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Nov 4, 2025

US12461378 - Nighttime heads up display unit apparatuses, systems, and methods

Apparatus and methods are taught to optically fuse first output light containing visual data with second output light emitted from a night vision device. A waveguide display is aligned relative to an eyepiece of the night vision device. When the waveguide display is in an ON state and second output light exits the eyepiece, the second output light passes through the waveguide display. A display has an input and is configured to receive a display input signal containing visual data. The display is configured to emit light responsive to the display input signal. An optical device is disposed between the display and the waveguide display. The optical device couples emitted light from the display into the waveguide display. When in the ON state, the waveguide display emits first output light which optically fuses with second output light.

The patent describes an apparatus that optically fuses visual data from a display with light emitted from a night vision device using a waveguide display. This system allows for enhanced visual information to be presented within the field of view of the night vision device while keeping the two light outputs separate.

Claim 1

1 . An apparatus to optically fuse first output light containing visual data with second output light emitted from a night vision device, comprising: a waveguide display, the waveguide display is aligned relative to an eyepiece of the night vision device, such that when the waveguide display is in an ON state and the second output light exits the eyepiece, the second output light passes through the waveguide display; a display, the display having an input, the input is configured to receive a display input signal containing visual data, the display is configured to emit light responsive to the display input signal; and an optical device, the optical device is disposed between the display and the waveguide display, the optical device to couple emitted light from the display into the waveguide display, wherein, in the ON state, the waveguide display emits the first output light which optically fuses with the second output light wherein the night vision device has a data input and the second output light and the first output light are confined to separate portions of a field of view presented by the night vision device. a waveguide display, the waveguide display is aligned relative to an eyepiece of the night vision device, such that when the waveguide display is in an ON state and the second output light exits the eyepiece, the second output light passes through the waveguide display; a display, the display having an input, the input is configured to receive a display input signal containing visual data, the display is configured to emit light responsive to the display input signal; and an optical device, the optical device is disposed between the display and the waveguide display, the optical device to couple emitted light from the display into the waveguide display, wherein, in the ON state, the waveguide display emits the first output light which optically fuses with the second output light wherein the night vision device has a data input and the second output light and the first output light are confined to separate portions of a field of view presented by the night vision device.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12461378

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12461378