Digital Night Vision Imaging With Direct Sensor-to-Display Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital night vision systems introduce latency due to image processing operations, causing a delay between the acquisition and display of low-light images, which is particularly problematic when objects or users are in motion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a digital imaging device that includes an image intensifier tube, a digital image sensor, and pass-through electronics, which communicate digital image data directly to a display without conversion, allowing for reduced latency by generating and displaying image data in real-time and adding information such as color, calibration, or AR overlays without reformatting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If digital sensor output data is processed by digital data processors to reformat and apply corrective algorithms, then the data is formatted for use by display devices, but latency is introduced causing a delay between image acquisition and display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the digital data processing step from the imaging system. By using an image sensor that directly outputs data in the format required by the display device, the reformatting and corrective algorithm processing steps are eliminated, thereby removing the source of latency while maintaining proper data formatting.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor is designed with multi-functionality to directly generate display-ready data. The sensor performs both the imaging function and the data formatting function that were previously separate operations, eliminating the need for intermediate processing steps and reducing latency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an image sensor generates digital sensor output data that requires conversion and reformatting, then the data can be adapted to different display devices, but additional processing steps increase latency
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor performs preliminary action by pre-formatting the output data according to the specific requirements of the display device before the data leaves the sensor. This advance preparation eliminates the need for subsequent conversion and reformatting operations, reducing processing time while maintaining display device compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a directly connected image sensor and display device pair as an intermediary system that eliminates the need for intermediate processing components. By designing the sensor to natively output data in the display device's required format, the system removes the intermediary processing steps that cause latency.
3Reliability
If conventional image processing operations are performed on digital sensor output data, then the image can be enhanced and formatted for display, but the user views an image from a previous time point rather than real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the image processing operations from the imaging system. By using an image sensor that directly outputs display-ready data, the processing steps that cause temporal delay are eliminated, allowing the user to view images in real-time while maintaining sufficient image quality through the sensor's native output capabilities.
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 approach significantly reduces latency, providing a more accurate and timely representation of the viewed scene, enhancing user experience by ensuring that the displayed image is current and accurate, even during movement.
Implementation Method 1
an image intensifier tube that can enhance a low light image by converting photons to electrons, accelerating and multiplying the electrons, and then converting the accelerated and multiplied electrons to photons
Implementation Method 2
a digital image sensor configured to receive the enhanced image and to generate digital image data corresponding to the enhanced image
Data Source
AI summary
A digital night vision device includes an image sensor that generates digital image data based on an enhanced version of a low light image and a digital display device that generates an image based on the digital image data. The image sensor is configured to output the digital image data formatted as input display data such that pass-through electronics for communicating digital image data from the image sensor to the digital display device does not perform formatting or conversion of the digital image data when moving the digital image data from the sensor to the display.