Abstract: A low-profile eye-tracking system for an off-visor helmet-mounted display (HMD) includes annular illuminators clipped to, and aligned with, the terminal component (e.g., the emitter or combiner) of the HMD optical chain. The illuminators include visible-light or IR light sources mounted around the circumference of the illuminator for bouncing light off the visor's inner surface and into the pilot's left or right eye (the HMD may include separate eye-tracking systems for each eye). Image sensors are positioned to sequentially capture images of the illuminated eyes reflected off the visor surface. HMD onboard electronics analyze the captured image sequence to determine the azimuth and elevation of the pilot's eye relative to the centerline of the HMD optics.

Abstract: A helmet mounted display system is described. A visor has an inner reflective surface and is mountable to head gear. A light source is arranged to emit light. Directing optics are arranged to image light from the light source onto the inner reflective surface of the visor to provide a reticle image on the inner reflective surface of the visor. An eye tracker is configured to determine the orientation of an eye of a wearer of the head gear. A controller is configured to receive an indication of the determined orientation of the eye, and to control the at least one actuator to change the orientation and shape of the directing optics to change the position of reticle image based on the indication of the determined orientation of the eye such that the eye views the reticle image.

Abstract: A system and method. The system may include an eye tracking system. The eye tracking system may include a short-wave infrared (SWIR) light source configured to emit SWIR light at between 900 nanometers (nm) and 1,700 nm wavelength onto an environment, a SWIR sensitive image sensor configured to capture images of the environment illuminated by the SWIR light source, and a processor communicatively coupled to the SWIR sensitive image sensor. The processor may be configured to: receive image data from the SWIR sensitive image sensor; track movement of an eye of a user based on the image data; and output eye tracking system data indicative of the tracked movement of the eye of the user.

Abstract: A system and method. The system may include an eye tracking system. The eye tracking system may include a short-wave infrared (SWIR) light source configured to emit SWIR light at between 900 nanometers (nm) and 1,700 nm wavelength onto an environment, a SWIR sensitive image sensor configured to capture images of the environment illuminated by the SWIR light source, and a processor communicatively coupled to the SWIR sensitive image sensor. The processor may be configured to: receive image data from the SWIR sensitive image sensor; track movement of an eye of a user based on the image data; and output eye tracking system data indicative of the tracked movement of the eye of the user.

Abstract: A system may include a processor, a night vision sensor, and an objective lens assembly comprising four lenses. Each of a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens may be configured to project a real world scene onto one of four portions of the night vision sensor. The night vision sensor may be configured to provide four images of the real world scene from the objective lens assembly to the processor. The processor may be configured to: receive a first image, a second image, a third image, and a fourth image from the night vision sensor; generate color night vision image data based at least on the first image, the second image, the third image, and the fourth image; and output the color night vision image data.

Abstract: A system may include a display element. The display element may include pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups may include: a first sub-pixel configured to output light of a first color; a second sub-pixel configured to output light of a second color; a third sub-pixel configured to output light of a third color; and a fourth sub-pixel configured to output light, wherein the fourth sub-pixel has a maximum brightness that is dimmer than a maximum brightness of each of the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel.

Abstract: A system may include a display element. The display element may include pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups may include: a first sub-pixel configured to output light of a first color; a second sub-pixel configured to output light of a second color; a third sub-pixel configured to output light of a third color; and a fourth sub-pixel configured to output light, wherein the fourth sub-pixel has a maximum brightness that is dimmer than a maximum brightness of each of the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel.

Abstract: A helmet-mounted tracker and boresighting system incorporated paired receivers on opposing sides of the helmet worn by the user (e.g., left/right, top/bottom) that receive a directional signal from directional transmitters placed at fixed locations throughout the target environment (e.g., a mobile platform, multilevel structure, or simulated environment). Each paired antenna generates an RF signal based on the received directional signal; the paired RF signals are summed to determine the current alignment of the helmet (and head) to the directional transmitter. Alignment information may be used to calibrate or correct inherent drift of the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the helmet-mounted head tracker.

Abstract: The DNVG includes a digital light sensor, a digital display, and an eyepiece. The digital light sensor is arranged to detect visible and near infrared light from an object and provide a digital signal based on the detected light. The digital display is arranged to provide a digital image of the object based on the digital signal provided by the digital light sensor. The eyepiece is configured to provide the digital image from the digital display to an eye of a user of the night vision goggles. The eyepiece includes a lens assembly and a reflector having a reflector surface, the lens assembly imaging light from the digital image via the reflective surface to the eye of the user. Alternatively, the eyepiece includes waveguide optics transporting imaging light from the digital image to the eye of the user.

Abstract: An infrared emitter is described. The infrared emitter comprises an infrared source, a housing, and infrared optics. The infrared source emits electromagnetic radiation with a peak intensity at a radiation wavelength within the range of 2 to 15 microns. The housing has an aperture, and is arranged to house the infrared source. The infrared optics is arranged to direct the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the infrared source through the aperture to outside the housing.

Abstract: A helmet mounted display system is described. A visor has an inner reflective surface and is mountable to head gear. A light source is arranged to emit light. Directing optics are arranged to image light from the light source onto the inner reflective surface of the visor to provide a reticle image on the inner reflective surface of the visor. An eye tracker is configured to determine the orientation of an eye of a wearer of the head gear. A controller is configured to receive an indication of the determined orientation of the eye, and to control the at least one actuator to change the orientation and shape of the directing optics to change the position of reticle image based on the indication of the determined orientation of the eye such that the eye views the reticle image.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical system is described. An image is detected. A digital image signal based on a spatially varying luminance level of the detected image is received. Horizon data, separate from the digital image signal, indicating the position of a horizon where a sky is adjacent the horizon, is received. The position of the horizon is determined based on the received horizon data. A fused image signal is provided based on the received digital image signal and the determined position of the horizon where a sky region indicative of the sky is provided with an enhanced color fused with the varying luminance level of the detected image. A full color display displays a fused image based on the fused image signal. A corresponding optical system is also described.

Abstract: Multiple index optical structures, including doublet and triplet lenses, aspheres, torics, atorics, and other types of freeform multiple-index lenses, may be 3D printed as single components from a variety of optical materials having different indices of refraction. 3D-printed Multiple-index lenses may be printed onto other lenses, optical structures, or light emitting structures, or onto components of an electrical optical system to provide color correction and reduced distortions while reducing system complexity by requiring fewer lenses and reducing production costs by reducing the processing power and memory required to maintain system latency. A related method modifies the radiation pattern of an LED assembly by 3D printing optical material directly onto an LED die or an LED emitter bulb.

Abstract: A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

Abstract: A system and related method for hybrid headtracking receives head-referenced pose data from a head-mounted IMU and platform-referenced or georeferenced position and orientation (pose) data from a platform-mounted IMU, determines error models corresponding to uncertainties associated with both IMUs, and performs an initial estimate of head pose relative to the platform reference frame based on the head-referenced and platform-referenced pose data. A numerically stable UD factorization of the Kalman filter propagates the estimated head pose data forward in time and corrects the initial head pose estimate (and may correct the error models associated with the head-mounted and platform-mounted IMUs) based on secondary head pose estimates, and corresponding error models, received from an optical or magnetic aiding device. The corrected head pose data is forward to a head-worn display to ensure high accuracy of displayed imagery and symbology.

Abstract: An exit pupil locator tool including a connector and a target. The connector is configured to engage an optics component that defines an optics axis of a helmet mounted display. The target includes a reticle, a first aperture, and a second aperture and defines a tool axis that is arranged at an oblique tool angle relative to the optics axis.

Abstract: A system includes an objective lens, a viewing device, a control circuit, a first filter assembly, a light amplification assembly, and a second filter assembly. The control circuit is configured to transmit control signals for controlling a wavelength range of light filtered by a filter assembly. The first filter assembly is optically coupled to the objective lens, and is configured to receive light via the objective lens and filter the light into a first filtered light of a first wavelength range based on a first control signal received from the control circuit. The light amplification assembly is optically coupled to the first filter assembly, and is configured to receive the first filtered light and amplify the first filtered light into amplified light.

Abstract: A head-tracking system includes a georeferenced head tracker (GHT) configured to provide georeferenced head position data, and a platform-referenced head-tracker (PRHT) configured to provide platform-referenced head position data. A controller is coupled with the GHT and the PRHT, and configured to be coupled with an avionic system configured to provide georeferenced aircraft position data. The controller includes a processor configured to access the georeferenced head position data, compare a current drift error of the GHT with a predetermined error threshold. When the current drift error is below the threshold, the processor transmits a signal indicative of the georeferenced head position data being a current georeferenced head position data.

Abstract: A nanoplasmonic optical reflective includes a particle layer including nano-particles in a substrate material. The nano-particles are arranged in one or more arrays to provide a nano plasmonic reflection of electromagnetic radiation at a selected wavelength. A color display includes a light source configured to emit light, and a nanoplasmonic filter section the nanoplasmonic optical filter. The color display further includes pixel addressing electronics configured to address pixels within the nanoplasmonic filter section, and display optics arranged to display a color image based on addressed pixels by the pixel addressing electronics and the nanoplasmonic reflection or transmission of the light in selected wavelength bands. The color display may be arranged in passive reflective, passive transmissive, active reflective, or active transmissive architectures.

Abstract: The head mounted digital viewing system includes a sensor system, positionable substantially directly in front of the eyes of the user. The sensor system provides sensor video data. An image processing system is configured to receive the sensor video data. The image processing system modifies the sensor video data and provides display video data. A display system is positionable substantially in front of the eyes of the user. The display system is configured to receive the display video data and provide a display image to at least one eye of the user. The display system is positionable between the sensor system and at least one eye of the user. The line of sight of the sensor system and the display system are substantially aligned with the line of sight of at least one eye of the user. The sensor system and the display system are mechanically separate from each other and mechanically aligned with each other.