Patent ID: 6606114
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A42B,G02B

Abstract:
Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus for being worn by a person in a heated environment where stratified heat is present which increases vertically, comprising:a head-protective helmet including a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending downwardly and outwardly from said cap sufficiently to provide an envelope of reduced heat under said brim upon said head-protective helmet being present in said stratified heat; thermal imaging apparatus including an infrared sensor camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and display apparatus which generates a visible image of said scene or object from said infrared image for viewing by the eyes of a person wearing said combination; first mounting means for mounting said camera to said head-protective helmet substantially underneath said brim to protect said camera from falling objects striking said helmet and to cause said camera to substantially reside in said envelope of reduced heat to reduce the influence of said heated environment on said camera, said first mounting means mounting said infrared sensor camera to said head-protective helmet to locate said infrared sensor to the side of the face of said person wearing said combination; and second mounting means for mounting said display apparatus to said helmet in a position to permit the eyes of said person to see said visible image Wherein said first mounting means mounting said camera for rotation in both the horizontal and vertical directions; and said display apparatus includes a television tube or LCD, signal processing means for receiving thermal image signals from said camera and for converting said thermal image signals to TV signals for transmission to said television tube to cause said television tube or LCD to produce a visible, television image of said scene or object carried by light rays emanating from said television tube, a pair of eyepieces and optical means through which said light rays are transmitted to said eyepieces, said optical means for converting said TV image to a pair of intermediate real images of said scene or object in advance of said pair of eyepieces, said pair of eyepieces for converting said pair of intermediate real images to a pair of virtual images of said scene or object for viewing by the eyes said person through said eyepieces.