Aircraft simulator digital audio system

• US 4,281,994 A
• Filed: 12/26/1979
• Issued: 08/04/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Singer Company (SVP Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mortimer, Charles P. L., Dell, Harold R., Holtsman, William L., Lamasney, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US06/107,297
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 35/10, 35/23, 35/12 Q, 179/1 SM, 179/1 SG, 179/1 VE, 364/801, 364/805, 364/200, 364/900, 364/578, 434/45-49, 434/30, 434/319, 434/321
• US Class Current: 434/49
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/165 Condition of cabin, cockpit or pilot's accessories

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing mass storage of vocal information by means of a digital communication system for use with a training simulator is disclosed. Unlike prior art analog records and playback systems, such as tapes, etc., the inherent advantages and flexibility available with respect to a digital system including randomly accessible voice messages, convenience of editing the stored data, and management and control by the computational system of the training simulator are available with the present invention. In general, the system of this invention comprises an input device, such as a microphone (30), an encoder (54) for encoding the analog information from the microphone (32) to digital format, a digital processing controller or computer (20) for processing the digital communication data in response to a stored program such that it is suitable for use with the computational system, and a mass storage media (38) for storing the processed digital data. To provide audio response and playback from the stored digital data, the system includes a processor (36) for selectively reading stored bulk data and processing the selected data into a form suitable for decoding, a decoding means (66) for translating the digital data to analog information, and an output device (42) for providing an audio or vocal output to a listener.

Claims

1. In a vehicle simulator for training an operator, having controls for manipulation by the operator and control means for providing cues back to the operator in response to said manipulation of said controls, apparatus for receiving a multitude of audible vocal instructions and information, digitally storing such instructions and information and playing back selected ones of said instructions and information in response to the manipulation of said controls by said operator, comprising:

a simulator cockpit having controls and instruments, means for providing electrical output signals representative of manipulation of said controls, and means for receiving electrical input signals for driving said instruments;

input means for receiving audio information and for providing input electrical analog signals representative of the said audio information;

encoding means for receiving said input electrical analog signals and converting said electrical analog signals into an input digital signal representative of said input audio information according to a preselected format;

storage means having a multiplicity of storage locations for storing said input digital signals;

control means to operate in accordance with a predetermined flight profile program for providing said electrical input signals for driving said instruments, for controlling said apparatus, and for receiving and directing said input digital signals to selected ones of said multiplicity of storage locations to provide stored digital signals, said stored digital signals being the same as said input digital signals, and for retrieving said stored digital signals from selected ones of said storage locations;

decoding means for receiving and converting according to said preselected format, said retrieved stored digital signals into output analog electrical signals representative of said stored digital signals; and

output means for receiving said output analog electrical signals and for providing audible vocal information substantially similar to said audio information received by said input means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including an instructors station suitable for providing inputs to said encoding means and suitable for receiving information from said decoding means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said vehicle simulator is an aircraft simulator and said cockpit simulates an aircraft cockpit and said control means includes a computer with means to function in accordance with said flight profile program of said simulated aircraft.

4. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said encoder and decoder include a delta modulator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said delta modulator includes means for providing continuous variable slope modulation.

6. In a vehicle simulator for training an operator wherein controls of the vehicle being simulated are manipulated by the operator and cues are provided by instruments back to said operator in response to said manipulation of controls, a method for receiving a multitude of audible vocal instructions and information, digitally storing such instructions and information and playing back selected instructions and information in response to said manipulation of controls by said operator comprising the steps of:

providing electrical output signals representative of manipulation of controls in a simulator cockpit to a controller and receiving electrical input signals from said controller for driving said instrument;

receiving audio information and providing an input electrical analog signal representative of said received audio information;

encoding and converting said received input electrical analog signals into input digital signals representative of said input audio information according to a preselected format;

storing said input digital signals in a multiplicity of storage locations;

retrieving said stored digital signals from selected ones of said multiplicity of locations in accordance with a predetermined flight profile program;

receiving and decoding said stored digital signals into output analog electrical signals representative of said digital stored signals and according to said preselected format; and

receiving said output analog electrical signals and providing audible vocal information substantially similar to said received audio information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said encoding and decoding steps are accomplished by delta modulation.

8. The method of claim 7 and further comprising the step of providing a continuous variable slope modulator for accomplishing said delta modulation.