Transparent Optical Device for Gunfire Detection and Persistent Indication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dismounted soldiers in war zones face challenges in identifying the source of gunfire in complex environments, such as inhabited buildings with multiple windows, which hinders their ability to safely return fire.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising an underlying device, such as a night vision system, optically coupled with a transparent optical device. The transparent optical device includes active elements for detecting light and transparent regions for allowing light to pass through, along with an image processor that identifies specific instances of light and correlates indicators to those instances within the scene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a transparent optical device with active elements is used to detect light instances, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection function and display function into a single transparent optical device. The active elements serve dual purposes: detecting light instances and displaying indicator information. This integration resolves the technical contradiction by combining multiple functions into one device, improving detection capability while managing complexity through functional consolidation rather than adding separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent optical device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a detector and a display device. The active elements can detect specific instances of light and simultaneously display correlated indicators to the user. This universal design allows one component to perform multiple functions, addressing the contradiction between enhanced detection capability and device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent regions are added to allow light transmission, then scene visibility is improved, but detection coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent optical device employs local quality by having different regions with different properties. The active elements are positioned in specific locations to detect light instances, while transparent regions are positioned in other areas to allow scene visibility. Each region is optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between visibility and detection coverage through spatial differentiation of functional properties.
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 optical system enables the detection and persistent indication of specific instances of light, such as gunfire, within a scene, even as the scene changes, thereby aiding warfighters in accurately targeting the source of fire.
Implementation Method 1
The transparent optical device includes a first plurality of active elements formed in an active area of the transparent optical device configured to cause the transparent optical device to detect light portraying at least a portion of the scene
Implementation Method 2
The transparent photodetector subsystem receives the visible image exiting the first optic subsystem and converts a portion of the electromagnetic energy in the visible image to a signal communicated to image analysis circuitry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical system has an underlying device is configured to provide output light. A transparent optical device optically coupled to the underlying device transmits light from the underlying device through the transparent optical device to display a scene. The transparent optical device includes detector elements formed in an active area to detect light portraying at least a portion of the scene. The underlying device has transparent regions formed in the active area to allow light to pass through from the underlying device to a user. The optical system further includes an image processor that processes images produced using light detected by the detector elements to identify a specific instance of light in the scene. The image processor causes display elements in the active area of the transparent optical device to display an indicator, in the scene, correlated to the specific instance of light.