U.S. patent application number 12/697606 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for combat information system.
Invention is credited to John David Saugen, Karl David Schwab.
Application Number | 20100196859 12/697606 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42398001 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100196859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saugen; John David ; et
al. |
August 5, 2010 |
Combat Information System
Abstract
The Combat Information System comprises; a heads up display, a
set of sensors providing data to the heads up display, and a set of
transmitters and receivers for communicating with other like
systems and other outside systems.
Inventors: |
Saugen; John David; (St.
Louis Park, MN) ; Schwab; Karl David; (St. Louis
Park, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROGER BELFAY ATTORNEY AT LAW
829 TUSCARORA AVENUE
SAINT PAUL
MN
55102
US
|
Family ID: |
42398001 |
Appl. No.: |
12/697606 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61206639 |
Feb 1, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/02 20130101; A42B
3/042 20130101; G02B 2027/0118 20130101; G02B 2027/0138 20130101;
G02B 27/017 20130101; F41G 3/165 20130101; F41A 33/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/11 |
International
Class: |
F41A 33/00 20060101
F41A033/00 |
Claims
1) A combat information system comprising: a) a heads up display;
b) one or more sensors providing data to said display; c) one or
more transmitters for sending data via a communications link; and
d) one or more receivers for receiving data via a communications
link.
2) The combat information system of claim 1 wherein the heads-up
display is attached to a weapon.
3) The combat information system of claim 1 wherein the heads-up
display is attached to a helmet.
4) The combat information system of claim 1 further comprising one
or more non-heads-up displays.
5) The combat information system of claim 1 wherein said one or
more sensors are selected from the set of sensors including:
Accelerometer, magnetic compass, inertial compass, video camera,
gyroscope, GPS.
6) The combat information system of claim 1 wherein said heads up
display further comprises one or more of the enhancements selected
from the set of enhancements including: Color, Brightness filter,
lens.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application listed below is the only application related
to this application. This application claims benefit of the earlier
filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of provisional application No.
61/206,639 filed on Feb. 1, 2009.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] No invention claimed in this application was made under
Federally sponsored research or development.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The present invention relates to data gathering and display
and communications systems used in combat and other circumstances
where minimally distractive display of information communications
between individuals is of great value.
[0007] 2. Description of Related Art
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide data to
the user in a minimally distractive and real time manner as
possible. There are many inventions known which share this
objective with the present invention. The published utility patent
applications by Scales et al (Nos. 20080204361, 20060121993) and
The utility patent to Michel et al et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,308)
using goggles or a video camera to accomplish the purpose are
examples.
[0009] The utility patent to Stallman et al (U.S. Pat. No.
6,899,539) discloses modular, wearable, weapon integrated computer
systems for gathering and transmitting data, wherein the systems
include components tailorable for specific conditions or missions .
. . and for communicating with remote system wearers.
[0010] The utility patent to Gross et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,481)
discloses a helmet based system.
[0011] A number of inventions attempt to improve the users accuracy
by directly intervening in the operation of the users weapon. The
International (World) patent application by Klein (Publication No.
2009111833) and US Published utility patent application by Lenner
et al (Publication No. 20060005447) are typical.
[0012] The circumstances of combat place a premium on the ability
to identify friendly personnel from hostile personnel. The utility
patent to Milbert (U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,206) a system which utilizes
a head mounted display to assist in this function.
[0013] The present invention attempts to provide the above
identified information, along with other data to combat personnel
in a heads up display placed on the users weapon sight and other
locations relevant to the users mission during actual combat or
training exercises.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The Combat Information System comprises; a heads up display,
a set of sensors providing data to the heads up display, and a set
of transmitters and receivers for communicating with other like
systems and other outside systems.
[0015] The Combat Information System is intended to provide real
time information sharing among a team of combatants. The Combat
Information System may consist of a data gathering unit that does
not include a heads up display. This unit records sensor data and
may transfer and/or relay data over a communication link.
[0016] It will be appreciated that each embodiment is optimized for
use under the relevant circumstances.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0017] FIG. 1 is an overview diagram the Combat Information
System
[0018] FIG. 2 is a left front view of a Heads Up Display Attached
to a Firearm
[0019] FIG. 3 is a left rear view of a Heads Up Display Attached to
a Firearm
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of a Heads Up Display Attached to a
Helmet
[0021] FIG. 5 is a left front view of a Data Gathering Unit
[0022] FIG. 5A is a left rear view of a Data Gathering Unit
[0023] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example Combat Team
[0024] FIG. 7 is a top level data flow diagram of the Combat
Information System
[0025] FIG. 8 is a detailed data flow diagram of the Combat
Information System
[0026] FIG. 9 is a diagram of example Sensors and Data
Determination
[0027] FIG. 10 is a left rear view of the Optics, with a Covering
Case
[0028] FIG. 11 is a left rear view of the Internal Optics
[0029] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the Internal Optics
[0030] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how the Heads Up Display is
Focused at Infinity
[0031] FIG. 14 is a top view of the Internal Optics, with Variable
Tint Elements
[0032] FIG. 15 is a top view of the Internal Optics, with Moveable
Tint Elements
[0033] FIG. 16 is a diagram of the Internal Optics, with
Environmental Protection Elements
[0034] FIG. 17 is a left rear view of the Backup Aiming Reticle
Light Path
[0035] FIG. 18 is a diagram of the Menu Based Display System
[0036] FIG. 19 is a rear view of the Rotating the Optical
Display
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] The Combat Information System 1 comprises; a heads up
display 2, one or more sensors 3 providing data to said heads up
display 2, one or more transmitters 5 for sending data via a
communications link 6, one or more receivers 7 for receiving data
via a communications link 6.
[0038] The Combat Information System 1 may be used in several
different embodiments. One such embodiment is configured for
attachment to a firearm 8 or other hand held weapon 13. In a second
embodiment the Combat Information System 1 is configured to be
attached to a helmet 9. A third embodiment of the Combat
Information System 1 consists of a data gathering unit 14 that does
not include a heads up display 2. This unit records sensor data and
may transfer and/or relay data over a communications link 6. The
Combat Information System 1 is intended to provide real time
information sharing among a team 10 of combatants 11. Some of these
combat team 10 members may not be actively engaged with enemy
combatants 12 and may be in a position where the information
provided via the Combat Information System 1 is not attached to
either a helmet 9 or a firearm 8, but is instead displayed on a
stand alone display 24. It will be appreciated that each embodiment
is optimized for use under the relevant circumstances. Each
embodiment or instance of the Combat Information System 1 is
intended to gather and transmit relevant data concerning the
activities of the user 15, transmit that data via a radio, or
other, link 6 to other users 15, and receive similar information
and data via radio or other link 6 from such other users 15 as may
be a part of the network of users 15. Users 15 not in direct
contact with each other may nonetheless communicate by relaying the
information through users 15 with whom they are in contact.
[0039] Each system may include a heads up display 2 permitting the
user 15 to aim his firearm 8, conduct his visual survey of the
situation and simultaneously see relevant data received from such
other users 15 as may be a part of the network and view the users
15 own relevant data.
[0040] Each system may include one or more sensors 3. Such sensors
3 include, but are not limited to: 1) location sensors 3 such as
Global Positioning System modules, 2) orientation sensors 3 such as
heading, pitch and roll, or level indicators for personnel or their
firearms 8 or both, 3) shot fired status, including misfire status,
4) Firearm 8 status, such as operability, rounds used, rounds
available and the like. Each system may include manual input
capability for the user 15, and video input.
[0041] Each system includes the ability to store, transmit, or both
store and transmit the above collected data 26. Transmission of
such data is via a radio or other link 6 which is operating within
a defined network of combat personnel.
[0042] Each system includes the ability to receive, store, and
display the above data when received via a radio, or other link 6,
which is operating within a defined network of combat personnel.
The Combat Information System 1 provides the ability to limit such
communications to those Combat Information Systems 1 assigned to
personnel within a predefined combat team 10. Each Combat
Information System 1 also provides for voice communications among
the personnel assigned to a predefined team 10 of similarly
equipped users 15.
[0043] Some Combat Information Systems 1 include
non-heads-up-displays 24 for use by personnel whose participation
with the combat team 10 warrants such non-heads-up displays 24.
[0044] Certain command and control information may be displayed to
the user 15, including but not limited to: mission planning
information 27, outside sensor 3 data, processed sensor 3 data,
both that generated within the system and provided from outside
sources 33, Aiming cues 28, Map data 29, alphanumeric data 30. The
data to be displayed may be selected by the user 15 by discrete
buttons or an on-screen menu-based system 32.
[0045] It will be appreciated that while this system's primary
mission is to support the needs of individual members of a small
combat team 10 in actual combat, the system's data content and
operation is also suitable for training aids 31 and many other
uses.
[0046] The heads up display 2 projects an electronic or photonic
display into the field of view of the user 15. The focus of this
projected display 4 is chosen to correspond to the distance at
which the users' 15 need to refocus between real-world scenes and
the information displayed is minimized for the intended use of the
Combat Information System 1. For many applications this focal
distance is best selected as infinity. This projection of
information into the user's 15 field of view 16 is accomplished
through a combination of one or more lenses 17, one or more mirrors
25, and one or more semi transparent mirrors 18. The Combat
Information System 1 includes a set of variable tint 19 or movable
or both variable tint 19 and movable elements 20 to adjust for
ambient light conditions. The Combat Information System 1 includes
a system to prevent moisture damage to the optics 21. The Combat
Information System 1 provides a backup aiming reticle 22 as a
backup in the case of electronics 23 failure. The heads up display
2 and the non-heads-up-display 24 systems permit mechanical or
electrical rotation of the displayed information to allow for
viewing from alternate orientations. The heads up display 2
includes brightness controls to accommodate different ambient light
conditions. Brightness controls may also be provided for the
non-heads-up-display 24.
* * * * *