Visual training apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of producing a series of electronically simulated images which, upon viewing in the composite, produce the impression of proceeding along a predetermined path of movement, over specific terrain at determined heights above the terrain comprising the steps of;
- taking at least one photograph substantially perpendicular to a region over which movement is to be simulated,digitizing the information in said photograph,retrievably storing such digitized photograph information,retrievably storing digitized terrain elevation and coordinate data corresponding to the photographed region, andprocessing the digitized photograph information, terrain elevation and coordinate data as a function of a predetermined path of movement relative to the photographed terrain to produce and store from said at least one photograph a series of digitized data corresponding to electronic images which depict in all three dimensions, view of the terrain of the photograph at different positions along the predetermined path of movement.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer controlled visual display system utilizing a complex set of inputs to develop a video display of a preselected terrain. The computer program utilizes three dimensional topographical data in combination with an aerial photograph to generate a series of images, each slightly difference from the previous one in the series, which, when displayed in the proper order, give the impression of proceeding along a predetermined flight path over a preselected terrain. The display can be used to brief pilots prior to a mission in order to familiarize the pilot with the terrain over which the mission will be flown.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of producing a series of electronically simulated images which, upon viewing in the composite, produce the impression of proceeding along a predetermined path of movement, over specific terrain at determined heights above the terrain comprising the steps of;
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taking at least one photograph substantially perpendicular to a region over which movement is to be simulated, digitizing the information in said photograph, retrievably storing such digitized photograph information, retrievably storing digitized terrain elevation and coordinate data corresponding to the photographed region, and processing the digitized photograph information, terrain elevation and coordinate data as a function of a predetermined path of movement relative to the photographed terrain to produce and store from said at least one photograph a series of digitized data corresponding to electronic images which depict in all three dimensions, view of the terrain of the photograph at different positions along the predetermined path of movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 15)
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5. A method of producing a series of electronically simulated images which, upon viewing in the composite, produce the impression of proceeding along a predetermined path, over specific terrain at determined heights above the terrain comprising the steps of;
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taking at least one photograph substantially perpendicular to a region over which movement is to be simulated, digitizing the information in said photograph, retrievably storing said digitized photograph information, creating and retrievably storing varying resolutions of said digitized photograph information, retrievably storing digitized terrain elevation data corresponding to said region, retrievably storing coordinate data of identifiable landmarks within said region, retrieving and visually displaying the highest resolution of said digitized photographic information, identifying said landmarks in the displayed photographic information, determining the photograph locations of said landmarks, determining observer coordinates by coorelating said photograph locations with said coordinate data, correlating said observer coordinates with said elevation data to form a digitized three dimensional electronic representation of said region, supplying an observer field of view and distortion error tolerances, utilizing said field of view and said distortion tolerances in combination with said three dimensional electronic representation to develop a polynomial coefficient matrix of significant values, utilizing said matrix to distort said three dimensional representation to create a series of progressively fully distorted electronic images, and visually displaying said distorted images. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for generating a series of visual displays simulating movement along the path over a predetermined scene from a single representation of such scene comprising;
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computer means including a central processing unit, means for receiving three dimensional coordinate location information of points witin said scene, means for receiving digitized optical intensity information of points within said scene, means for retrievably storing said digitized coordinate and optical information, processor means including means for creating three dimensional electronic representations of the scene along a predetermined path of movement over the scene from said optical and coordinate information, means for retrievably storing said three dimensional representations, and image generation means connected to receive said representations from said processor means to create and display said series of visual images to simulate movement over said scene. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A training apparatus through the use of which an operator can gain experience in the performance of a predetermined task, the apparatus including a computer generated visual display of a predetermined scene, the image generator comprising;
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general purpose computer means including a central processing unit, means for receiving three dimensional coordinate location information of points within a region, means for receiving digitized optical intensity information of points within said region, means for retrievably storing said coordinate and optical information, general processor means including means for creating three dimensional electronic representations from said optical and coordinate information, means for retrievably storing said three dimensional representations, and image generation means connected to receive said representations and signals from said general processor means to create and display a series of visual images. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification