US 12,117,617 B1
System including light emitter and sensor assembly having conversion layer
Christopher A. Keith, Wilsonville, OR (US); and Brandon E. Wilson, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed by Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/229,355.
Int. Cl. G09G 5/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/01 (2006.01); H04N 23/11 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02B 27/0093 (2013.01); H04N 23/11 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); G02B 2027/0138 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
at least one light emitter, each of the at least one light emitter configured to emit light over at least one range of wavelengths onto an environment, wherein each of the at least one light emitter is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS) configured to detect light in an NVIS-detectable range of wavelengths, wherein each of the at least one light emitter is configured to only emit light at wavelengths at least one of above or below the NVIS-detectable range of wavelengths; and
at least one sensor assembly including a first sensor assembly, the first sensor assembly comprising:
at least one image sensor including a first image sensor, the first image sensor configured to capture images of the environment illuminated by the at least one light emitter, the first image sensor further configured to sense light in at least one given range of wavelengths; and
at least one conversion layer including a first conversion layer, the first conversion layer configured to:
receive the emitted light from one or more of the at least one light emitter; and
at least one of up-convert or down-convert the emitted light to be converted light, wherein the converted light is within the at least one given range of wavelengths associated with the first image sensor;
wherein the first image sensor is further configured to: receive the converted light from the first conversion layer; capture an image of one or more of the at least one light emitter; and output image data associated with the captured image.