Abstract: A direct view optical sight including an integrated laser rangefinder. One example of the sight includes an eyepiece, an objective providing an optical aperture and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene to the eyepiece, an erector tube assembly coupled between the eyepiece and the objective, the laser rangefinder configured to transmit and receive laser radiation, and a beam combiner assembly mounted to the erector tube assembly and positioned between the erector tube assembly and the objective, the beam combiner assembly configured to combine the laser radiation and the electromagnetic radiation to allow the laser rangefinder to transmit and receive the laser radiation via the optical aperture of the objective, and to maintain optical alignment of the laser rangefinder and the viewed scene during movement of the erector tube assembly.

Abstract: A direct view optical sight including an integrated laser rangefinder. One example of the sight includes an eyepiece, an objective providing an optical aperture and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene to the eyepiece, an erector tube assembly coupled between the eyepiece and the objective, the laser rangefinder configured to transmit and receive laser radiation, and a beam combiner assembly mounted to the erector tube assembly and positioned between the erector tube assembly and the objective, the beam combiner assembly configured to combine the laser radiation and the electromagnetic radiation to allow the laser rangefinder to transmit and receive the laser radiation via the optical aperture of the objective, and to maintain optical alignment of the laser rangefinder and the viewed scene during movement of the erector tube assembly.

Abstract: An electronic eyepiece includes a digital microdisplay and an electrically switchable light blocking mechanism configured to selectively transmit or block light transmitted along an optical path toward the digital microdisplay to protect the microdisplay from the risk of light focus damage. Further, a method of protecting a digital microdisplay of an electronic eyepiece from light focus damage includes determining a risk of light focus damage, and selectively opening or closing an optical path to the digital microdisplay responsive to the risk of light focus damage exceeding a predetermined risk threshold.

Abstract: An electronic eyepiece includes a digital microdisplay and an electrically switchable light blocking mechanism configured to selectively transmit or block light transmitted along an optical path toward the digital microdisplay.

Abstract: A firearm sight receives information regarding a factor, and then automatically adjusts the relative positions of a digital reticle and an image on a viewing section to compensate for the influence of the factor on a projectile trajectory. A different feature involves automatically adjusting a characteristic of the reticle based on the image. Another feature involves automatically adjusting the digital image to distinguish a portion thereof aligned with the reticle from an adjacent portion thereof. Yet another feature involves causing the firearm sight to generate an audible sound. Still another feature involves presenting information on the viewing section which represents the position of the firearm sight on the surface of the earth.

Abstract: A firearm sight receives information regarding a factor, and then automatically adjusts the relative positions of a digital reticle and an image on a viewing section to compensate for the influence of the factor on a projectile trajectory. A different feature involves automatically adjusting a characteristic of the reticle based on the image. Another feature involves automatically adjusting the digital image to distinguish a portion thereof aligned with the reticle from an adjacent portion thereof. Yet another feature involves causing the firearm sight to generate an audible sound. Still another feature involves presenting information on the viewing section which represents the position of the firearm sight on the surface of the earth.

Abstract: A firearm sight can detect engagement of a firing pin with a cartridge, and can respond to this event by saving an image which shows a target and reticle at a point in time just prior to the detected event. An electronic reticle can be downloaded into the sight. The effective position of the reticle within the sight can be adjusted electronically, and a zoom factor of the sight can be adjusted electronically. The sight can sense approximately transverse movement thereof, and can provide a user with an indication of the amount of transverse movement. With the use of an additional device, the sight can automatically align its reticle to the bore of a firearm on which the sight is mounted.

Abstract: A weapon sight can be mounted on a weapon. According to still another aspect of the invention, the sight takes a selected action if it detects the presence of a selected color within radiation originating externally of the sight.

Abstract: Projection display systems for light valves such as liquid crystal display panels, and in particular to the use of color component rotators, such as retardation filters, to provide for improved projection display architectures.

Abstract: A polarized light beam splitter system provides a polarized light beam splitter including an embedded wire grid polarizer. Spacers ensure a uniform distance between an exposed surface of an internal wire grid polarizer and a corresponding internal surface of a polarized light beam splitter prism so as to ensure a uniform air gap between the two surfaces and within the prism. The spacers typically comprise rigid spheres having a precise predetermined outer diameter. The spacers are generally distributed within an adhesive, such as epoxy, which is used to adhere the exposed surface of the wire grid polarizer to the internal surface of the prism, around the outer edge of the two surfaces. The exposed surface of the wire grid polarizer and the internal surface of the prism are forced together during adhesion so that the two surfaces are uniformly separated by the an air gap having a width having the same dimension as the diameter of a single spacer.

Abstract: A system provides a two-panel projection system wherein both display devices run a sequence of red, green, and blue color fields with the sequences staggered so that two different color images are projected at any given time. Each panel shows a color field for two thirds of a frame time while the combination of colors displayed changes every one third of a frame time. With two separate red-green-blue sequences being projected, the display will be twice as bright as a single panel system and the presence of two different color fields at any give time will reduce the visibility of any color splitting artifacts.

Abstract: A projection display system using polarized light comprises a light source for generating a light beam having at least two light components, wherein the light components are polarized and at least one of the light components is polarized differently than another of the light components. The projection display system has a projection system having a plurality of polarized light modulators, each modulator generating a light-component-specific image associated with one of the light components. The projection display system also has a projection lens for projecting an image combined from the light-component-specific images from the modulators. The present invention also provides a polarization converter for use with a light source that generates a light beam having at least two light components. The polarization converter comprises an optics array capable of separating the light beam into at least one light component having a polarization that is different than another light component.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer (10, 110) includes a primary input port (16, 21), an express output port (17, 22), an add input port (18, 23), and a drop output port (19, 24). Radiation from the primary input port is reflected by a thin film filter (26), is routed back to the filter by a redirecting arrangement (38, 151-153, 251), is then reflected again by the filter 26, and then travels to the express output port. A signal component from the primary input port at a predetermined wavelength is extracted by the filter as it effects the first reflection, and is supplied to the drop output port. An add signal from the add input port is directed by the filter to the express output port.

Abstract: An optical switch (11, 111, 211) includes a member (26) having a plurality of openings (31-42) therethrough which are arranged in a periodic pattern. A path (86-87, 91-92, 96-97) extends through the member from an input to an output, with a subset of the openings disposed along the path. In one operational mode, each of the openings contains a material having an index of refraction which is different from the index of refraction of the member, so as to define a photon band gap configuration that inhibits propagation through the member of radiation at a predetermined wavelength. In a different operational mode, the index of refraction of the subset of openings along the path has a different value, which permits radiation to propagate along the path.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes an array of optical detectors and an optical filter placed adjacent the array. The optical detectors output detection signals that are used to form control signals. The filter includes spatial sections of individually adjustable optical density. The optical densities are controlled by the individual control signals. The camera outputs the combined control signals and detection signals, thus effectively providing an output with a larger dynamic range than would be provided by the detection signals of the detectors alone. An objective lens and a housing form a stand alone unit. The detectors can have different responses to different wavelengths to achieve color specific effects. Methods are further provided for controlling the filter. The detection signals are scanned to ensure that a predefined filtering condition is met. If not, control signals are iteratively generated and applied to the filter until the condition has been met.

Abstract: A color field sequential projector includes an electronically controllable quarter waveplate positioned between a reflection device and a polarized light beam splitter, wherein the controllable quarter waveplate is switched to be optimum for particular wavebands as the illumination distribution changes during a color field sequence. The electronically controllable quarter waveplate provides for improved contrast performance and color purity in the projected image.

Abstract: A color field sequential projector includes an electronically controllable quarter waveplate positioned between a reflection device and a polarized light beam splitter, wherein the controllable quarter waveplate is switched to be optimum for particular wavebands as the illumination distribution changes during a color field sequence. The electronically controllable quarter waveplate provides for improved contrast performance and color purity in the projected image.

Abstract: A power conservative multi-segment LED transmitter including a multi-segment LED with a plurality of independently addressable LED segments, each LED segment suitable for selectively emitting a beam segment. A controller selectively enables and disables the LED segments. Depending on whether the beam segments overlap or not and whether low or high power is supplied to the enabled LED segments, the combined resulting beam may be a low power steered beam, a power conservative steered beam, an overlapping low power intense steered beam, or an overlapping power conservative steered beam.

Abstract: A system provides a two-panel projection system wherein both display devices run a sequence of red, green, and blue color fields with the sequences staggered so that two different color images are projected at any given time. Each panel shows a color field for two thirds of a frame time while the combination of colors displayed changes every one third of a frame time. With two separate red-green-blue sequences being projected, the display will be twice as bright as a single panel system and the presence of two different color fields at any give time will reduce the visibility of any color splitting artifacts.

Abstract: A polarized light beam splitter system provides a polarized light beam splitter including an embedded wire grid polarizer. Spacers ensure a uniform distance between an exposed surface of an internal wire grid polarizer and a corresponding internal surface of a polarized light beam splitter prism so as to ensure a uniform air gap between the two surfaces and within the prism. The spacers typically comprise rigid spheres having a precise predetermined outer diameter. The spacers are generally distributed within an adhesive, such as epoxy, which is used to adhere the exposed surface of the wire grid polarizer to the internal surface of the prism, around the outer edge of the two surfaces. The exposed surface of the wire grid polarizer and the internal surface of the prism are forced together during adhesion so that the two surfaces are uniformly separated by the an air gap having a width having the same dimension as the diameter of a single spacer.