Novel Approaches to Fully Digital Optical Solutions

Digital optical solutions currently have inherent latency due to the processing chain from optical capture with a lens to a display. While system latency in excess of 5 milliseconds is acceptable in most applications where an operator is seated, this threshold is too high for the TALOS application. Being able to move dynamically while processing a digital image of the environment will require a system latency of 1.2 milliseconds (Objective) current analog nodes provide, less than 5 milliseconds (Threshold). In addition to meeting system latency, there is an additional objective to image from daylight/interior lights to an interior room with lights out and doors closed (dynamic range and sensitivity). At a minimum, high definition imagery is needed over a binocular field of view. The end state digital optical solution involving optics, sensors, electronics, and display should be compatible with augmented reality implementations and data feeds.