Observation device with integrated rangefinder

Abstract

This observation device (1) comprises a mechanical structure, a display module (5), an optical combiner (7), and an optical system (9) configured to direct an image from the display module (5) to the optical combiner (7). The optical combiner (7) directs to an observation area (11) the superposition of, on the one hand, a light beam from an observed scene (15) via a direct optical path (3) and, on the other hand, the image from the display module (5). The observation device (1) comprises a rangefinder (27) configured to emit and receive laser radiation to and from the observed scene (15) by passing said laser radiation through the direct optical path (3). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Observation device with integrated rangefinder technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to observation devices.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to observation and aiming devices intended to be mounted on a vehicle or on a portable instrument.

[0003] In general, the invention applies to any observation device requiring the use of a rangefinder. Previous techniques

[0004] An observation device generally includes a direct optical path comprising lenses and / or mirrors in order for an observer to view a scene, for example with a particular magnification.

[0005] Such an observation device may generally include an additional display module in order to enrich the visual information reaching the observer.

[0006] For example, a prior art observation device may include a means of displaying a reticle, as well as a screen capable of displaying information, for example spectral information captured by a camera, and superimposing it on the light flux of the direct optical path by means of an optical combiner.

[0007] In certain situations, it is particularly useful to know the distance of the observed scene from the observer. It is common practice to use a rangefinder to obtain this information.

[0008] However, rangefinders are separate from the observation devices and result in a significant mass to be transported. A rangefinder can also be bulky and expensive. Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide an observation device also providing a telemetry device.

[0010] The present invention relates to an observation device comprising a mechanical structure, a display module, an optical combiner and an optical system configured to direct to the optical combiner an image coming out of the display module, the optical combiner directing to an observation area the superposition of on the one hand a luminous flux coming from a scene observed via a direct optical path and on the other hand the image coming out of the display module.

[0011] The observation device further includes a rangefinder configured to emit and receive laser radiation to and from the scene being observed by passing said laser radiation through the direct optical path.

[0012] Thus, the observation device makes it possible to pool the direct optical path in order to pass the radiation emitted by a rangefinder through it.

[0013] Advantageously, the optical combiner is configured to reflect the laser radiation from the rangefinder to the direct optical path and the observed scene, and vice versa.

[0014] In one embodiment, the observation device includes a mirror configured to reflect the laser radiation from the rangefinder to the optical combiner and to reflect the laser radiation from the observed scene and reflected by the optical combiner back to the rangefinder.

[0015] Advantageously, the optical combiner includes a partially reflective splitter blade for electromagnetic radiation between 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers wavelength, and fully reflective for electromagnetic radiation emitted by the rangefinder, preferably in the infrared range, even more preferably between 1500 nanometers and 1700 nanometers wavelength.

[0016] In a particular embodiment, the optical combiner is configured to transmit at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers from the observed scene to the observation area, and to reflect at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers from the display module to the observation area.

[0017] Advantageously, the display module includes a sighting device comprising a reticle or a screen configured to display a reticle and / or a red dot.

[0018] For example, the observation device includes a camera, the display module includes a display configured to display an image of spectral information acquired by the camera.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the display module includes a second optical combiner directing at the output of said display module the superposition of on the one hand the image displayed by the display and on the other hand the reticle and / or the red dot coming out of the aiming device.

[0020] Advantageously, the observation device includes a first window between the observation area and the optical combiner, and a second window between the optical combiner and the observed scene.

[0021] In particular, the rangefinder comprises a laser emitter and a laser receiver positioned side by side, preferably parallel to each other in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the direct optical path. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0023] [Fig.1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of an observation device according to the invention incorporating a rangefinder.

[0024] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0025] A cross-sectional view of an observation device 1 according to the invention is schematically represented in [Fig.1].

[0026] The observation device 1 includes a mechanical structure, not shown, for supporting all the elements of said observation device 1.

[0027] The observation device 1 includes in particular a direct optical channel 3, a display module 5, an optical combiner 7 and an optical system 9 configured to direct to the optical combiner 7 an image coming out of the display module 5.

[0028] An optical system 9 is understood to be a set of optical elements, such as mirrors and / or lenses, that allow the path or properties of electromagnetic rays, for example light rays such as those in the visible spectrum, to be modified. As shown, the optical system 9 includes a mirror 9, for example, a freeform mirror. For example, a freeform mirror may be an asymmetric mirror. Generally, the optical system 9 is a freeform optical system. It includes, for example, three freeform optical surfaces: a first operating in transmission (not shown), a second surface operating in reflection, for example, the mirror 9, and a third surface operating in transmission (not shown).

[0029] The direct optical path 3 is understood to be a space in which electromagnetic radiation encounters only optical transmission or reflection elements. As shown in [Fig. 1], the direct optical path 3 extends from the observation zone 11, where an observer can position an eye 13, to the observed scene 15, passing in this order through a first window 17, the optical combiner 7, and a second window 19.

[0030] The first and second portholes 17 and 19 operate by transmitting visible electromagnetic radiation and in particular allow the observation device 1 to be protected from humidity and dust.

[0031] The optical combiner 7 is configured to direct to the observation area 11 the superposition of, on the one hand, a luminous flux from the observed scene 15 via the direct optical path 3 and, on the other hand, the image coming out of the display module 5.

[0032] Thus, the eye 13 of an observer can receive both the luminous flux directly from the scene and additional information via the display module 5.

[0033] In particular, the display module 5 may include a sighting device 21 comprising a reticle or a screen configured to display a reticle and / or a red dot.

[0034] Alternatively or in addition, the observation device 1 includes a camera for acquiring the observed scene 15, the camera not being shown, the display module 5 including a display 23 configured to display an image of spectral information acquired by the camera.

[0035] The camera is, for example, a thermal camera. The display 23 then allows the thermal spectral information captured by the camera to be transcribed into the visible range and sent to the observer's eye 13 via the optical combiner 7.

[0036] Alternatively, no camera is present, but the display module 5 includes a display 23 in order to communicate certain information to the observer.

[0037] In the case represented in [Fig.1], the display module 5 includes a second optical combiner 25 directing at the output of said display module 5 the superposition of on the one hand the image displayed by the display 23 and on the other hand the reticle and / or the red dot coming out of the aiming device 21.

[0038] The observation device 1 further includes a rangefinder 27 configured to emit and receive laser radiation to and from the observed scene 15 by passing said laser radiation through the direct optical path 3.

[0039] Thus, this configuration allows the direct optical path 3 to be shared with the rangefinder 27, allowing for space savings, a reduction in overall mass and cost compared to a conventional system combining an observation device 1 with an external rangefinder.

[0040] In particular, the internalization of the rangefinder 27 allows the combination of five optical channels in the same observation device 1, namely, the direct vision of the observed scene 15 by the direct optical channel 3, the channel corresponding to the sighting device 21, the channel corresponding to the display 23, the channel corresponding to the transmission of the rangefinder 27, and the channel corresponding to the reception of the rangefinder 27.

[0041] In particular, the rangefinder 27 comprises a laser emitter 29 and a laser receiver 31 positioned side by side. For example, the laser emitter 29 and the laser receiver 31 are positioned parallel to each other along a direction orthogonal to the direction of the direct optical path 3, namely the direction of the X-axis. In other words, the laser emitter 29 and the laser receiver 31 are positioned parallel to each other along the direction of the Z-axis, namely along a direction orthogonal to the cross-sectional plane of the [Fig. 1] shown. This allows the linked optical paths of laser emission and laser reception to be separated, and thus the respective optical pupils of each path to be separated.

[0042] Parallel positioning means that laser emission and reception take place along parallel average directions.

[0043] The optical combiner 7 is configured to reflect the laser radiation emitted from the rangefinder 27, in particular from the laser emitter 29, towards the direct optical path 3 and the observed scene 15, and conversely to reflect the laser radiation from the direct optical path 3 towards the rangefinder 27.

[0044] Obviously, the laser radiation from the direct optical path 3 originates from the rangefinder 27, then is reflected on the observed scene 15 and then returns to the rangefinder 27.

[0045] In particular, the observation device 1 includes a mirror 33, for example a freeform mirror, configured to reflect the laser radiation emitted from the rangefinder 27, in particular from the laser emitter 29, towards the optical combiner 7 and to reflect the laser radiation from the observed scene 15 and reflected by the optical combiner 7 towards the rangefinder 27, in particular towards the laser receiver 31.

[0046] Thus, the optical combiner 7 is configured to reflect the laser radiation emitted from the rangefinder 27 to the direct optical path 3 and the observed scene 15 via the mirror 33, and vice versa.

[0047] In addition to the mirror 33, lenses and / or other mirrors may be added according to the optical path that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the rangefinder 27 must take.

[0048] In a particular embodiment, the optical combiner 7 includes a partially reflective splitter blade for electromagnetic radiation between 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers wavelength, and fully reflective for electromagnetic radiation emitted by the rangefinder 27, preferably in the infrared range, even more preferably between 1500 nanometers and 1700 nanometers wavelength.

[0049] For example, the optical combiner 7 is configured to transmit at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers from from the observed scene 15 towards the observation area 11, and to reflect at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers coming from the display module 5 towards the observation area 11. The splitter blade is for example a semi-splitter blade.

Claims

Demands

1. Observation device (1) comprising a mechanical structure, a display module (5), an optical combiner (7) and an optical system (9) configured to direct to the optical combiner (7) an image exiting the display module (5), the optical combiner (7) directing to an observation area (11) the superposition of a luminous flux from an observed scene (15) via a direct optical path (3) and of the image exiting the display module (5), characterized in that it comprises a rangefinder (27) configured to emit and receive laser radiation to and from the observed scene (15) by passing said laser radiation through the direct optical path (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the optical combiner (7) is configured to reflect the laser radiation from the rangefinder (27) to the direct optical path (3) and the observed scene (15), and vice versa.

3. Device according to claim 2, comprising a mirror (33) configured to reflect the laser radiation from the rangefinder (27) to the optical combiner (7) and to reflect the laser radiation from the observed scene (15) and reflected by the optical combiner (7) back to the rangefinder (27).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical combiner (7) comprises a splitter blade partially reflective for electromagnetic radiation between 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers wavelength, and fully reflective for electromagnetic radiation emitted by the rangefinder (27), preferably in the infrared range, more preferably between 1500 nanometers and 1700 nanometers wavelength.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the optical combiner (7) is configured to transmit at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers from the observed scene (15) to the observation area (11), and to reflect at least 40% of the electromagnetic radiation between 400 and 700 nanometers from the display module (5) to the observation area (11).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display module (5) includes a sighting device (21) comprising a reticle or a screen configured to display a reticle and / or a red dot.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a camera, the display module (5) comprising a display (23) configured to display an image of spectral information acquired by the camera.

8. Device according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the display module (5) includes a second optical combiner (25) directing at the output of said display module (5) the superposition of on the one hand the image displayed by the display (23) and on the other hand the reticle and / or the red dot exiting the aiming device (21).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a first window (17) between the observation zone (11) and the optical combiner (7), and a second window (19) between the optical combiner (7) and the observed scene (15).

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the rangefinder (27) comprises a laser emitter (29) and a laser receiver (31) positioned next to each other, preferably parallel to each other along a direction (Z) orthogonal to the direction of the direct optical path (3).

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