Video image simulation apparatus

• US 4,427,977 A
• Filed: 08/06/1981
• Issued: 01/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company, the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Carollo, Jerome T., Waidelich, John A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trafton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US06/290,552
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/702, 340/705, 340/795, 350/96.11, 350/96.18, 358/104, 358/250, 358/901, 353/33, 353/81, 434/43
• US Class Current: 345/22
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/002 Mounting on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/302 the image being transformed by computer processing, e.g. updating the image to correspond to the changing point of view
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/307 by helmet-mounted projector or display G09B9/36 takes precedence; optical parts of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/34 by cathode-ray screen display G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/06 using single beam tubes G09G1/26, G09G1/28 take precedence, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows G09G1/28 takes precedence; stereoscopic TV-systems, details thereof H04N13/00; oscilloscopes for three-dimensional representation G01R13/206; vectorscopes G01R13/208

Abstract

A video display system employs a plurality of controlled cathode ray tubes producing individual images which are combined by dichroic prisms to form a single image which is transmitted by a fiber-optic cable to a set of optical elements which transmit the image to the viewer. The position and orientation of the viewing instrument are sensed to provide control signals to an image generator to provide an image appropriate to the orientation of the viewing instrument.

Claims

1. A video display system, comprising:

three (3) cathode ray tubes, each having a ray axis that is disposed at an angle to the ray axis of the other two, and each producing a monochromatic display image different from the others, such that said ray axes intersect on the viewing side of said tubes when extended;

an image generating computer for controlling the images produced by each of said cathode ray tubes, wherein the first of said tubes produces a red display image, the second of said tubes produces a green display image, and the third of said tubes produces a blue display image;

a matched dichroic prism set of three (3) prisms, each having a display input coupling surface orthogonal to said ray axis of a respective said tube, wherein the display input coupling surface of a first prism of said set is orthogonal to said ray axis of said first tube, the display input coupling surface of a second prism of said set is orthogonal to said ray axis of said second tube, and the display input coupling surface of a thrid prism of said set is orthogonal to said ray axis of said third tube, and wherein a second surface of said second prism abuts a second surface of said first prism, a third surface of said first prism is at an acute angle to said ray axis of said first tube, a second surface of said third prism is separated from said third surface of said first prism by an air space, and a third surface of said third prism is at an acute angle to said ray axis of said third tube, such that said red display image and said green display image are combined in said first prism, and said blue display image is combined with said red and green combined display image in said third prism and together are provided as a polychromatic display image output at said third surface of said third prism;

a first relay lens disposed in substantial optical alignment with said ray axis of said second tube, and in optical alignment with said polychromatic display image output of said third prism;

a first constant deviation prism for separating said image into a plurality of separate distinct wavelength images;

said first constant deviation prism being disposed in optical alignment with said first relay lens such that said composite image is focused upon said first constant deviation prism by said first relay lens;

a fiber optic bundle aligned with said first constant deviation prism for transmitting said plurality of distinct wavelength images to a remote location relative to said cathode ray tubes;

a first field lens diposed in optical alignment with said first constant deviation prism and between said first constant deviation prism and said fiber optic bundle for collimating the light rays emitted by said first constant deviation prism;

a second constant deviation prism disposed in optical alignment with said fiber optic bundle for receiving said separate distinct wavelength images from said transmitting means and redintegrating said images into a single composite image;

a second field lens disposed in optical alignment with said fiber optic bundle and between said fiber optic bundle and said second constant deviation prism for collimating the light rays emitted by said light transmitting means;

a second relay lens disposed in optical alignment with said second field lens for focusing said composite image;

a viewing means in optical alignment with said second relay lens for receiving said focused composite image and displaying said composite image to a viewer; and

means connected to said viewing means for sensing position of said viewing means relative to a fixed reference and for generating control signals for said means for producing display images, such that said means for producing display images produces an image dependent upon the position of said viewing means relative to a fixed reference.