Mounting a cathode ray tube for a heads-up display system

• US 4,878,046 A
• Filed: 07/30/1987
• Issued: 10/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fatahiyar, M.
• Application Number:
  US07/079,553
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/980, 358/103, 358/104, 358/109, 350/174
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a helmet mounted display with a cathode ray tube for mounting on the torso of the operator are disclosed. A disconnectable cable supplies an information bearing signal to a signal conditioning circuit for mounting on the torso of the operator and a low voltage signal to a high voltage supply also for mounting on the torso of the operator. The high voltage supply provides the necessary high voltage for the operation of the cathode ray tube. The signal conditioning circuit provides the horizontal and vertical deflection signals and a decoded and amplified information bearing signal to the cathode ray tube. The cathode ray tube converts the information bearing signal into CRT images. A reducer, adjacent to and facing the cathode ray tube display face, reduces these CRT images and presents them to an optical fiber bundle which in turn presents the reduced CRT images to an expander. The expander then enlarges the reduced CRT images into enlarged CRT images and presents the enlarged CRT images to the display optics in the helmet.

Claims

1. A helmet mounted display system for displaying, to the wearer of the helmet, electronically generated images in superposition with a view of the environment, comprising:

a helmet;

a pack adapted to be worn on the torso of the wearer of said helmet;

a cathode ray tube disposed in said pack;

a signal conditioning circuit means disposed in said pack for providing, in response to image related signals received thereat, image generation controlling signals to said cathode ray tube;

a high voltage supply means disposed in said pack for providing a high voltage signal to said cathode ray tube and for providing operating voltage to said signal conditioning circuit means;

connection means disposed on said pack for connecting said signal conditioning circuit means for response to image related signals provided externally of said pack and for connecting a voltage source external of said pack to said high voltage supply means;

optical fiber means extending between said pack and said helmet for conducting images presented on said cathode ray tube to said helmet; and

a superposing display optics system disposed in said helmet in a manner to permit viewing of the environment therethrough by the wearer thereof and disposed with respect to said optical fiber means so as to superpose images presented by said cathode ray tube on the wearer'"'"'s view of the environment.

2. A display system according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber mans comprises an image size reducer, an optical fiber bundle, and an image sized expander, said reducer being disposed between said cathode ray tube and said bundle, said expander being disposed between said bundle and said display optics system.

3. A display system according to claim 1 wherein said high voltage supply mans comprises means for providing said high voltage signal at a voltage level which is significantly higher than the level of voltage supplied thereto from said source through said connection means.