Borderless Overlay Display Layout for Compact Night Vision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incorporating an overlay display into analog night vision systems increases their size, weight, and power consumption, which is undesirable for compact and lightweight design.
Innovation Solution
A borderless overlay display configuration is implemented, where data-handling circuitry is integrated within the active area of the semiconductor chip, and communication lines are routed below the inter-pixel metal rows and columns, reducing the chip size and eliminating the need for a beam splitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an overlay display is added to analog night vision systems, then display functionality is improved, but size, weight, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the overlay display with the intensifier module by integrating the display chip directly into the optical path at the phosphor screen location. The display chip is positioned to receive intensified light from the phosphor screen and transmit it to the user's eye, combining two separate functions (image intensification and overlay display) into a single integrated module, thereby avoiding additional weight from separate beam combiners or splitters
Solution Approach 2:
The overlay display chip serves multiple functions: it displays information to the user while simultaneously transmitting the intensified night vision image through its transparent regions. The chip acts as both a display device and an optical element in the imaging path, eliminating the need for separate optical components and reducing overall system weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If an overlay display is added to analog night vision systems, then display functionality is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay display is merged with the intensifier module housing, with the display chip positioned within the existing optical path. This integration eliminates the need for separate housings or mounting structures for the display, thereby minimizing the increase in overall system volume
Solution Approach 2:
The display chip uses a thin-film transparent substrate that allows the intensified light to pass through while displaying overlay information. This thin-film approach minimizes the volume occupied by the display component within the intensifier module
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional overlay display with beam splitter is used, then display functionality is achieved, but additional bulk and weight are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the beam splitter component from the optical system by positioning the display chip directly in the optical path at the phosphor screen location. This removes the need for beam splitting and combining optics, simplifying the overall optical system while maintaining overlay display functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a beam splitter to separate and recombine light paths, the patent inverts the approach by placing the display chip directly in the intensified light path, allowing the display to modulate the intensified image directly without requiring separate beam paths for the display and night vision image
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration minimizes the increase in size and weight while maintaining overlay display functionality, avoiding the additional bulk and weight of conventional beam combiners and beam splitters.
Implementation Method 1
The multiplied electrons then strike a phosphor screen, and, via the phenomenon of luminescence, the phosphor screen emits photons in response to radiant energy (e.g., the electrons)
Implementation Method 2
The image intensifier has a photocathode that emits electrons in response to incident photons
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus and method are provided for a night vision system including a transparent overlay display that transmit direct-view light representing an intensified image and emits display light representing a display image. The transparent overlay display is a borderless display in which the active area extends to at least one edge of the display. Data-handling circuitry is arranged within the active area, rather than being arranged along a border of the display. The data-handling circuitry may be fabricated in the active area of the display by fabricating it below opaque pixel regions that generate the display light. This borderless configuration allows partial overlap with the intensified image by eliminating opaque borders in which the data-handling circuitry is fabricated. This borderless configuration helps to minimize size, weight, and power by reducing the size of the display and eliminating the need for bulky beam splitters.