JP2953085B2 - Observation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an observation apparatus capable of knowing the substance of an object to be observed in more detail. The observation device observes or monitors, for example, a scene around an observatory or a beautiful place with a beautiful scene, a scene ahead of a driver (or a driver) of a vehicle, or a monitoring target with a rise in temperature. It can be used at times. In particular, the observation device can be easily applied to an observation display device in which a head-up display is incorporated in a telephoto device installed on an observation platform or the like, or a head-up display for vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a method of forming a visible light image by a photoelectric tube using light rays in a non-visible light range and observing the object when an object to be observed becomes difficult to see due to dark surroundings. In addition, a video signal is obtained by a CCD that responds to infrared rays, and an image formed by the video signal is observed.

On the other hand, as a head-up display, there is known a head-up display for a vehicle which is used when an operator checks necessary information while monitoring a scene ahead in various vehicles such as an aircraft, a train, and an automobile. Have been. There has also been proposed a head-up display for viewing, which incorporates a head-up display into a telephoto device installed on an observatory or the like so that a surrounding scene and information on the scene can be simultaneously viewed.

In such a head-up display, when the surroundings become dark and it becomes impossible to observe or monitor a scene only with visible light, a method using the above-mentioned invisible light can be considered. Conventionally, as a head-up display for an aircraft, a trial production of an image of a front scene created on a CRT display or the like using an infrared CCD, which is made incident on a combiner and superimposed on the front scene, has been prototyped. Such a head-up display makes it possible to confirm the scene ahead in a relatively easy manner even at night, so that safe operation is possible.

[0005]

As can easily be inferred from the above, if an invisible light image of a front or surrounding scene can be observed on a head-up display so as to be superimposed on a visible light image, the invisible light is reduced. In the case of infrared rays, there are merits such as that a high-temperature place can be found and nighttime scene observation can be performed. However, there is a problem that the configuration using the infrared CCD is complicated. Further, the fineness of an image depends on the fineness of the display surface of an optical display means such as a CRT, and the number of scanning lines is small in a CRT of 10 inches or less which is an optical display means usually incorporated in a head-up display. There is also a problem that the display is not sufficiently large and the display fineness is not sufficient. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a simple observation device having a configuration capable of observing an invisible light image superimposed on a visible light image.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an observation apparatus according to the present invention comprises an object emitted from an object to be observed.
Objective optical element on which an object exit light beam enters, and the objective optical element
For splitting outgoing light rays from the object incident on the
Step), wavelength converting means for converting the wavelength of the invisible light emitted from the observation object out of the divided light into visible light, and converting the wavelength-converted light converted into visible light by the wavelength converting means in a predetermined direction. The optical system that emits light and the wavelength conversion light out of the wavelength converted light and split light
A combiner for directing visible light emitted from the observation object not to be exchanged to an observation position, wherein the optical system is formed by the visible light when viewed from the observation position. It is characterized by having optical power such that the image of the object and the image of the observation object formed by the wavelength-converted light beam have the same size.

[0007]

According to the observation apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structure, when viewed from the observation position, the image of the object to be observed (visible light image) formed by the visible light and the wavelength-converted light are formed. The image of the observation target (wavelength-converted light image, that is, an invisible light image) is seen at the same size. Therefore,
By adjusting the position where the combiner or the optical system is disposed, the visible light image and the invisible light image can be superimposed and observed or monitored. Therefore,
If infrared light is used as the invisible light, a high-temperature place can be identified or nighttime scene observation can be performed. Further, since the observation device of the present invention uses a wavelength converter, the device does not become complicated as in the case of using an infrared CCD.

[0008]

Next, an embodiment of the observation apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of one embodiment of the observation device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an objective lens (objective optical element) A1 on which an object outgoing light beam J emitted from an observation object Po in front (left side in FIG. 1) is incident, a beam splitter (beam splitting means ) behind the objective lens A1. B ) is provided. The beam splitter B emits visible light containing light having a predetermined wavelength or less including visible light (hereinafter, referred to as “visible light”).
It is constituted by a dichroic mirror that transmits J1 but reflects invisible light J2 having a wavelength equal to or more than the predetermined wavelength including infrared rays.

A real image P of the observation object Po at the position behind the beam splitter B and by the visible light J1.
Behind the position where 1 is formed, the deflection plates N1,
A combiner C, a deflecting plate N2, and an eyepiece A2 are provided. The deflecting plate N2 is fixed, but the deflecting plate N1 is rotatably arranged around an axis, and the deviation in their deflecting directions is adjustable. Therefore,
By rotating the deflecting plate N1 and changing the direction of deflection of the visible light J1 passing therethrough, the amount of visible light J1 reaching the observer E can be adjusted.

The first mirror M1, the wavelength converter H, the convex lens A3, the second mirror M2, and the deflecting plate N are sequentially arranged in the optical path of the invisible light J2 reflected by the beam splitter B.
3 are arranged. The deflecting plate N3 is provided rotatably around its optical axis. The wavelength changer H includes a photoelectric conversion surface H1 for emitting an amount of electrons corresponding to the amount of incident light,
A phosphor screen H2 for emitting an amount of light corresponding to the incident electrons,
It comprises an electron lens H3 and the like disposed between the photoelectric conversion surface H1 and the fluorescent surface H2. Then, the wavelength changer H receives the invisible light J reflected by the beam splitter B.
2 are arranged such that the position of the image P2 of the observation target object Po coincides with the photoelectric conversion surface H2.

Therefore, the invisible light beam J2 formed on the photoelectric conversion surface H1 is converted into electrons, which are further accelerated by the electron lens H3 and collide with the fluorescent surface H2. Electrons that collide with the phosphor screen H2 cause the phosphor screen H2
A visible light image P3 is formed. The light beam emitted from the visible light image, that is, the wavelength-converted light beam L is converged by the lens A3 and forms an image P4 at a position between the second mirror M2 and the deflecting plate N3. Then, the wavelength-converted light beams L connecting the image P4 sequentially pass through the deflecting plate N3 to form a combiner C.
And reaches the eyes of the observer E through the deflection plate N2 and the eyepiece A2. The arrangement of the mirrors M1, M2, the wavelength converter H, the lens A3, etc., the optical power of the lens A3, etc. The distance and the size are set to be the same. Therefore, the observer E can observe the visible light image P1 of the observation object Po and the virtual image of the wavelength-converted light image P4 in a superimposed manner.

As described above, since the deflecting plate N3 is rotatably disposed, the deflecting plate N3 is rotated to change the deflection direction of the wavelength deflected light beam L passing therethrough, thereby reaching the observer E. The amount of light of the wavelength-deflected light beam L can be adjusted. Lenses A1 to A3, beam splitter B, combiner C, wavelength changer H, mirror M
The observation device K of the present embodiment is composed of 1, M2 and the deflection plates N1 to N3.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. In the above embodiment, the light J emitted from the observation target object Po is converged by the objective lens A1, and the light (visible light) J1 including visible light is emitted by the beam splitter B.
And an infrared light having a predetermined wavelength or more, that is, an invisible light J2. The visible ray J1 connects the real image P1,
The invisible light J2 is converted into a visible light by the wavelength converter H, and forms a real image P4. The visible light image P1 and the wavelength-converted light image P4 have the same optical distance and size from the eye position of the observer E. Therefore, observer E
Can be observed by superimposing the virtual images of the visible light image P1 and the wavelength-converted light image P4. The brightness of each image can be easily adjusted by rotating the deflecting plates N1 and N3.

When the periphery of the observation object Po becomes dark and becomes difficult to see only with the visible light beam J1, the wavelength-converted light beam L of the invisible light beam J2 including infrared rays is superimposed on the visible light beam J1 for observation. Since the object Po can be observed, the object Po can be seen well. It is also possible to know the temperature distribution of the observation target. In the case where the observation device K is provided on the observation deck, the surrounding scene, that is, the observation target object Po can be observed even when the surroundings are dark. Then, the emitted light J from the observation object Po is separated,
By constructing the observation device K by integrally configuring the optical system to be combined with the telephoto lens system, a position shift occurs between the visible light image and the wavelength-converted light image even when the direction of the observation device K is changed. However, these images can always be observed in a superimposed state.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. It is possible to make design changes. For example, in an observation device for observing a distant scene, the invisible light to be incident on the wavelength invariant H does not necessarily need to be incident after being separated by the beam splitter B. For example, the invisible light is adjacent to the objective lens A2 in the embodiment. Then, it is also possible to make the light incident from another objective lens that is provided side by side. Further, as the invisible light to be wavelength-converted, ultraviolet light can be employed instead of infrared light. In that case, it can be used as a device for observing a moving object such as a bird with an ultraviolet light source as a marker. Furthermore, the deflection filter N for adjusting the amount of observation light between visible light and wavelength-converted light (invisible light)
1, N2, and N3 can be omitted, and the amount of light can be adjusted using a diaphragm or the like.

[0016]

The above-described observation apparatus of the present invention can observe an invisible light image (wavelength-converted light image) emitted from an object to be observed by superimposing it on a visible light image. Therefore, if infrared rays are adopted as the invisible light, a high-temperature place can be identified, and nighttime scene observation can be performed. Further, since the observation device of the present invention uses a wavelength converter, the device does not become complicated as in the case of using an infrared CCD.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the observation device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C Combiner H Wavelength conversion means J1 Visible light J2 Invisible light L Wavelength converted light Po Object to be observed

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An object outgoing light beam emitted from an observation object
Is incident on the objective optical element and the objective optical element
Means for splitting the light beam emitted from the object;
Non wavelength converting means for visible light of visible light with wavelength conversion, an optical system for projecting a wavelength conversion light became visible by the wavelength converting means in a predetermined direction, the optical emitted from the Chi observed object Wavelength converted light emitted from the system and
A combiner for directing a visible light emitted from the observation object that does not perform wavelength conversion among the divided light beams to an observation position, wherein the optical system is configured such that the visible light is viewed from the observation position. An observation device having an optical power such that an image of the observation object formed by the wavelength conversion light beam and an image of the observation object formed by the wavelength-converted light beam have the same size.