Canopy transmittal reflectance control and information display
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through an aircraft cockpit canopy comprising:
- a) said canopy including a multilayered panel structure having an outer transparent panel surface and an inner transparent panel surface enabling the passage therethrough of incident visible light, and a single layer liquid crystal means which extends over substantially the entire viewing area of the canopy, and interposed between said outer and inner panel surfaces which is electrically controlled to control the amount of light being transmitted through said outer and inner panel surfaces, with the control provided by said single layer liquid crystal means varying from a substantially fully transparent state to a substantially fully opaque state; and
b) means operatively connected to said liquid crystal means for controllably energizing said liquid crystal means to regulate the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through said canopy.
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Abstract
A system for controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through an aircraft cockpit canopy, and more particularly a canopy panel structure incorporating selectively energizable liquid crystals therein for controlling the transmittance of the electromagnetic energy and/or for integrating an information display in the canopy panel structure. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through an aircraft cockpit canopy utilizing a liquid crystal arrangement which is incorporated into the canopy panel structure.
33 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through an aircraft cockpit canopy comprising:
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a) said canopy including a multilayered panel structure having an outer transparent panel surface and an inner transparent panel surface enabling the passage therethrough of incident visible light, and a single layer liquid crystal means which extends over substantially the entire viewing area of the canopy, and interposed between said outer and inner panel surfaces which is electrically controlled to control the amount of light being transmitted through said outer and inner panel surfaces, with the control provided by said single layer liquid crystal means varying from a substantially fully transparent state to a substantially fully opaque state; and b) means operatively connected to said liquid crystal means for controllably energizing said liquid crystal means to regulate the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through said canopy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through a canopy for a aircraft comprising:
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a) multilayered panel structure having an outer transparent panel surface and an inner transparent panel surface enabling the passage therethrough of incident visible light, and a single layer liquid crystal means which extends over substantially the entire veiwing area of the canopy, and interposed between said outer and inner panel surfaces which is electrically controlled to control the amount of light being transmitted through said outer and inner panel surfaces, with the control provided by said single layer liquid crystal means varying from a substantially fully transparent state to a substantially fully opaque state; and b) means operatively connected to said liquid crystal means for controllably energizing said liquid crystal means to regulate the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through said canopy. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through an aircraft cockpit canopy, said canopy including a multilayered panel structure having an outer transparent panel surface and an inner transparent panel surface enabling the passage therethrough of incident visible light;
- said method comprising;
a) interposing a single layer liquid crystal means which extends over substantially the entire veiwing area of the canopy, and between said outer and inner panel structures which is electrically controlled to control the amount of light being transmitted through said outer and inner panel surfaces, with the control provided by said single layer liquid crystal means varying from a substantially fully transparent state to a substantially fully opaque state; and b) operatively connecting said liquid crystal means to an energy source for controllably energizing said liquid crystal means to regulate the transmittance of electromagnetic energy through said canopy. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- said method comprising;
Specification