1. A method of operating optical systems, the method comprising:
forming a stitched image of a field of regard using a first optical device, wherein the stitched image of the field of regard comprises a plurality of sub-images associated with a first field of view;
receiving an image of a second field of view from a second optical device;
determining a location of the image of the second field of view in the stitched image; and
communicating an indicator to the second optical device, the indicator being related to the location of the image of the second field of view in the stitched image.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the indicator as a separation between the second field of view and the first field of view decreases.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving additional images of the second field of view and updating the indicator to direct the second optical system to overlap the second field of view with the first field of view.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first field of view is larger than the second field of view.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first optical device comprises a video imaging device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second optical device comprise a still imaging device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a location of the image of the second field of view comprises correlating the image of the second field of view with a portion of the stitched image.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first optical system is a spotter video or still imaging system and the second optical system is a sniper video or still imaging system.
9. A method of aligning an optical system, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of images at an integrated optical system, wherein each of the plurality of images is disposed in a field of regard, wherein one of the plurality of images comprises a target image;
forming a stitched image of the field of regard using the plurality of images, wherein the stitched image includes the target image;
receiving, at the integrated optical device, from the optical device, an image defined by a second field of view;
correlating the image to the stitched image;
transmitting information related to the correlation to the optical device;
receiving, at the integrated optical device, from the optical device, a second image defined by the second field of view; and
determining that at least a portion of the second image overlaps with at least a portion of the target image.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of images are infrared images, the image is an infrared image, and the second image is an infrared image.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of images are defined by a first field of view.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first field of view is larger than the second field of view.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising marking, in the stitched image, one or more locations associated with one or more objects.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more objects comprise at least one of an ingress route, an egress route, buildings, or roads.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting information related to the one or more marked locations to the optical device.
16. A set of cooperative optical systems comprising:
an integrated optical system comprising:
an infrared imaging system including an infrared detector;
a laser range finder module;
a power source;
a processor coupled to the infrared imaging system and the laser range finder module;
a first wireless communications module;
a first display module;
a location module; and
a visible imaging system; and
a second optical system comprising:
a second infrared imaging system;
a second wireless communications module operable to communicate with the first wireless communications module; and
a second display module.
17. The set of cooperative optical systems of claim 16 wherein the processor of the integrated optical system is operable to form an image stitched scene.
18. The set of cooperative optical systems of claim 17 wherein the processor of the integrated optical system is operable to locate a field of view of the second optical system in the image stitched scene.
19. The set of cooperative optical systems of claim 17 wherein the first display module is operable to overlay the image stitched scene and the field of view of the second optical system.
20. The set of cooperative optical systems of claim 16 wherein the second display module is operable to display an indicator including location information.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A housing for a power tool having a reduction gear mechanism coupled to a drive source for reducing a rotational output of the drive source, the housing comprising:
a first housing half having a first mating surface;
a second housing half having a second mating surface configured to be mated with the first mating surface of the first housing half within a plane extending substantially in a lengthwise direction of the power tool, while a gap is formed between the first and second mating surfaces, wherein:
each of the first and second housing halves includes an outer frame and an inner wall formed integrally with the outer frame;
the inner wall includes a first wall and a second wall;
the first walls of the first and second housing halves cooperate with each other to define at least a part of a gear chamber that can receive the reduction gear mechanism therein;
the second wall is formed in continuity with the first wall;
the outer frames of the first and second housing halves define a first part of the gap;
the first walls of the first and second housing halves define a second part of the gap;
the second walls of first and second housing halves define a third part of the gap;
the second wall of each of the first and second housing halves is connected to the corresponding outer frame in such a manner that the second wall intersects with the outer frame; and
the first wall of each of the first and second housing halves is only connected to the outer frame via the second wall, so that the second part of the gap is connected to the first part via the third part; and
a capillary action preventing device disposed in the third part of the gap or in a connecting point between the first part and the third part of the gap and constructed to interrupt a path of flow of a liquid caused by a capillary action along at least one of the first, second and third parts of the gap.
2. The housing as defined in claim 1, wherein the capillary action preventing device is disposed at the third part of the gap.
3. The housing as defined in claim 1, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises a first recess formed in a part of the first mating surface of the first housing half defining the third part of the gap or the connecting point between the first part and the third part of the gap, so that the path of flow of the liquid is broadened by the first recess in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first mating surface.
4. The housing as defined in claim 3, wherein the capillary action preventing device further comprises a second recess formed in a part of the second mating surface of the second housing half defining the third part of the gap or the connecting point between the first part and the third part of the gap, so that the path of flow of the liquid is broadened by the second recess in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second mating surface.
5. The housing as defined in claim 4, wherein the first recess and the second recess are positioned to be opposed to each other.
6. The housing as defined in claim 1, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises a porous material disposed within the at least one of the first, second and third parts of the gap.
7. The housing as defined in claim 1, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises:
a recess formed in a part of the first mating surface of the first housing half defining the at least one of the first, second and third parts of the gap, and
a projection formed on a part of the second mating surface of the second housing half defining the at least one of the first, second and third parts of the gap,
wherein the projection comprises a seal portion resiliently deformable to sealingly contact with a bottom of the recess when the projection is engaged with the recess as the first and second housing halves are assembled with each other.
8. A housing for a power tool, comprising:
a plurality of housing segments assembled together to form the housing, wherein a gap is produced between mating surfaces of at least two housing segments positioned adjacent to each other; and
a capillary action preventing device disposed at the gap and constructed to interrupt a path of flow of a liquid caused by a capillary action from the inside to the outside of the housing along the gap, wherein:
each of the housing segments includes an outer frame defining a part of an outer surface of the housing and an inner wall positioned inside of the outer frame, the inner wall having a first wall portion and a second wall portion, the second wall portion extending inwardly from the outer frame in such a manner that the second wall portion intersects with the outer frame;
the first wall portion of each of the housing segments is only connected to the outer frame via the second wall portion; and
the capillary action preventing device is disposed in a part of the gap formed between the wall portions of the inner walls of the housing segments or at a part of the gap formed between intersecting portions where the wall portions intersect with the corresponding outer frames.
9. The housing as defined in claim 8, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises a recess formed in at least one of the mating surfaces and configured to broaden the path of flow of the liquid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mating surfaces.
10. The housing as defined in claim 8, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises a porous material.
11. The housing as defined in claim 8, wherein the capillary action preventing device comprises:
a recess formed in one of the mating surface, and
a projection formed integrally with the other of the mating surfaces and engaging the recess,
wherein the projection includes a resiliently deformable portion that can sealingly contact an inner surface of the recess.
12. The housing as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a bearing mounted to the first walls of the first and second housing halves, wherein the bearing rotatably supports a gear of the reduction gear mechanism.
13. The housing as defined in claim 1, wherein the capillary action preventing device includes a plurality of capillary action preventing devices spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the power tool.
14. The housing as defined in claim 13, wherein the second wall of each of the first and second housing halves includes a plurality of second walls spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the power tool.
15. The housing as defined in claim 8, wherein:
the power tool includes a reduction mechanism;
a bearing is mounted to the wall portions of the inner walls of the housing segments; and
the bearing rotatably supports a gear of the reduction gear mechanism.
16. The housing as defined in claim 8, wherein the capillary action preventing device includes a plurality of capillary action preventing devices spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the power tool.
17. The housing as defined in claim 16, wherein the wall portion of each of the housing segments includes a plurality of wall portions spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the power tool.