Modular video display system

• US 6,190,172 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Lechner, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/314,788
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 434/38, 434/43, 434/44, 434/29, 434/30, 434/55, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 345/1, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 345/32, 348/36, 348/38, 348/61, 348/117, 348/121, 348/123, 348/756, 348/757, 348/839, 348/840, 472/130
• US Class Current: 434/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/403 Edge-driven scaling; Edge-based scaling
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/302 the image being transformed by computer processing, e.g. updating the image to correspond to the changing point of view
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/32 by projected image G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/36 Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/56 Simulation of sonar

Abstract

A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system. The visual display system also includes image redirection means, such as fold mirrors, to redirect the video images projected by the aligned video projectors so as to provide the video images to the respective display screens in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of each display screen. In addition, adjacent display screens can be attached by a pair of rearwardly extending tabs which are positioned so as to not mask the projected video images. At least one of the pair of tabs is opaque such that the projected video images will not pass between the adjacent display screens. Thus, at least the portion of the video image displayed along the edges of the adjacent display screens is clarified.

Claims

1. A visual display system comprising:

first and second display screens for displaying a predetermined video image on a front surface thereof, wherein each display screen includes a planar display surface, wherein the first and second display screens are mounted in an abutting relationship along respective edges such that the respective display surfaces of said first and second display screens intersect at a predetermined angle, and wherein the front surfaces of said first and second display screens define a concave shape such that a rear surface of each display screen is wider than a corresponding front surface to thereby define a rear edge portion along each respective edge of said first and second display screens which extends outwardly beyond the corresponding front surface;

video projection means for projecting the predetermined video image on said first and second display screens for display thereon;

first and second tabs bonded to the rear edge portion of a respective display screen, wherein each tab extends rearwardly from the rear surface of the respective display screen such that the video image projected by said video projection means on said first and second display screens is not masked by said rearwardly extending tabs, and wherein at least one of said tabs is opaque such that the projected video image will not pass between said display screens to thereby clarify at least the portion of the video image displayed along the edges of said first and second display screens; and

attachment means for attaching said first and second tabs such that said first and second display screens are thereby securely joined.

2. A visual display system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second tabs are bonded to the rear edge portion of the respective display screen with an optically transmissive adhesive.

3. A visual display system according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second tabs comprise an elongated strip extending along the rear edge portion of a respective display screen.

4. A visual display system according to claim 1 wherein said first and second tabs extend rearwardly from the rear surfaces of said respective display screens to thereby define an edge plane in which said tabs extend, and wherein the edge plane defined by said tabs bisects the predetermined angle defined by the intersection of said first and second display screens.

5. A visual display system according to claim 1 wherein said video projection means comprises first and second video projectors for projecting the predetermined video image on said first and second display screens, respectively, wherein the video images projected by said first and second video projectors expand during projection to fill the respective display surfaces of said first and second display screens, respectively, such that the expanding video images projected by each video projector define an respective video image envelope, and wherein said first and second tabs extend rearwardly outside of the video image envelope such that the video image projected therein is not masked by said first and second tabs.