Weapon aiming device having microlenses and display element

Claim 1

A control system for a barreled weapon, comprising: goggles including (a) a first layer of transparent material having opposite surfaces, the material having its optical characteristics alterable under the influence of a changeable electric field applied thereacross; (b) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross; (c) a third layer, spaced from the first layer and having opposite surfaces and an intermediate transparent polymer matrix therebetween in which micro-cavities are enclosed which serve as micro-lenses having optical axes perpendicular to the two-third layer surfaces; (d) the micro-cavities made from a transparent material different from that of the polymer matrix and having refractive indices which, is selectably changeable in response to changes in an electric field passing between the two third layer surfaces; (e) the material of the micro-cavities having the same refractive index as the matrix material for a first electric field value, and a greater refractive index than the matrix material for a second electric field value; (f) arrays of electrodes formed on each of the third layer surfaces for generating the electric field thereacross; (g) a second intermediate layer interposed between the first and third layers and fabricated from a transparent polymer; means located on the weapon for measuring the direction in which it is pointed; means, mounted on the weapon, for transmitting data from the measuring means; means mounted on the goggles for receiving direction measurement data; means connected to a receiving means output for communicating direction measurement data to a computer; and communication means for linking an output of the computer to the electrode arrays.