Night vision goggle aided flight simulation system and method

• US 5,380,204 A
• Filed: 07/29/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Decker, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/098,988
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 434/16, 434/17, 434/20, 434/21, 434/29, 434/30, 434/36, 434/38, 434/41, 434/43, 434/44, 434/307, 348/216, 348/217, 364/571.02, 362/62, 345/8, 345/199, 345/7, 359/630, 359/815, 250/214 VT, 250/227.11, 250/330
• US Class Current: 434/36
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/165 Condition of cabin, cockpit or pilot's accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/301 by computer-processed or -generated image
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/36 Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight

Abstract

A night vision goggle aided flight simulation system and technique allows an flight simulator operator wearing night vision goggles to view an approximate simulation of night vision goggle aided flight. A processor generates at least one look-up table of brightness values utilizing database sources including any selected options. A scene generation computer will then generate the scene image with the contrast based on values provided by the look-up table. An image display system displays the scene at light levels with sufficient dynamic range so that approximate simulation of night vision goggle aided flight is achieved. A neutral density filter can be placed over a CRT display if the CRT display as the display system cannot produce sufficient dynamic range.

Claims

1. A night vision goggle aided flight infrared simulation system for use with an operator viewing at least one infrared scene generated to be viewed through night vision goggles in a flight simulator including:

a flight simulation selection means for determining any selected parameter options from at least one database source to be utilized;

a processing means utilizing given parameters of at least one database including any selected parameter options for,

convoluting spectral files from given parameters and any selected parameter options,

correcting for path radiance for each convoluted spectral file,

integrating each target and background spectral file across a given spectrum,

calculating the brightness of the background at each range and each target,

generating at least one look-up table of brightness values;

a scene generating means for generating an infrared image of a scene to be displayed, whereby the contrast of the displayed image is based on values provided by the look-up table;

an image display means for displaying at least one infrared scene generated by the scene generating means, whereby light levels are thus generated which provides intrascene dynamic range sufficient to be viewed with night vision goggles;

a night vision goggle so that an operator viewing the infrared scene through the night vision goggles views a sufficiently realistic simulation of night vision goggle aided flight.

2. The night vision goggle aided flight simulation system of claim 1 wherein the image display means is a cathode ray tube (CRT) display.

3. The night vision goggle aided flight simulation system of claim 2 wherein the image display means further includes a neutral density filter placed over the CRT display.

4. The night vision goggle aided flight simulation system of claim 1 wherein the selected parameter options includes one or more of the following:

illumination source, background up to fifteen targets within a field of view, relative humidity, range to most distant target, filters, windscreens, and type of night vision goggle to be used.

5. A night vision goggle aided flight infrared simulation method for use with an operator viewing at least one scene generated to be viewed through night vision goggles in a flight simulator comprising the steps of:

providing given parameters and any selected parameter options necessary to generate a simulated infrared scene to be viewed;

convoluting spectral files from given parameters and any selected parameter options;

correcting for path radiance for each convoluted spectral file;

integrating each target and background spectral file across a given spectrum;

calculating the brightness of the background at each range and each target;

generating at least one look-up table of brightness values based on the given parameters including any selected parameter options;

generating an infrared scene whereby the contrast of the displayed infrared scene is based on values provided by the look-up table;

displaying the contrasted scene whereby light levels are generated which provide intrascene dynamic range sufficient to be viewed with night vision goggles;

viewing the infrared scene through the night vision goggles such that there is viewed a sufficiently realistic simulation of night vision goggle aided flight.

6. The night vision goggle aided flight simulation method of claim 5 wherein the selected parameter options include one or more of the following:

illumination source, background up to fifteen targets within a field of view, relative humidity, range to most distant target, filters, windscreens, and type of night vision goggle to be used.