MA2) for displaying a second object, a second eyepiece (OC2) associated with the second video microdisplay and forming a second image of the second object at infinity, and a second pupil expansion light guide (PE2) comprising at least two second flat and parallel faces, the second pupil expansion light guide (PE2) being optically arranged downstream of the second eyepiece and adapted to expand the pupil of the second eyepiece in two directions in space and to superimpose the second image on the first image and on the external landscape.

8. A pair of glasses according to the preceding claim, wherein the second video microdisplay is a low-power consumption video microdisplay as compared to the first video microdisplay.

9. The goggles according to the preceding claim, wherein the second object is a red dot or a luminous symbol.

10. The goggles according to any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising a battery for powering the camera, the first and second video microprojectors, and a processor, said processor being configured to operate the goggles in two modes consisting of: - in a first mode, power the first video microprojector and not power the second video microprojector or power the first and second video microprojectors (MAI, MA2) when a battery capacity is greater than a predetermined limit or when the user so chooses, for example by pressing a remote control member (IC) on said mechanical structure, - in a second mode, powering the second video micro-display and not powering the first video micro-display when a battery capacity is less than the predetermined limit, or when the processor detects a malfunction of the first display, or when the user so chooses, for example by pressing a remote control member (IC) on said mechanical structure.

11. Glasses according to the preceding claim, in which the predetermined limit corresponds to a battery life in the first operating mode of less than 1 hour of use.

12. A pair of glasses according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the first micro-projector emits radiation in a first spectral range and the second micro-projector emits radiation in a second spectral range, disjoint from the first spectral range, or the first and the second micro-projectors (MAI, MA2) emit radiation in the same spectral range but with a crossed polarization.

13. A pair of glasses according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein a structure of the first and the second pupil expansion light guides (PE1, PE2) is adapted such that a thickness of the first and the second pupil expansion light guides (PE1, PE2) respectively along the axis A is less than 2 cm.

14. A scope according to the preceding claim, wherein an arrangement of the first and second pupil expansion light guides (PE1, PE2), the camera (CI), the first eyepiece and the first video microdisplay (MAI), the second eyepiece and the second video microdisplay (MA2) is adapted so that a size (Dt^ of the scope along the x axis is less than 16 cm.

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