System and method of shadowing an object in motion
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shadowing system, comprising:
- a computer having a processor and a memory;
a visual display connected to the computer;
means for simulating, and displaying on the visual display, a moving object in a universe generated by the computer, wherein the universe includes a terrain defined by a set of planes which includes at least one plane which is non-parallel and non-orthogonal to any other plane in the set; and
means for continuously projecting a shadow of the moving object on the terrain, including the non-parallel and non-orthogonal planes, the position of the shadow depending on the position and direction of a simulated light source located above the object in the universe; and
means for displaying the shadow on the visual display, thereby improving depth perception.
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Abstract
A helicopter flight simulator having improvements in visual cues and modeling. The unique visual cues include terrain following shadows and hazing, the latter approximating a set of atmospheric conditions. The unique modeling features include a user selectable zoom, horizontal and vertical ground avoidance, and an autorotation model.
168 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A shadowing system, comprising:
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a computer having a processor and a memory; a visual display connected to the computer; means for simulating, and displaying on the visual display, a moving object in a universe generated by the computer, wherein the universe includes a terrain defined by a set of planes which includes at least one plane which is non-parallel and non-orthogonal to any other plane in the set; and means for continuously projecting a shadow of the moving object on the terrain, including the non-parallel and non-orthogonal planes, the position of the shadow depending on the position and direction of a simulated light source located above the object in the universe; and means for displaying the shadow on the visual display, thereby improving depth perception. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A shadowing system, comprising:
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a computer having a processor and a memory; a visual display connected to the computer; a model process simulating a moving object in a universe generated by the computer, wherein the universe includes a terrain defined by a set of planes which includes at least one plane which is non-parallel and non-orthogonal to any other plane in the set; a collision process continuously projecting a shadow of the moving object on the terrain, including the non-parallel and non-orthogonal planes, the position of the shadow depending on the position and direction of a simulated light source located above the object in the universe; and a video process displaying the object, the universe and the shadow on the visual display, thereby improving depth perception. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a shadowing system, including a computer and a visual display, a method of shadowing an object in motion, the method comprising the steps of:
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simulating, and displaying on the visual display, an object in motion in a universe generated by the computer, wherein the universe includes a terrain defined by a set of planes which includes at least one plane which is non-parallel and non-orthogonal to any other plane in the set; and continuously projecting a shadow of the moving object on the terrain, the position of the shadow depending on the position and direction of a simulated light source located above the object in the universe, wherein the light source is non-orthogonal to the normal of a one of the planes of the terrain; and displaying the shadow on the visual display, thereby improving depth perception. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In a shadowing system, including a computer, a visual display and at least one input device, a method of shadowing an object in motion, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving an input device so as to provide position information about an object; simulating the object in motion in a universe generated by the computer, wherein the motion of the object is responsive to the position information, and wherein the universe includes a terrain defined by a set of planes which includes at least one plane which is non-parallel and non-orthogonal to any other plane in the set; displaying the object in motion in a portion of the universe on the visual display; continuously projecting a shadow of the object on the terrain, including the non-parallel and non-orthogonal planes, the position of the shadow depending on the position and direction of a simulated light source located above the object in the universe; and displaying the shadow on the visual display, thereby improving depth perception. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification