Display systems

• US 4,001,499 A
• Filed: 03/26/1975
• Issued: 01/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
• Original Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
• Inventors: Dowell, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/562,365
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 178/DIG. 20, 178/6, 178/6.8, 343/6 TV, 340/27 R
• US Class Current: 348/115
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

In a head-up display system video signals derived by a television (or infra-red) camera which is mounted on the aircraft nose to view substantially the same scene as viewed by the pilot along his line-of-sight through the partially-transparent reflector of the head-up display system, are mixed with the video signals which are supplied by a waveform generator in accordance with aircraft-attitude and weapon-aiming symbology that is used for projection onto the reflector. The combined signals, representing the external scene with the symbology superimposed, are supplied to a video-tape recorder for subsequent, or immediate, replay by a television monitor in the aircraft or via the pilot'"'"'s head-up display unit, and are also supplied to a transmitter to enable recording and display to be carried out at a ground station. A second head-up display unit having its own waveform generator, is provided in the aircraft for use by an instructor during pilot training, and a mixer associated with this is supplied with the combined signals or with the camera signals alone. The combined signals may be used to intensify the view through the reflector of a pilot'"'"'s head-up display unit used for a military mission, so as to ensure more ready identification of a target.

Claims

1. In a head-up display system which is for use in a aircraft and which includes a partially-transparent reflector for mounting in the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft so that the pilot'"'"'s view of a scene external to the aircraft is along said line-of-sight through said reflector, means for generating electric video signals in accordance with a display for presentation to the pilot, displaying means, and signal-supply means for supplying said electric video signals to said displaying means, said displaying means responding to said electric video signals supplied thereto by said signal-supply means to project an image of said display onto said reflector so as to present said generated-display image in said line-of-sight against the background of the said external scene through said reflector, the improvement wherein the system also includes further electric signal-generating means for generating further electric video signals in accordance with a scene viewed thereby, means mounting the said further electric signal-generating means to view substantially the same external scene as viewed by the pilot along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said mounting means mounting said further signal-generating means out of said line-of-sight to view said scene apart from said reflector whereby said further electric video signals generated by said further electric signal-generating means represent said external scene devoid of said generated-display image, signal-combining means responsive both to the said further video signals generated by said further signal-generating means and to the said first-mentioned video signals supplied to said displaying means by the first-mentioned signal-supply means, said signal-combining means combining the said further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said external scene having the said generated display superimposed thereon, and electric video-signal recording means for recording utilizing said combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.

2. A head-up display system according to claim 1 wherein said further electric signal-generating means for supplying the said further electric video signals is a television camera.

3. A head-up display system according to claim 1 wherein said further electric signal-generating means for supplying the said further electric video signals is an infra-red camera.

4. In an aircraft, a head-up display system comprising a partially-transparent reflector located in a line-of-sight from the aircraft, means to supply electric video signals in accordance with a display of symbology generated for presentation in said line-of-sight, displaying means responsive to said electric video signals supplied by said supply means to project said symbology display onto said partially-transparent reflector so as to present said symbology display in said line-of-sight through said reflector, electronic camera means, means mounting said camera means spaced from said reflector out of said line-of-sight to view from the aircraft a scene substantially the same as that viewable along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said camera means being responsive to the scene viewed thereby to supply further electric video signals in accordance with said scene, means for mixing the further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said scene having the said generated symbology-display superimposed thereon, and video-signal recording means for recording the combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.

5. A head-up display system according to claim 4 wherein the said electronic camera means is a television camera.

6. A head-up display system according to claim 4 wherein the said mounting means is means mounting said camera means at the nose of the aircraft.

7. A head-up display system according to claim 4 including a transmitter for transmitting the said combined electric video signals from the aircraft.