Landing light pattern generator for simulator with selective addressing of memory

• US 4,404,553 A
• Filed: 11/07/1980
• Issued: 09/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Singer Company (SVP Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cuffia, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US06/204,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 434/41, 434/43, 434/69, 434/239, 273/DIG. 28, 340/27 NA, 340/723, 340/724, 340/728, 340/747, 340/750, 340/793, 358/104
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/506 Illumination models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/38 Simulation of runway outlining or approach lights
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/42 characterised by the display of patterns using a display memory without fixed position correspondence between the display memory contents and the display position on the screen

Abstract

The disclosure is of a system for steering a landing light pattern by storing data to increase the illumination intensity for each picture element by a selected amount along a scanline in a memory circuit (11) and, then, addressing the memory circuit to begin its readout at predetermined starting points. A skewing or warping of the light pattern is obtained by applying a displacement factor to the beginning point for each successive scanline, so that each scanline is read out beginning at a progressively different point to cause the shape of the landing light pattern to be varied in a predetermined manner.

Claims

1. In a system for developing a predetermined simulated scene at a time of reduced visibility from information obtained from data generated digitally and from data stored electronically, and for displaying said reduced visibility scene on a display device with portions of increased illumination as if by a spot light, said system comprising:

data storage means for receiving data representative of predetermined scenes,

control means for generating data in order to select a predetermined scene,

a display device connected to receive data from said data storage means and to display scenes selected by said control means,

means connected to said display device to increase the illumination intensity of portions of said displayed reduced visibility scene in accordance with a preselected pattern as if projected by a spot light and unrelated to the information in said scene, and

said means connected to said display device including memory circuit means to store data representative of a Table of Intensities with means for addressing the Table of Intensities at different points,

whereby the preselected spot light pattern of increased illumination intensity is moved in a predetermined manner.

2. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes at least two memory circuits to store alternately by scanline data from said means connected to said display device.

3. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes at least two memory circuits to store alternately by scanline data from said means connected to said display device, and multiplexer circuit means while the other is being loaded and, then, when the scanline data is complete to switch to the other of said memory circuit means and receive the next succeeding scanline data stored therein.

4. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes steering circuit means connected to address said memory circuit means to select the point of beginning for the data output terminal.

5. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 including warping circuit means connected to control the point of beginning for the data stored in said memory circuit means, so that the point of beginning is different for each successive scanline, thereby causing said spot light pattern to be shaped in a predetermined manner.

6. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes at least two memory circuits to store alternately by scanline data from said means connected to said display device, steering circuit means connected to the address terminal of each memory circuit to control the output therefrom by scanline beginning point, so that the spot light pattern is formed in a predetermined manner.

7. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes at least two memory circuits to store alternately by scanline data from said means connected to said display device, warping circuit means to control the point of beginning for the data being connected to said display device, so that it begins at a progressively different point along each successive scanline.

8. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said display device includes at least two memory circuits to store alternately by scanline data to increase the illumination intensity of portions of said displayed scene, scanline steering register means connected to control the output selectively of each of said memory circuits to begin the output of the data stored in each at a different point in order to cause movement in said preselected spot light pattern in a predetermined manner.

9. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means connected to said display device includes separate circuit means connected in parallel with said scanline steering register means in order to affect the shape of said preselected spot light pattern in a predetermined manner.

10. In a system for developing a predetermined scene as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means connected to said display device includes load circuit counter means connected in parallel with said parallel connected circuit means in order to cause the output of said two memory circuits to be loaded in an undistorted and orderly manner, and multiplexer circuit means separated from the output of each memory circuit to select which of the controls shall be applied to address each of the two memory circuits.