Automatic closed loop scaling and drift correcting system and method particularly for aircraft head up displays
First Claim
1. An aircraft head up display system for providing a display image for viewing by a pilot in the pilot'"'"'s field of view while looking out of an aircraft at a scene, in a forward direction, comprising:
- beam type image generating means having a light emitting screen providing a display region which is optically projected so as to provide a display image in the pilot'"'"'s field of view, and having margin regions which are not optically projected into the pilot'"'"'s field of view, said image generating means having a deflectable beam for deflection over the display region, and capable of being deflected at the margin regions;
real time operating means for controlling said image generating means to cause the generation of a real time display in the display region which varies essentially in real time according to the status of the aircraft in flight, so as to assist the pilot in the control of the aircraft; and
beam position sensing means coupled with respective margin regions of the image generating means so as to provide respective beam actual position signals when the beam is momentarily aligned with the respective beam position sensing means,said real time operating means while maintaining the generation of the real time display which varies essentially in real time, further providing beam deflection commands to cause the beam to scan the respective margin regions according to a plurality of plural coordinate search patterns, each extending in at least both X and Y directions, said scanning of said beam according to said search pattern being restricted to said margin regions and the real time operating means comparing beam actual position signals received from the beam position sensing means to previously stored beam reference coordinate values to determine beam registration error, and automatically correcting the deflection of the beam to substantially eliminate the beam registration error during further generation of the real time display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display system and method, especially for use in an aircraft head up display system, for maintaining an optical image in a predetermined position on a light emitting screen. The system has a beam type image generator controlled by an operating circuit. A controlled beam scans both a central display region and marginal regions of the screen. The marginal regions have beam sensors and the beam is controlled by a sequence of plural coordinate commands in accordance with a plural coordinate search pattern restricted to the marginal regions and in the vicinity of the beam sensors. Signals resulting therefrom are utilized to eliminate beam deflection errors.
123 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An aircraft head up display system for providing a display image for viewing by a pilot in the pilot'"'"'s field of view while looking out of an aircraft at a scene, in a forward direction, comprising:
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beam type image generating means having a light emitting screen providing a display region which is optically projected so as to provide a display image in the pilot'"'"'s field of view, and having margin regions which are not optically projected into the pilot'"'"'s field of view, said image generating means having a deflectable beam for deflection over the display region, and capable of being deflected at the margin regions; real time operating means for controlling said image generating means to cause the generation of a real time display in the display region which varies essentially in real time according to the status of the aircraft in flight, so as to assist the pilot in the control of the aircraft; and beam position sensing means coupled with respective margin regions of the image generating means so as to provide respective beam actual position signals when the beam is momentarily aligned with the respective beam position sensing means, said real time operating means while maintaining the generation of the real time display which varies essentially in real time, further providing beam deflection commands to cause the beam to scan the respective margin regions according to a plurality of plural coordinate search patterns, each extending in at least both X and Y directions, said scanning of said beam according to said search pattern being restricted to said margin regions and the real time operating means comparing beam actual position signals received from the beam position sensing means to previously stored beam reference coordinate values to determine beam registration error, and automatically correcting the deflection of the beam to substantially eliminate the beam registration error during further generation of the real time display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 39, 40)
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9. A real time display system, comprising
beam type image generating means having first and second beam activated regions, real time operating means controlling said image generating means to effect the generation of a real time display in the first beam activated region which varies essentially in real time according to a physical process, and beam position sensing means coupled with said second beam activated region of the image generating means so as to provide beam actual position signals representing an actual instantaneous position of the beam with respect to at least two coordinate axes of a coordinate system, said real time operating means while maintaining the real time display which varies essentially in real time, further providing beam deflection signals causing the beam to scan said second beam activated region so as to produce said beam actual position signals, and said real time operating means supplying a sequence of plural coordinate digital commands for effecting deflection of the beam in accordance with a plurality of plural coordinate search patterns, each extending in at least both X and Y directions and only within said second beam activated region and in the vicinity of the coupling of said beam position sensing means with said second beam activated region and said real time operating means correcting the deflection of the beam so as to tend to maintain a constant relationship between respective coordinate reference values of the beam deflection signals with respect to the two coordinate axes, and beam activation of the beam position sensing means.
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19. A display system, comprising:
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beam type image generating means for producing a beam and having a light-emitting screen including a central display region and marginal regions radially offset from the central display region, operating means controlling said image generating means to effect the generation of an optical image in said central display region, photosensor means coupled with plural individual points at respective marginal regions of the image generating means so as to detect both horizontal and vertical beam deflection errors, the beam when in substantial alignment with the respective individual points causing the photosensor means to produce respective beam actual position signals, said operating means having beam deflection driver means for effecting deflection of the beam both in the central display region and in the marginal regions, and having deflection control means coupled with said deflection drive means for effecting generation of an optical image in said central display region and for effecting scanning of the beam over said marginal regions so as to activate said photosensor means to generate the respective beam actual position signals, said operating means supplying a sequence of plural coordinate commands for effecting deflection of the beam in accordance with a plurality of plural coordinate search patterns, each extending in at least both X and Y directions and only within said marginal regions and in the vicinity of the plural individual points coupled with said photosensor means, said operating means correcting the deflection of the beam based on the values of driving signals applied to the beam deflection driver means which are required to cause the beam to activate the photosensor means via the respective individual points thereby maintaining the optical image in a predetermined position on said light emitting screen. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 43)
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29. In a method for automatically maintaining a desired geometrical relationship between beam deflection commands and the location of a resultant image display on a beam activated display screen in spite of variable influences due to temperature changes, component aging effects, and the like, said method comprising:
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establishing reference beam deflection command values for representing respective beam position sensing locations within the range of deflection of the beam, supplying beam deflection commands causing the beam to trace a resultant image display and to maintain the image display according to real time changes in physical events, and while maintaining said image display without perceptible flicker also causing scanning of the beam in the vicinity of respective beam position sensing locations, by supplying a sequence of plural coordinate commands for effecting deflection of the beam in accordance with a plurality of plural coordinate search patterns, each extending in at least both X and Y directions and only within said beam position sensing locations, comparing the beam deflection commands actually corresponding to the beam position sensing locations with reference beam deflection command values to obtain beam deflection correction values, and thereafter modifying the commands in accordance with said beam deflection correction values to substantially maintain the desired geometrical relationship between the resultant image display and the beam deflection commands. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 44)
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36. A method of maintaining a selected scanning relationship between information to be displayed and magnitudes of corresponding beam deflections over a beam activated display screen, said method comprising:
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(a) establising at least two beam position sensing locations within the range of deflection of the beam, (b) causing the beam to produce an image display on the display screen, and also causing the beam to scan the display screen in the vicinity of each of the beam position sensing locations contemporaneously with the production of the image display, and effecting deflection of the beam in accordance with a plural coordinate search pattern in at least both x and Y directions and only within said beam position sensing location for each beam sensing location, (c) producing a deflection command signal in response to scanning the beam position sensing location, (d) sensing the magnitude of said deflection command signal required to cause the beam to register with the beam position sensing location, and (e) correcting subsequent deflection command signals based on the sensed magnitude of step (d) to establish a fixed scanning relationship between the information to be displayed and the resultant magnitudes of corresponding beam deflections. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 45)
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Specification