System and method for stimulating night vision goggles

• US 6,196,845 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Streid, Harold R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US09/106,250
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 434/41, 434/44, 434/43, 434/36, 434/11, 434/38, 345/7, 345/9, 345/141, 345/142, 340/945, 340/953, 340/955, 340/956, 250/341.3, 250/330, 89/410.5, 348/123, 348/122
• US Class Current: 434/44
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/36 Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight

Abstract

A visual display system and method for full and realistic stimulation of night vision goggles according to the present invention includes a display system for stimulating night vision goggles across a large dynamic range. The display system includes a high resolution head tracked area of interest display for a rear projection video display. The system time multiplexes the display of raster and calligraphic images in the area of interest. The system also includes a method of calligraphic light point projection that conserves power by using a head tracked slow speed high sensitivity electromagnetic deflection system to position an electron beam which is modulated in X-Y position in a calligraphic fashion by a high speed secondary yoke to create intense light point images for the area of interest display.

Claims

1. A display system for stimulating night vision goggles comprising:

image generation means for generating video signals comprising visible background video and NVG video signals;

background image projection means operatively connected to the image generation means for receiving the visible background video signals produced by the image generation means for projecting background images;

NVG image projection means operatively connected to the image generation means for receiving the NVG video signals produced by the image generation means for projecting NVG imagery, said NVG imagery capable of stimulating the night vision goggles and comprising near infrared raster imagery and calligraphic imagery; and

image processing means for controlling the NVG image projection means such that the NVG image projection means time-multiplexes the projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery.

2. The display system of claim 1 further comprising means for polarizing the projected NVG imagery projected by the NVG image projection means.

3. The display system of claim 2 wherein the means for polarizing comprises means for either circularly or linearly polarizing the projected NVG imagery.

4. The display system of claim 2 wherein the night vision goggles have an associated entrance pupil size, the display system further comprising means for selectively rotating the polarization of the NVG imagery and for controlling the entrance pupil size of the night vision goggles.

5. The display system of claim 4 wherein the means for selectively rotating the polarization of the NVG imagery and for controlling the entrance pupil size comprises a polarization rotater mounted at the NVG image projection means and a polarization analyzer attached to the night vision goggles, said polarization analyzer comprising a polarizing filter having a small aperture, wherein only the portion of the rotated, polarized near infrared raster imagery in alignment with the aperture will pass through the aperture to stimulate the night vision goggles as the near infrared imagery is projected.

6. The display system of claim 4 wherein the means for selectively rotating the polarization of the NVG imagery rotates the polarization of the NVG imagery synchronously with the time-multiplexed projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery such that the near infrared raster imagery is projected as the polarization of the NVG imagery is rotated and the calligraphic imagery is projected as the polarization of the NVG imagery is not rotated.

7. The display system of claim 1 wherein the NVG imagery is capable of stimulating the night vision goggles over an optical dynamic range up to 140 db.

8. The display system of claim 1 wherein the video signals generated by the image generation means further comprise visible, high resolution green video, the display system further comprising high resolution image projection means responsive to the visible, high resolution green video produced by the image generation means for projecting visible, high resolution green imagery.

9. The display system of claim 1 further comprising means for determining the head position of an operator of the display system, wherein the image generation means generates appropriate NVG video signals according to the determined head position of the operator.

10. The display system of claim 1 further comprising main deflection means for producing positioning signals to position the NVG image projection means.

11. The display system of claim 10 wherein the main deflection means produces the positioning signals in response to the line-of-sight of an operator of the display system such that the NVG imagery is positioned in the line-of-sight of the operator.

12. The display system of claim 10 further comprising means for continuously monitoring the horizontal, vertical, and rotational movement of the operator'"'"'s head, and wherein the positioning signals are indicative of said movement.

13. The display system of claim 10 further comprising secondary deflection means for modulating the position of the NVG image projection means for displaying the calligraphic imagery.

14. The display system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of display screens responsive to the background image projection means and the NVG image projection means for displaying the background images and the NVG imagery.

15. The display system of claim 14 wherein the NVG image projection means comprises a plurality of image projectors for projecting the NVG imagery, wherein at least one of the image projectors is associated with each display screen.

16. A flight simulation training system for training operators in the use of night vision goggles comprising:

image generation means for generating video signals comprising visible background video and NVG video signals;

background image projection means operatively connected to the image generation means for receiving the visible background video signals produced by the image generation means for projecting background images;

NVG image projection means operatively connected to the image generation means for receiving the NVG video signals produced by the image generation means for projecting NVG imagery, said NVG imagery capable of stimulating the night vision goggles and comprising near infrared raster imagery and calligraphic imagery;

means for controlling the NVG image projection means such that the NVG image projection means time-multiplexes the projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery;

means for polarizing and selectively rotating the NVG imagery synchronously with the time-multiplexed projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery such that the near infrared raster imagery is projected as the polarized NVG imagery is rotated and the calligraphic imagery is projected as the polarized NVG imager is not rotated; and

a polarization rotater mounted at the NVG image projection means and a polarization analyzer attached to the night vision goggles, said polarization analyzer comprising a polarizing filter having a small aperture, wherein only the portion of the rotated, polarized near infrared raster imagery in alignment with the aperture will pass through the aperture to stimulate the night vision goggles as the infrared raster imagery is projected.

17. The display system of claim 16 further comprising means for determining the head position of an operator of the display system, wherein the image generation means generates appropriate NVG video signals according to the determined head position of the operator.

18. The display system of claim 16 further comprising main deflection means for producing positioning signals to position the NVG image projection means.

19. The display system of claim 18 wherein the main deflection means produces the positioning signals in response to the line-of-sight of an operator of the display system such that the NVG imagery is positioned in the line-of-sight of the operator.

20. The display system of claim 18 further comprising means for continuously monitoring the horizontal, vertical, and rotational movement of the operator'"'"'s head, and wherein the positioning signals are indicative of said movement.

21. The display system of claim 18 further comprising secondary deflection means for modulating the position of the NVG image projection means for displaying the calligraphic imagery.

22. A method of displaying images to stimulate night vision goggles comprising the steps of:

generating video signals comprising visible background video and NVG video signals;

projecting background images responsive to the generated visible background video signals;

projecting NVG images responsive to the generated NVG video signals, wherein said NVG images are capable of stimulating the night vision goggles and comprise time-multiplexed near infrared raster imagery and calligraphic imagery; and

polarizing and selectively rotating the NVG images synchronously with the time-multiplexed projected near infrared raster images and the calligraphic imagery such that the near infrared raster images are projected as the polarized NVG images are rotated and the calligraphic images are projected as the polarized NVG images are not rotated,

wherein said night vision goggles comprise a polarization rotater and a polarization analyzer, said analyzer comprising a polarizing filter having a small aperture, wherein only the portion of the rotated, polarized near infrared raster imagery in alignment with the aperture will pass through the aperture to stimulate the night vision goggles as the infrared raster imagery is projected.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of determining the head position of an operator of the display system, and generating appropriate NVG video signals according to the determined head position of the operator.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of continuously monitoring the horizontal, vertical, and rotational movement of the operator'"'"'s head, and wherein the NVG video signals are generated based on said movement.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of producing positioning signals to position the projection of NVG images in response to the line-of-sight of an operator of the display system such that the NVG imagery is positioned in the line-of-sight of the operator.

28. The display system of claim 23 wherein the polarization rotater rotates the polarization of the NVG imagery synchronously with the time-multiplexed projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery such that the near infrared raster imagery is projected as the polarization of the NVG imagery is rotated and the calligraphic imagery is projected as the polarization of the NVG imagery is not rotated.

26. A display system for stimulating night vision goggles comprising:

an image generator adapted to generate video signals comprising visible background video and NVG video signals;

a background image projector operatively connected to the image generator and adapted to receive the visible background video signals produced by the image generator to project background images;

an NVG image projector operatively connected to the image generator adapted to receive the NVG video signals produced by the image generator to project NVG imagery, said NVG imagery capable of stimulating the night vision goggles and comprising near infrared raster imagery and calligraphic imagery; and

an image processor adapted to control the NVG image projector such that the NVG image projector time-multiplexes the projection of the near infrared raster imagery and the calligraphic imagery.

27. The display system of claim 26 wherein the night vision goggles have an associated entrance pupil size, the system further comprising a polarization rotater mounted at the NVG image projector and a polarization analyzer attached to the night vision goggles for either circularly or linearly polarizing the projected NVG imagery and for controlling the entrance pupil size of the night vision goggles, said polarization analyzer comprising a polarizing filter having a small aperture, wherein only the portion of the rotated, polarized near infrared raster imagery in alignment with the aperture will pass through the aperture to stimulate the night vision goggles as the near infrared raster imagery is projected.

29. The display system of claim 26 wherein the video signals generated by the image generator further comprise visible, high resolution green video, the display system further comprising a high resolution image projector responsive to the visible, high resolution green video produced by the image generator for projecting visible, high resolution green imagery.

30. The display system of claim 26 further comprising a head tracker to determine the head position of an operator of the display system, wherein the image generator generates appropriate NVG video signals according to the determined head position of the operator.

31. The display system of claim 26 further comprising a main deflector for producing positioning signals to position the NVG image projector.

32. The display system of claim 31 wherein the main deflector produces the positioning signals in response to the line-of-sight of an operator of the display system such that the NVG imagery is positioned in the line-of-sight of the operator.

33. The display system of claim 31 further comprising a secondary deflector for modulating the position of the NVG image projector for displaying the calligraphic imagery.