Head-up infinity display and pilot's sight
First Claim
1. A system for presenting a head-up display to the pilot of an aircraft, comprising, data means for generating data, data processing means responsive to said data means for producing a video signal carrying an image of said generated data, video display means for displaying a video image of said data, a light transmitting waveguide having an optical length very much smaller than its physical length, secured, positioned, configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the light rays of said video image and direct said light rays along its length to output means for reflection toward the eye of the pilot, and beamsplitter means positioned over the field-of-view of the pilot and positioned with respect to the output of said waveguide for reflecting the light rays leaving the output of said waveguide toward the pilot'"'"'s eye and transmitting light from objects surrounding the pilot to the pilot'"'"'s eye, light generating means for generating an optical signal indicating a line-of-sight of the pilot, detector means optically coupled to said light generating means for receiving said optical signal and detecting the line-of-sight of the pilot and producing signals carrying line-of-sight information, data processing means responsive to said detector means for generating a video signal carrying an image of the line-of-sight of the pilot, said video signal being coupled to said video display means to cause said video image to include an indication of the line-of-sight of the pilot, said optical signal being of a color different from said video image and wherein said detector means is housed within said video display means and said video display means comprises a dichroic beamsplitter which reflects said video image toward said waveguide and transmits said optical signal to said detector means, said detector means being moved by motor means to position the image of said light generating means at the center of said detector means, whereby the position of said detector means indicates the line-of-sight of the pilot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for presenting a head-up display to the operator of a vehicle is disclosed. This system comprises a light source fiber optic bundle (52) which is secured to the helmet of the vehicle operator and generates a light beam signal which travels at an angle proportional to the orientation of the pilot'"'"'s head and, accordingly, his line-of-sight. This beam is detected by a detector (68) which is optically coupled to the light beam and provides line-of-sight information at its ouput. A computer (96) receives the line-of-sight information together with other information and sends it via a cathode ray tube (112) and an optical coupler (14) to a beamsplitter (16) which provides that information to the operator of the vehicle while allowing the operator to see through the beamsplitter (16), thus providing the operator with additional information without obstructing his view.
57 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A system for presenting a head-up display to the pilot of an aircraft, comprising, data means for generating data, data processing means responsive to said data means for producing a video signal carrying an image of said generated data, video display means for displaying a video image of said data, a light transmitting waveguide having an optical length very much smaller than its physical length, secured, positioned, configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the light rays of said video image and direct said light rays along its length to output means for reflection toward the eye of the pilot, and beamsplitter means positioned over the field-of-view of the pilot and positioned with respect to the output of said waveguide for reflecting the light rays leaving the output of said waveguide toward the pilot'"'"'s eye and transmitting light from objects surrounding the pilot to the pilot'"'"'s eye, light generating means for generating an optical signal indicating a line-of-sight of the pilot, detector means optically coupled to said light generating means for receiving said optical signal and detecting the line-of-sight of the pilot and producing signals carrying line-of-sight information, data processing means responsive to said detector means for generating a video signal carrying an image of the line-of-sight of the pilot, said video signal being coupled to said video display means to cause said video image to include an indication of the line-of-sight of the pilot, said optical signal being of a color different from said video image and wherein said detector means is housed within said video display means and said video display means comprises a dichroic beamsplitter which reflects said video image toward said waveguide and transmits said optical signal to said detector means, said detector means being moved by motor means to position the image of said light generating means at the center of said detector means, whereby the position of said detector means indicates the line-of-sight of the pilot.
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18. A system for presenting a head-up display to a pilot wearing a headgear, comprising:
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(a) light generating means for generating an optical signal indicating the line-of-sight of the pilot; (b) detector means optically coupled to said light generating means for receiving said optical signal and detecting the line-of-sight of the pilot, and producing signals carrying line-of-sight information; (c) data processing means responsive to said detector means for generating a video signal carrying an image of the line-of-sight of the pilot; (d) video display means, responsive to said video signal for displaying a video image of the line-of-sight of the pilot; and (e) coupler means, optically coupled to said video image for directing said image to an eye of the pilot, wherein said light generating means is associated with said headgear, said detector means is mechanically independent of said light generating means, said optical signal is of a color different from said video image, said detector means is housed within said video display means, and said video display means comprises a dichroic beamsplitter which reflects said video image toward said coupler means and transmits said optical signal to said detector means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 21, 22, 23)
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20. A system for producing a head-up display of visual data for a pilot of a vehicle or simulated vehicle comprising:
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(a) first data means for generating a first information-bearing data signal indicating the line-of-sight of the pilot, said first data means comprising light generating means for generating an optical signal, said light generating means being associated with the headgear of the pilot; (b) second data means for generating a second information-bearing data signal indicating the orientation of an element of the aircraft; (c) computer means responsive to said first and second data signals for generating a video signal carrying a video image of the information carried by said second data signal said optical signal being of a color different from said video image; (d) means for displaying the line-of-sight to the pilot; (e) video display means, positioned outside the ejection envelope of the aircraft for displaying said image of said second data signal; (f) servo means responsive to said computer means for varying the orientation of said element of the aircraft as a function of the line-of-sight of the pilot; and (g) optical coupler means mechanically independent of said video means and optically air coupled to said image of said second data signal for superimposing said image on the substantially unobstructed view of the pilot; and (h) detector means mechanically independent of said light generating means for detecting the line-of-sight of the pilot, said detector means being housed within said video display means and said video display means comprising a dichroic beamsplitter which reflects one of said video image or said optical signal toward said coupler means and transmits said optical signal to said detector means.
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Specification