VIEWING DEVICE FOR DOORS HAVING OPTICAL EYEPIECES AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Title:

VIEWING DEVICE FOR DOORS HAVING OPTICAL EYEPIECES AND METHOD OF USING SAME

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/1999/040467

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

An optical device (8) is disclosed for compensating the optics of an existing in-door viewer designed for allowing an individual within a dwelling to view the exterior proximity about a door having that in-door viewer, but not allowing an individual on the exterior side of the door to form a clear image of the dwelling interior. Thus, the present invention allows a user on the exterior side of the door to form a clear image of the dwelling interior. Accordingly, the present invention permits law enforcement, emergency and fire fighting personnel to view the interior of a dwelling through such an in-door viewer prior to entering the dwelling.

Inventors:

LISTON THOMAS D (US)
ANDERSON DANA Z (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US1999/002689

Publication Date:

August 12, 1999

Filing Date:

February 09, 1999

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

LISTON THOMAS D (US)
ANDERSON DANA Z (US)

International Classes:

G02B25/04; (IPC1-7): G02B7/00

Foreign References:

US5371626A

1994-12-06

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

Swartz, Douglas W. (CO, US)

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Claims:

What is claimed is:

1.

An apparatus for viewing from a first side of a partition, a scene on the second side of the partition, wherein the partition includes an existing viewer that focuses, on the second side, images received from the first side, and that defocuses, on the first side, images received from the second side, comprising: a first lens for placing adjacent to a portion of the viewer on the first side of the partition, wherein said first lens is effective for focusing an image, I, received from the second side; a second lens for focusing the image, I, at a user's eye ; and a housing for aligning said first and second lenses along a light transmission path for said image I, wherein a length of said path between said first and second lenses is user adjustable.

2.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said partition includes a door.

3.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the viewer is built into the door for viewing the first side from the second side, wherein the first side is interior to a dwelling having the door, and the second side is exterior to the dwelling.

4.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first lens has a focal length in a range of 2 mm to 30 mm.

5.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said first lens has a focal length of approximately 3 mm.

6.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second lens has a focal length in a range of approximately 15 mm to 40 mm.

7.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including an image reversing prism provided in the light transmission path for the image I.

8.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said prism is on said path between said first and second lenses.

9.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first portion having said first lens and a second portion having said second lens, wherein said first and second portions telescope with respect to one another.

10.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including an extension for allowing the user to view said image, I, from an angled offset position from in front of the viewer.

11.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a night vision device for enhancing a contrast of the image, I.

12.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a centering cap extending outwardly from said first lens for positioning said first lens adjacent the portion of the viewer.

13.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a camera for obtaining a picture of the image, I.

14.	An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a light source for transmitting light through the viewer.

15.

A viewing device for use in conjunction with dwelling doors having optical eyepieces positioned therein, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an interior chamber; (b) an eyepiece positioned as said first end of said housing; (c) an objective lens positioned as said second end of said housing ; (d) a prism positioned between said eyepiece and said objective ; (e) whereby said eyepiece, prism and objective lens are positionally aligned such that when said objective lens is positioned adjacent to an optical viewing device of a dwelling door, a user can peer through said eyepiece to view an image of an interior of the dwelling.

16.

A method for viewing from a first side of a partition, a scene on the second side of the partition, wherein the partition includes a viewer that focuses, on the second side, images received from the first side, and that defocuses, on the first side, images received from the second side, comprising: positioning a first lens adjacent to a portion of the viewer on the first side of the partition, wherein said first lens is effective for focusing an image, I, received from the second side; adjusting a length along a light transmission path of the image I between said first lens and a second lens for focusing the image, I, at a user's eye.

17.

A method as claimed in Claim 16, wherein a field of view from said second lens is approximately 98% filled with said image. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 28 June 1999 (28.06.99); original claims 117 replaced by amended claims 116 (4 pages)] Whatis clame is: 1. An apparatus for viewing from a corresponding first side of each of a plurality of partitions, a scene on a corresponding second side of each partition, wherein each of the partitions includes an integral optical viewer that focuses, on the corresponding second side, images received from the corresponding first side, and that defocuses, on the corresponding first side, by scattering an field of view of images received from the corresponding second side, comprising: a first lens effective for focusing, for each of the viewers, at least a portion of a field of view of an entirely scattered optical image obtained from the viewer when said first lens is placed adjacent the viewer; a second lens for focusing an image received from said first lens at a user's eye; a housing, having said first and second lens attached thereto, for aligning said first and second lenses along an optical axis wherein a length of said axis between said first and second lenses is user adjustable; wherein when said housing is positioned so that said first lens is adjacent a first viewer of a first of said partitions, said first lens focuses at least a portion of the field of view obtained from the first viewer's corresponding first side, and when said housing is positioned so that said first lens is adjacent a different second viewer of a second of said partitions, said first lens also focuses at least a portion of the field of view obtained from the second second viewer's corresponding first side.

18.	2 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least one of said partitions includes a door having one of said viewers therein.

19.	3 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the viewer is built into the door for viewing the first side from the second side, wherein the first side is interior to a dwelling having the door, and the second side is exterior to the dwelling.

20.	4 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first lens has a focal length in a range of 2 mm to 30 mm.

21.	5 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said first lens has a focal length of approximately 3 mm.

22.	6 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second lens has a focal length in a range of approximately 15 mm to 40 mm.

23.	7 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including an image reversing prism provided along said axis between said first and second lens.

24.	8 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first portion having said first lens and a second portion having said second lens, wherein said first and second portions telescope with respect to one another.

25.	9 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including an extension for allowing the user to view the focused portion of the field of view, obtained from the first viewer's first side from an angled offset position from in front of the first viewer.

26.	10 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a night vision device for enhancing a contrast of the focused portion of the field of view obtained from the first viewer's first side.

27.	11 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a centering cap extending outwardly from said first lens for positioning said first lens adjacent a portion of the first viewer's first side.

28.	12 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a camera for obtaining a picture of the focused portion of the field of view obtained from the first viewer's corresponding first side.

29.	13 An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further including a light source for transmitting light through the first viewer when the first lens is positioned adjacent the first viewer, wherein said light source is positioned about said second lens and within said housing.

30.

14 A viewing device for use in conjunction with a plurality of dwelling doors each having an optical viewing device positioned therein for scattering a field of view transmitted through the viewing device, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an interior chamber ; (b) an eyepiece positioned at said first end of said housing ; (c) an objective lens positioned at said second end of said housing, said objective lens effective for focusing, for each of the viewing devices, at least a portion of an entirely scattered field of view transmitted through the viewing device when said object lens is placed adjacent the viewing device; (d) a prism positioned between said eyepiece and said objective; (e) whereby, for each of said dwelling doors and the corresponding optical viewing device therein, when said eyepiece, prism and objective lens are positionally alignad such that when said objective lens is positioned adjacent to the corresponding optical viewing device of the dwelling door, a user can peer through said eyepiece to view an image of an interior of a dwelling having the dwelling door.

31.

15 A method for viewing from a corresponding first side of each of a plurality of partitions, a scene on a corresponding second side of each partition, wherein the partition includes a corresponding viewer that focuses, on the corresponding second side, by scattering an entire of field of view of images received from the corresponding first side, and that defocuses, on the corresponding first side, images received from the corresponding second side, comprising: performing each of the steps (a) and (b) for each of the partitions; (a) positioning an objective lens adjacent to a portion of the viewer on the corresponding first side of the partition, wherein said objective lens is effective for focusing at least a portion of a field of view of an entirely scattered optical image received from the corresponding second side of the partition ; (b) adjusting a length along a light transmission path of the focused portion of the field of view, between said objective lens and a second lens for focusing an image at a user's eye.

32.	16 A method as claimed in Claim 15, wherein a field of view from said second lens is approximately 98% filled with said image.

Description:

VIEWING DEVICE FOR DOORS HAVING OPTICAL EYEPIECES AND METHOD OF USING SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a viewer for use with doors having an optical eyepiece, and in particular, the present invention is directed to a viewer that permits an individual outside of a dwelling to peer through an existing door viewer so as to view the inside of a dwelling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been a problem for law enforcement officers to know what awaits them in a specific room or building. This is especially true in domestic violence and drug cases. With little or no information to rely on, police officers are often faced with potentially life- threatening situations. A need exists for law enforcement officials to view into a dwelling through optical viewing devices on existing doors so as to obtain visual information from the interior of a dwelling, including whether or not the occupant has a weapon that could harm the police officers. There is also a need for firemen and other emergency personnel to peer within a dwelling in order to determine dangerous obstacles and/or conditions that may exist inside the dwelling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an optical device for viewing an interior of a dwelling through an optical viewing device (denoted herein also as an"in-door viewer") installed in a door for the dwelling. That is, the present invention allows a user to view the interior of the dwelling through an in-door viewer that typically is installed so that a person in the interior of the dwelling can view the exterior of the dwelling in a proximity of the door, and

wherein the light exiting to the exterior is so scattered, defocused and/or otherwise distorted that it heretofore had not been possible to effectively use this exiting light to obtain a satisfactory image of the dwelling interior.

Accordingly, the present invention is an optical device used in conjunction with an existing in-door viewer to view the interior of the dwelling. Thus the present invention provides optics that compensate for effects of an existing in-door viewer so that an image of the interior of the dwelling can be seen by a user outside of the dwelling.

One embodiment of the present invention includes an eyepiece within a component that is slidably connected to a main housing, thereby allowing telescopic focusing of an image of a dwelling interior obtained from an in-door viewer. Additionally, a short focal length lens may be used at the objective end of the present invention, wherein the short focal length lens primarily compensates for the optics of the in-door viewer. Moreover, it is an aspect of the present invention (also denoted an"interior viewer" herein) to include a centering cap that is adjacent to the objective lens for facilitating optical alignment of the present invention with an existing in-door viewer of a conventional dwelling door. Furthermore, for embodiments of the interior viewer having a telescoping and/or focal length adjustable housing, the present invention achieves different focal points and thus permits focusing of interior dwelling images regardless of the particular optics of an existing in-door viewer. Additionally, between the eyepiece end of the interior viewer and the objective lens, a reverting prism may be positioned so that the image of the interior appears upright when the interior viewer is placed against an in-door viewer.

In other embodiments of the present invention, an artificial light source may be operatively associated with the interior viewer. The light source may be positioned

around the eyepiece, preferably within the housing of the interior viewer, and most preferably in a circular orientation around the eyepiece. Alternatively, a point source of light may be located within the interior of the main housing of the present invention and positioned so that light rays are transmitted from approximately the eyepiece portion of the present invention through the opposite end, thereby entering a dwelling through an in- door viewer to thereby illuminate the interior of the dwelling. In another embodiment, a night vision apparatus may additionally be operatively associated with the in-door viewer of the present invention in the event that an artificial light source would be problematic under, for example, surveillance conditions. In addition, mirrors may be provided within the housing of the present invention for reflecting light at desired angles and/or to achieve a desired illumination.

In yet another embodiment, a periscope-type accessory may be utilized in coordination with the present invention so that a user (e. g., a law enforcement officer) is able to view the interior of a dwelling using the interior viewer while the user is offset from being directly in front of the door. Therefore, the user is out of the immediate vicinity of the door in case the door is opened. Thus, a user may attach or position the interior viewer to such a periscope-type device or an electronic camera (e. g. a ccd camera) and stand out of harm's way from a potential confrontation with an individual inside a dwelling who might attempt to open the door and/or fire a weapon at the door.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention is sufficiently small so as to be hand held and can be easily carried in a user's pocket. Further, various embodiments of the present invention may provide magnification of the interior of a dwelling and/or provide a wide angle view of

the interior of the dwelling. Note that such differences in imaging may be provided by multiple optics included in a single embodiment of the present invention, or may be provided in separate embodiments; e. g., a first embodiment for providing a wide angle view of the interior of a dwelling, and a second embodiment for providing a magnification of a particular area within the dwelling.

Additional features and benefits of the present invention will become evident from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the interior viewer of the present invention, wherein some of the components are disassembled from one another for ease of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a user using an embodiment of the present invention having a periscope-type attachment thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Fig. 1, a partially disassembled cross-section of an embodiment of the interior viewer 8 of the present invention is shown. The interior viewer 8 includes an eyepiece 10 at one end of the interior viewer. The eyepiece 10 has a transparent opening 12 within a housing component 16. There is a lens 20 adjacent to the opening 12 for focusing light to a user's eye that is positioned to view light traversing the interior viewer 8 in the direction of directional arrow 24. The housing component 16 is slidable upon a main housing body 28, thereby allowing a user to vary the distance between the lens 20 and a prism 32 which reverts an inverted image output by the short focal length

objective lens 36 provided at the opposite end of the main housing body 28. Accordingly, the housing component 16 may slide in telescoping fashion on an exterior portion 40 of the main housing body 28. Additionally, the prism 32 contained within the main housing body 28 is retained and properly aligned therein by a split ring cylinder spring 48 so that an inverted image obtained from the short focal length lens 36 is corrected and transmitted to the lens 20.

In one embodiment, the lens 20 has a focal length of in the range of approximately 15 mm to 40 mm, and more preferably approximately 20 mm. Moreover, the short focal lens 36 may have a focal length in a range of approximately 2 mm to 30 mm, and more preferably approximately 3 mm. Additionally, the lenses 20 and 36 may be chosen to reduce chromatic aberrations and other optical aberrations such as standard spherical aberrations as one skilled in the art will understand. Moreover, the lenses may be anti-reflection coated to thereby enhance the brightness of the image obtained from the interior of a dwelling. Note that each of the lenses and the prism 32 are commercially available, and in one embodiment, the prism and the lens 36 may be identical to those found in Bushnell 7x21 binoculars.

Additionally, the exterior surfaces 44 of the housing component 16 as well as those of the main housing body 28 may have a rubber coating for improving a user's ability to grasp and maintain the interior viewer 8 in a desired position.

Attached to the main housing body 28 adjacent the short focal length lens 36 is a centering cap 52. The interior surface 56 of the centering cap 52 contacts the exterior surface 60 of the main housing body when the interior viewer 8 is fully assembled. The centering cap 52 has a recess 64 that allows the interior viewer 8 to be easily fitted onto in-door viewers of various types and

dimensions for thereby facilitating an optical alignment between the present invention and an in-door viewer.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that since it is extremely compact, having a length (along direction arrow 24) of between 1.9 and 2.7 inches (depending on the adjusted length between the lens 20 and the prism 32), the door viewer can be easily hand held and conveniently carried in a user's pocket. Moreover, due to the choice of the optics, when the interior viewer is being used, the user does not have the perception that he/she is viewing a dwelling interior from within a tube where a non- trivial portion of the user's field of view does not convey an image of the dwelling interior. Said another way, the present invention is designed so that an interior dwelling image fills substantially the entire field of view from the eyepiece 12; e. g., approximately 98% of the user's field of view.

To use the interior viewer 8, a user fits the centering cap recess 64 about the exterior lens of the in- door viewer and subsequently focuses the resulting image of the dwelling interior by slidably adjusting the housing component 16 on the main housing 28. Note that the present invention may be used with various optional components such as an attachment wherein the user stands offset from in front of a door having an in-door viewer as illustrated in Fig. 3. Additionally, a night vision device may be attached to the interior viewer 8, thereby allowing a user to view a darkened dwelling interior. Additionally, the present invention may be attached to a camera or video device for viewing or retaining an image of a dwelling interior.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description.

Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently,

variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiment described hereinabove is further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention as such, or in other embodiments, and with the various modifications required by their particular application or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

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