COMBINED HEAD UP DISPLAY

• US 20090017424A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Inventors: Yoeli, Nahum, Belken, Nissan
• Application Number:
  US11/915,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/32 by projected image G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence

Abstract

System for displaying an auxiliary image on a head-up display, the system including a panoramic projection screen, at least one panoramic projector for projecting a panoramic image on the panoramic projection screen, a beam combiner located between the panoramic projection screen and the audience, and an auxiliary projector for projecting the auxiliary image toward the beam combiner, the panoramic image being viewed by an audience. The beam combiner produces a combined image of the panoramic image and the auxiliary image, for the audience, by transmitting at least part of the panoramic image toward the audience, and by reflecting the auxiliary image toward the audience, such that the auxiliary image appears closer to the audience than the panoramic image.

Claims

1. System for simulating, to an audience, a view from a cockpit of an aircraft, the cockpit including a head-up display, the system comprising:

a concave panoramic projection screen;

at least one panoramic projector for projecting a panoramic image on said concave panoramic projection screen, said panoramic image simulating a view of outside scenery as seen by a pilot from said cockpit, said panoramic image being viewed by said audience;

a beam combiner located between said concave panoramic projection screen and said audience;

an auxiliary projector for projecting an auxiliary image toward said beam combiner for simulating its display on said head-up display, said beam combiner producing a combined image of said panoramic image and said auxiliary image, for said audience, by transmitting at least part of said panoramic image toward said audience, and reflecting said auxiliary image toward said audience, such that said auxiliary image appears closer to said audience than said panoramic image;

a database for storing panoramic image data respective of said panoramic image, and auxiliary image data respective of said auxiliary image;

a user interface for displaying said auxiliary image for a user among said audience, said user interface producing an output according to an input from said user, respective of one of a plurality of options included in said auxiliary image; and

a processor coupled with said at least one panoramic projector, said auxiliary projector, said database, and with said user interface, said processor retrieving said panoramic image data from said database, according to said output, said processor retrieving said auxiliary image data, according to said output, said processor directing said at least one panoramic projector to project said panoramic image on said panoramic projection screen, according to said panoramic image data, said processor directing said auxiliary projector to project said auxiliary image on said beam combiner, according to said auxiliary image data, wherein said panoramic image and said auxiliary image are temporally and spatially projected in synchrony.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector located below said beam combiner,

wherein said auxiliary projector is located above said reflector and said beam combiner,

wherein said auxiliary projector projects said auxiliary image on said reflector, and

wherein said reflector reflects said auxiliary image toward said beam combiner.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said beam combiner is selected from the list consisting of:

semitransparent glass plate;

semitransparent plastic plate;

transparent glass plate; and

transparent plastic plate.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary image is selected from the list consisting of:

menu;

cockpit of an aircraft; and

informative data.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said panoramic image and said auxiliary image is selected from the list consisting of:

still; and

video.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one panoramic projector comprises a plurality of panoramic projectors and wherein each of said panoramic images is substantially seamless.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said user interface is selected from the list consisting of:

visual;

acoustic; and

tactile.

8. Method for simulating, to an audience, a view from a cockpit of an aircraft, the cockpit including a head-up display, the method comprising the procedures of:

producing an output, according to an option selected by a user among a plurality of options;

retrieving panoramic image data and auxiliary image data from a database, according to said output;

directing at least one panoramic projector to project said panoramic image on a concave panoramic projection screen, according to said panoramic image data;

directing an auxiliary projector to project said auxiliary image toward a beam combiner, located between said concave panoramic projection screen and said audience, according to said auxiliary image data; and

producing a combined image of said panoramic image and said auxiliary image, for said audience, by transmitting said panoramic image toward said audience, by said beam combiner, and by deflecting said auxiliary image toward said audience, by said beam combiner, such that said auxiliary image appears closer to said audience than said panoramic image.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said procedure of producing said combined image comprises the sub-procedure of projecting said panoramic image and said auxiliary image in temporal and spatial synchrony.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said procedure of directing said auxiliary projector comprises sub-procedures of:

directing said auxiliary projector to project said auxiliary image toward a reflector located below said beam combiner; and

reflecting said auxiliary image by said reflector toward said beam combiner.

11-12. -12. (canceled)