Windscreen deviation correcting pilot display

• US 4,632,508 A
• Filed: 08/01/1984
• Issued: 12/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Connelly, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/636,760
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 350/162.23, 350/3.7, 350/174, 358/103, 358/104, 358/250, 140/705, 140/724
• US Class Current: 359/572
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

Two separate CRT image generators are symmetrically positioned with respect to the center line of a cockpit. A first generator projects a virtual image of reticle and symbol information to a pilot'"'"'s left eye while the second image generator projects a virtual image of symbol information relating the right eye, the images being contiguous and aligned but without disturbing overlap or gap. As a result, a pilot sees an object outside the windscreen in parallax-free accurate superposition with symbols projected by the first and second generators.

Claims

1. A virtual image display for an aircraft having a windscreen characterized by a symmetrically oriented center line, the display comprising:

a light transmissive optical combining element laterally positioned across the windscreen and attached thereto, the combining element being a straight plate including diffraction means serving as a reflecting lens for collimating rays of light impinging thereon;

first image generating means located within the cockpit of the aircraft for projecting a virtual image of preselected symbols on the right side of the combining element, with respect to the centerline;

second image generating means located within the cockpit of the aircraft for projecting a virtual image of separate preselected symbols on the left side of the combining element, with respect to the centerline, the right and left virtual images being contiguous;

a pilot'"'"'s head being locatable in a space where the field of view of each eye through the combining element including the superposition of an observed object appearing outside the windscreen and the virtual image appearing on the same side of the centerline as that eye thereby avoiding either of the pilot'"'"'s eyes from seeing the virtual image appearing on an opposite side of the centerline.