Coded SWIR Glasses with Integrated Sensors for Covert Acquisition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared vision systems for soldiers are heavy, power-hungry, costly, and difficult to manage, often requiring multiple components that increase weight, power consumption, and logistical footprint, and are typically helmet-mounted, posing a risk of neck injury.
Innovation Solution
An infrared vision system integrated into a headpiece with a body module, featuring a see-through color display and short-wave infrared sensors, cameras, and diodes, providing augmented visual information without the need for helmet mounting, integrating power and processing components to reduce weight and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional infrared vision systems are implemented with multiple separate components, then infrared detection capability is achieved, but weight and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate infrared detection components into a single integrated headpiece device. The headpiece integrates SWIR sensors, visible light cameras, laser detectors, and processing units into one unified structure, eliminating the need for soldiers to carry multiple separate vision systems. This merging directly reduces weight while maintaining comprehensive infrared detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The headpiece is designed as a multi-functional device that performs infrared detection, visible light imaging, laser designation detection, and target acquisition simultaneously. By making the headpiece universal rather than specialized for a single function, the system eliminates redundant components and reduces overall weight while achieving multiple detection goals in one device.
2Reliability
If multiple separate vision components are used, then comprehensive detection coverage is achieved, but the number of components and logistical footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple detection functions (SWIR imaging, visible light imaging, laser detection) are merged into a single headpiece unit with integrated sensors and processing. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components from multiple discrete devices to one unified system, simplifying logistics while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage across different spectral ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The headpiece is designed as a universal platform that handles various detection tasks through integrated multi-functional sensors. Rather than requiring separate specialized devices for SWIR, visible light, and laser detection, the universal headpiece performs all functions through its integrated sensor array and processing unit.
3Reliability
If individual power sources are provided for each vision component, then each component operates independently, but overall power consumption and battery requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power sources required for separate components are merged into a single battery unit that powers the entire integrated headpiece system. This consolidation reduces total power consumption by eliminating redundant power management circuits and reducing overall energy requirements, while still providing independent operation capability for each sensor module through shared power distribution.
4Stability of the object's composition
If helmet-mounted vision systems are used, then stable mounting is achieved, but risk of neck injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vision system is extracted from the helmet mounting structure and repositioned to rest on the soldier's head like eyeglasses. This extraction removes the harmful helmet-mounted configuration while preserving the stability needed for effective operation, thereby eliminating neck injury risk associated with heavy helmet equipment.
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
The system reduces the risk of injury, minimizes the number of components, integrates power efficiently, and lowers logistical costs while providing covert and efficient infrared target acquisition and weapon aiming capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The infrared sensor is configured to detect external infrared information
Implementation Method 2
The display is a see-through color display
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Infrared vision systems, headpieces, and methods include an eyepiece and a body module. The eyepiece is configured to be worn over a user's eyes. The eyepiece includes an infrared sensor, configured to detect external infrared information. For example, the infrared sensor may include a plurality of short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors. The eyepiece includes a display, configured to visually provide external infrared information to the user. For example, the display may include a see-through color display. The body module is in wired or wireless communication with the eyepiece. The eyepiece may include an adjustable strap, coupled to the eyepiece. The adjustable strap is configured to wrap around the user's head.