Apparatus and method for providing modular reconfigurable multi-function displays for computer simulations
First Claim
1. A multi-function display system comprising:
- a host computer having its own primary video display system or systems;
a secondary video display system within the host computer, with frame buffer memory that is independent of the primary video display system or systems;
a means for dividing the frame buffer memory of the secondary video display system into predetermined subsections, where each subsection serves as a specific video channel'"'"'s frame buffer;
a means for executing a compatible software application on the host computer for rendering independent, self-contained images within each video channel'"'"'s frame buffer;
a means for converting the digital data within each video channel'"'"'s frame buffer into an independent video channel output signal, thereby generating a plurality of independent video channel output signals;
a plurality of multi-function displays;
and a means within the host computer for interpreting a transmitted code from the plurality of the multi-function displays and then carrying out a course of events on the host computer that had been preassigned to the transmitted code;
wherein each of said plurality of the multi-function displays comprises a means for transmitting the plurality of the independent video channel output signals to one or more multi-function displays for the purpose of being displayed;
a plurality of user input devices attached to the display;
a means for examining a state of the user input devices on each display;
a means for generating an output code indicative of both the examined state of the user input devices on a selected display, and a selected video channel to which the selected display was set by the user input devices when the state of the user input devices was examined;
a means for transmitting said output code to said host computer;
and a channel selection means for selecting one of the plurality of the independent video channel output signals to be displayed on the display in response to a user input via the user input devices.
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Abstract
A modular and reconfigurable Multi-Function Display (MFD) system allows a computer system to drive one or more Multi-Function Displays that display information independently of other display screens driven by a computer simulation. Video channels generated by a computer simulation are carried in parallel to one or more MFD modules. A channel selector on each MFD determines which single video channel is to be displayed on that MFD. Each MFD consists of a relatively small and flat color display screen that displays images supplied by the computer simulation. Each MFD provides a plurality of user input devices that are connected to the computer host via a digital I/O bus. The MFDs are modular such that a first MFD is attached directly to the computer system, and an optional second MFD is attached to the first, and a third optional MFD is attached to the second, and so on, thereby providing every MFD thus attached a parallel connection to the digital I/O bus of the computer simulation system and to the available video channels.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A multi-function display system comprising:
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a host computer having its own primary video display system or systems;
a secondary video display system within the host computer, with frame buffer memory that is independent of the primary video display system or systems;
a means for dividing the frame buffer memory of the secondary video display system into predetermined subsections, where each subsection serves as a specific video channel'"'"'s frame buffer;
a means for executing a compatible software application on the host computer for rendering independent, self-contained images within each video channel'"'"'s frame buffer;
a means for converting the digital data within each video channel'"'"'s frame buffer into an independent video channel output signal, thereby generating a plurality of independent video channel output signals;
a plurality of multi-function displays;
and a means within the host computer for interpreting a transmitted code from the plurality of the multi-function displays and then carrying out a course of events on the host computer that had been preassigned to the transmitted code;
wherein each of said plurality of the multi-function displays comprises a means for transmitting the plurality of the independent video channel output signals to one or more multi-function displays for the purpose of being displayed;
a plurality of user input devices attached to the display;
a means for examining a state of the user input devices on each display;
a means for generating an output code indicative of both the examined state of the user input devices on a selected display, and a selected video channel to which the selected display was set by the user input devices when the state of the user input devices was examined;
a means for transmitting said output code to said host computer;
and a channel selection means for selecting one of the plurality of the independent video channel output signals to be displayed on the display in response to a user input via the user input devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
at least one video channel which contains a rear view perspective of a simulated world generated by a software application executing on a host computer;
at least one video channel which contains a left view perspective of a simulated world generated by a software application executing on a host computer;
and at least one video channel which contains a right view perspective of a simulated world generated by a software application executing on a host computer.
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10. The method of claim 9, further comprising three multi-function displays arranged such that:
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a display showing a rear view channel is situated below or above a centerline of a primary display screen;
a display showing a left view channel is situated to the left of a centerline of the primary display screen;
and a display showing a right view channel is situated to the right of a centerline of the primary display screen.
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11. The multi-function display system according to claim 1, wherein each multi-function display is substantially identical to additional multi-function displays that it can share connections with, such that each multi-function display is a single component of a modular system.
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12. The multi-function display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of user input devices attached to each display comprises:
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a row of horizontally aligned push-button switches above the display screen;
a row of horizontally aligned push-button switches below the display screen;
a row of vertically aligned push-button switches to the left of the display screen;
and a row of vertically aligned push-button switches to the right of the display screen.
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13. The multi-function display system according to claim 1, wherein the course of events to be carried out on the host computer occurs via a device driver, which emulates some predetermined manipulation of some specific component of the host computer system.
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14. A multi-function display system according to claim 1, wherein transmitting codes representing the states of the user input devices of one or more multi-function displays to a host computer occurs via the Universal Serial Bus (USB).
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15. The multi-function display system according to claim 1 wherein the host computer is IBM compatible.
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16. The multi-function display system according to claim 1 wherein the secondary video display system within the host computer is provided by a video card which utilizes standard screen sizes.
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17. A multi-function display system according to claim 1 wherein the compatible software application executing on the host computer is a flight simulation.
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18. A multi-function display system according to claim 1 wherein the compatible software application executing on the host computer is a driving simulation.
Specification