REMOTE FIELD OF VIEW DETECTOR AND DISPLAY

Abstract

A field of view detector comprising an orientation sensor for determining an orientation of the field of view detector, a location sensor for determining a location of the field of view detector, and a communication system, the field of view detector configured to communicate the orientation and location of the field of view detector to a central device using the communications system.

Claims

1. A field of view detector comprising an orientation sensor for determining an orientation of the field of view detector, a location sensor for determining a location of the field of view detector, and a communication system, the field of view detector configured to communicate the orientation and location of the field of view detector to a central device using the communications system.

2. The field of view detector of claim 1, wherein the field of view detector comprises or is comprised in a helmet or other item of headwear or in a vehicle, rotatable module or turret on a vehicle.

3. The field of view detector of claim 1, wherein the central device is remote from the field of view detector.

4. The field of view detector of claim 1, wherein the field of view detector is configured to communicate an alert to the central device.

5. The field of view detector of claim 1, wherein the field of view detector is configured to communicate the orientation and/or location of the field of view detector to another field of view detector, and the field of view detector is configured to receive the location and/or orientation of another field of view detector.

6. The field of view detector of claim 5, wherein the field of view detector is configured to calculate a relative position and/or orientation of the other field of view detector.

7. The field of view detector of claim 1, the field of view detector comprising a direction indicator may be for indicating a direction in which to face.

8. The field of view detector of claim 1, wherein one or more of: the orientation sensor is a compass; the location sensor is a satellite positioning system locator or tracker; and/or the communication system is a radio.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A central device comprising a processing device, a communication system and a display, the processing device configured to receive an orientation and a location from one or more field of view detectors, and configured to display the orientation and location of one or more field of view detectors using the display.

12. The central device of claim 11, wherein the central device is configured to display one or more of: the location and/or orientation of one or more field of view detectors on a map and/or as numerical data, a field of view using the orientation and location of one or more field of view detectors; a plurality of fields of view of a respective plurality of field of view detectors; and/or an aggregate or combined field of view of the plurality of fields of view of the respective plurality of field of view detectors.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. The central device of claim 11, wherein the central device is configured to calculate and/or display an intersect or triangulation using the orientation and location of two or more field of view detectors.

17. The central device of claim 16, configured to calculate and/or display a line from each location of two or more field of view detectors, the lines orientated in the orientation of the field of view detectors and display the intersect or triangulation point as the intersection of the lines from the locations of each of two or more field of view detectors.

18. The central device of claim 11, wherein the central device is configured to display a location, orientation and/or field of view of a field of view detector, wherein the display of the location, orientation and/or field of view is representative of another property of the field of view detector and/or a user or wearer of the field of view detector.

19. The central device of claim 18, wherein an extent of an indicia representing an orientation or the extent of a field of view may represent a range of a field of view or of a weapon of the wearer or user of the field of view detector.

20. The central device of claim 11, configured to display the location, orientation and/or field of view representative of average or cumulative movements, orientations and/or other properties of the one or more field of view detectors and/or of respective users or wearers of the one or more field of view detectors over time.

21. A system comprising the central device and one or a plurality of field of view detectors; wherein the one or each of the plurality of field of view detectors comprising an orientation sensor for determining an orientation of the field of view detector, a location sensor for determining a location of the field of view detector, and a communication system, the one or each of the plurality of field of view detectors being configured to communicate the orientation and location of the field of view detector to the central device using the communications system; and the central device comprising a processing device, a communication system and a display, the central device being configured to receive the orientation and location from the one or the plurality of field of view detectors, and configured to display the orientation and location of the one or the plurality of field of view detectors using the display.

22. A method of displaying a field of view of a field of view detector, the method comprising: using a location and an orientation of a field of view detector to set or define a field of view of the field of view detector; and displaying the field of view of the field of view detector using a central device.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising one or more of, defining a centre of the field of view of a field of view detector as an average orientation of the field of view detector over a period of time; defining the width of the field of view of a field of view detector as a set value; and/or a user or wearer of a field of view detector setting or determining the width of the field of view of a field of view detector.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A method of determining the location of a target or object, the method comprising: receiving the location and orientation of two of more field of view detectors; and triangulating the intersection of two or more of the two or more orientations.

27. A tangible computer readable carrier medium carrying a computer program product, wherein the computer program product is configured such that when implemented on a processing system, causes the processing system to, use a location and an orientation of a field of view detector to set or define a field of view of the field of view detector, and display toe field of view of the field of view detector using a central device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] At least one embodiment of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a basis user with a field of view detector in a helmet, and a commander with a field of view detector and a central device;

[0052] FIG. 2 shows different displays of field of location and orientation information;

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a display of multiple fields of view;

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a display of a triangulation; and

[0055] FIGS. 5A-C show a method of setting a field of view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Although an example is given that is explained with reference to a commander 110 and basic user(s) 105, and that this could potentially refer to a battlefield situation, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the same approach may be beneficial in any suitable application in which several users or unit need to be coordinated, particularly applications that require a watch, outlook or survey to be made. Examples of possible alternative applications include coordinating security around a building or person, surveillance operations, searching operations, coordinating a group of workers, setting up a 3D virtual reality recording, and/or the like.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a basic user 105 and a commander 110, who each have field of view detectors 115a-b. Each field of view detector 115a-b comprises a digital magnetic compass 1, a battery 2 and a processor 3, located inside a helmet 120a-b. Each field of view detector 115a-b includes (or is wired or wirelessly connected/connectable to) a communications device, which in this case is a radio 125a-b, and each communications device includes a positioning system, such as a satellite positioning system, e.g. a GPS tracker. Each field of view detector 115a-b is powered by the corresponding battery 2. The basic user 105 and the commander 110 both have headsets 135a-b, which each comprise headphones and a microphone. The headsets 135a-b are communicatively connected 4 to the corresponding radios 125a-b, allowing verbal communication between the basic user 105 and the commander 110. The radios 125a-b communicate the location obtained from the positioning system and orientation obtained from the digital magnetic compass 1 of each of the field of view detectors 115a-b to a central device 130.

[0058] The commander 110 has the central device 130, which utilises software 140 to calculate fields of view of each field of view detector 115a-b, and displays the fields of view, ether individually, selectively or as a combined or aggregated field of view.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows examples of different methods that could be used for displaying the locations 205a-d and the orientations 210a-d of multiple field of view detectors. Each location 205a-d may be displayed as a simple marker or dot. Each orientation 210a-d may be displayed as an arrow pointing in a direction of the orientation 210a-d (e.g. orientation vector) of the corresponding field of view detector, each arrow originating from the respective location 205a-d of the corresponding field of view detector and extending at the angle of the respective orientation 210a-d. The fields of view 215b-d of some of the field of view detectors is additionally shown. The fields of view 215b-d of the field of view detectors may be represented by a pair of lines 215b, a triangle 215c or a circular sector 215d. The representation of the fields of view, e.g. the angle subtended by the pair of lines 215b, triangle 215c, or circular sector 215d may represent an extent of the respective field of view. The length of the lines 215b, or the size of the triangle 215c or circular sector 215d may represent a range, such as the range of a weapon of a user located at the location 205b-d of the corresponding field of view detectors. Any of these displays of location 205a-d, orientation 210a-d and fields of view 215b-d can be used in combination, and may be displayed on a map by the central device. Each field of view 215b-d is centred on the corresponding orientation 210b-d (e.g. orientation vector).

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a display 300 of the locations 305 and fields of view 315a-g of multiple field of view detectors that could be displayed on the central device, for example. The locations 305 of the field of view detectors are clustered together, with each field of view detector orientated outwards, away from the cluster of field of view detectors. Such an arrangement may occur when soldiers adopt a defensive position and wish to look out for threats from any direction. The commander can quickly and easily see from the display 300 where fields of view 315a-g overlap, and where there are gaps between fields of view 315a-g. From the display 300 it is clear that the combined fields of view 315a-g do not provide 360° degree coverage, but that there are gaps in the coverage either side of field of view 315g. A commander can quickly and easily see this from the display 300 and issue orders for the soldiers to re-position to correct this deficiency.

[0061] The commander can learn about the deficiency without visiting each soldier to individually check each field of view, and without verbally communicating with each soldier to check each field of view. This improves the safety of the commander and the soldiers, as movement and noise are limited, both of which way be undesirable in a combat situation. Although the commander is only provided with very basic location and orientation information from each soldier, the value of the collective information obtained from each soldier is high to the commander. Where the field of view detectors include direction indicators, the commander can use the direction indicators to non-verbally and remotely command the soldiers to reposition or to re-orient their fields of view, allowing the deficiency to be corrected with a minimum amount of movement and noise.

[0062] The collective information can be of particular value to the commander when the location and orientation of every soldier is known. If the location and orientation of every soldier is not known, then the collective field of view display 300 may provide less useful information on the overall coverage of the combined fields of view, as any gaps in the display 300 may in fact be filled by soldiers whose location and orientation are not known. The need for location and orientation information from every soldier necessitates the use of simple and light equipment which can be provided to every soldier, and which every soldier can easily use. If the field of view detectors were expensive, heavy, or difficult to use, then it may be unpractical to provide every soldier with the field of view detectors or the required training to properly use the field of view detectors.

[0063] Although the collective information is highly useful, it does not require a high degree of accuracy to be useful. High-end digital magnetic compasses which give highly accurate bearings, such as the digital magnetic compasses used along with laser range finders as high-end target locators, suffer from calibration drift. Such high-end digital magnetic compasses have to be periodically recalibrated to ensure their accuracy. Conversely, simply digital magnetic compasses may have an error of 5°, which renders them useless for current target locators. However, a 5° error is adequate for the purposes of displaying fields of view of field of view detectors, and so simple digital magnetic compasses are suitable for the current application. Such simple digital magnetic compasses also have sufficiently low power requirements that they can be always on, thereby always providing a commander with the useful orientation information required for the present application.

[0064] One possible field of view detector is a camera, which could provide a commander with good information on the field of view of a soldier. It would be possible for a commander to determine if there were overlaps in the camera images of different soldiers. However, sending imagery from remote soldiers to a central device would require much greater bandwidth, which may not be available. The use of simple location and orientation information, such as that provided by a satellite positioning locator and a simple electronic compass, allows the commander to obtain the useful information with greatly reduced bandwidth, which is highly advantageous.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a display 400 of a triangulation point 420 which has been determined from the intersection of orientations 410a-b of two field of view detectors. The display 400 shows the locations 405a-b of the field of view detectors and the fields of view 415a-b of the field of view detectors. The orientations 410a-b of the associated field of view detectors at the locations 405a, 405b are displayed as arrows which have been extended to or beyond the point at which they intersect, i.e. the triangulation point 420. The triangulation point 420 is calculated by the central device from the intersection of the orientations 410a-b. The simple orientation and location information from two of more field of view detectors can simply be used to determine the triangulation point, which may relate to a target position. The central device is prompted to calculate the triangulation point 420 by the user of one or both of the field of view detectors pushing orientation and location information to the central device, e.g. by using a push initiator of the field of view detectors.

[0066] FIGS. 5A-C show a method of setting an extent, e.g. a width or lateral extent, of the field of view of a field of view detector. In some situations, the field of view of a user of a field of view detector may be limited, for example by obstacles 525a-b, and the user may wish set their field of view, rather than using a predefined value for their field of view.

[0067] FIG. 5A shows the first step, in which a field of view detector is orientated 510a to a leftmost limit of the field of view of the user of the field of view detector. The user uses the push initiator to set this orientation 510a as the leftmost limit 530 of their field of view 515.

[0068] FIG. 5B shows the second step, in which a field of view detector is orientated 510b to a rightmost limit of the field of view of the user of the field of view detector, without changing the location 505 of the field of view detector. The user uses the push initiator to set this orientation 510b as the rightmost limit 535 of their field of view 515.

[0069] FIG. 5C shows the set field of view 515, which is defined by the leftmost limit 530 and the rightmost limit 535, which are between the obstacles 525a-b. The orientation 510c is shown in the centre of the field of view 515.

[0070] The set field of view can be used until further notice, e.g. until the user selects the default pre-set value or sets another custom field of view. As the leftmost and rightmost limits of the field of view are determined, the angle subtended by these fields of view can be used to help determine future fields of view centred on a measured orientation.

[0071] Using this simple method of orientating the field of view detector to the leftmost and rightmost limits of the field of view of the user of the field of view detector, a central device can display a field of view which is limited by obstacles, thereby increasing the accuracy of the information available to the commander. In obstructed situations, if the central device displayed a field of view of predetermined width, the commander would not accurately be aware of what the user of the field of view detector could actually see. This method allows an actual field of view to quickly and easily be set.

[0072] Although a central device is referred to herein, the alternative terms “remote device” or “information device” or simply “further device” may be used interchangeably throughout. The above examples are provided by way of illustration only and a skilled person would appreciate that modifications to the above examples could be made.

[0073] As such, the scope of invention is not limited by the above examples but only by the claims.