Method and system for presenting moving simulated images in a moving vehicle

• US 7,070,150 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Pilet, Scott C., Jones, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D.
• Application Number:
  US11/081,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20050167546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/122.R, 340/945, 340/967, 340/974, 340/980, 340/979, 348/148, 348/117, 348/118, 348/145, 701/1, 701/36
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2039/105 of blended wing body type
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors

Abstract

Methods and systems for presenting images to vehicle occupants are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one display portion configured to display an image and be positioned proximate to a seat location within the vehicle. A first signal receiving portion can be configured to receive an input image signal, and a second signal receiving portion can be configured to receive a motion signal corresponding to a motion of the vehicle. A processing portion can be configured to direct to the at least one display portion a time-varying output signal that appears to move by less than an object actually positioned external to the vehicle would appear to move to an occupant at the seat location of the vehicle. Accordingly, the viewer may be less susceptible to motion sickness by receiving visual cues that correspond to less motion than the occupant feels.

Claims

1. A system for providing an image to at least one aircraft passenger, comprising:

multiple display portions configured to be positioned proximate to a seat location within an aircraft cabin with display surfaces of each display portion aligned at least approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin;

a first signal receiving portion configured to receive an input image signal, the input image signal including a representation of a horizon positioned to appear external to the aircraft;

a sensor configured to detect a rolling motion of the aircraft about a roll axis of the aircraft;

a second signal receiving portion coupled to the sensor and configured to receive a rolling motion signal from the sensor; and

a processing portion configured to direct to the display portion a time-varying output image signal, corresponding to an image that is contiguous over the display surfaces, the output image signal corresponding at least in part to the input image signal updated based on the rolling motion signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing portion is configured to direct an output image signal that includes a first region having a first hue and positioned above a second region having a second hue, wherein the first hue is lighter than the second hue.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the display portions are moveable between a first position and a second position, with the display portions being deployed and visually accessible to a passenger when in the first position.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the display portion includes a liquid crystal display.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the display portion includes a matrix of light emitting diodes.

6. A non-stimulated aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a passenger cabin positioned within the fuselage, the passenger cabin being elongated along a longitudinal axis and having at least one cabin surface aligned at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a first passenger seat positioned within the passenger cabin;

a second passenger seat positioned within the passenger cabin aft of the first passenger seat; and

multiple display portions longitudinally positioned at least proximate to the cabin surface, the display portions each having a display surface that is generally fixed relative to the passenger seats and is aligned at least approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis, the multiple display portions being configured to display a contiguous image that moves relative to the display portions independent of the motion of the aircraft.

7. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the passenger cabin includes no windows with visual access to a region exterior to the aircraft.

8. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the passenger cabin has no windows visually accessible from the first and second passenger seats.

9. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the fuselage includes windows positioned to provide visual access from an interior region of the aircraft to an exterior region of the aircraft.

10. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the longitudinal axis corresponds at least approximately to a roll axis of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the passenger cabin is one of two passenger cabins arranged side by side.

12. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the multiple display portions are configured to display an image that includes a representation of the horizon external to the aircraft.

13. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage elongated along a longitudinal axis;

a passenger cabin housed within the fuselage;

multiple passenger seats positioned within the passenger cabin;

multiple display portions positioned proximate to the passenger seat, each display portion having a fixed display surface aligned at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a first signal receiving portion configured to receive an input image signal;

a second signal receiving portion configured to receive a motion signal corresponding to a motion of the vehicle; and

a processing portion configured to direct to the multiple display portions a time-varying output image signal corresponding to an image that is contiguous over the display surfaces, the output image signal corresponding at least in part to the input image signal and being provided at least in part in accordance with the motion signal.

14. The aircraft of claim 13 wherein the passenger cabin includes a ceiling and at least one wall, both elongated generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, further wherein the multiple portions includes a first display portion disposed adjacent to the ceiling and a second display portion disposed adjacent to the at least one wall.

15. The aircraft of claim 13 wherein the second signal receiving portion is configured to receive a motion signal corresponding to a rolling motion of the aircraft about an aircraft roll axis.

16. The aircraft of claim 13 wherein the processing portion is configured to direct an image signal that includes a representation of a horizon.

17. The aircraft of claim 13 wherein the processing portion is configured to direct an image signal that includes a first region having a first hue positioned above a second region having a second hue, wherein the first hue is lighter than the second hue.

18. The aircraft of claim 13, further comprising a motion sensor positioned to detect the motion of the vehicle, the motion sensor being operatively coupled to the second signal receiving portion to direct the motion signal to the second signal receiving portion.

19. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

a passenger cabin positioned within the fuselage, the passenger cabin being elongated along a longitudinal axis and having at least one cabin surface aligned at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a first passenger seat positioned within the passenger cabin;

a second passenger seat positioned within the passenger cabin aft of the first passenger seat;

at least one display portion positioned at least proximate to the cabin surface and having a display surface aligned at least approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis, the at least one display portion being configured to display an image that moves relative to the display portion;

a first signal receiving portion configured to receive an input image signal;

a second signal receiving portion configured to receive a motion signal corresponding to a motion of the aircraft; and

a processing portion configured to direct to the at least one display portion a time-varying output image signal, the output image signal corresponding at least in part to the input image signal updated at least in part on the motion signal so as to appear to move the image relative to the at least one display portion by less than an object actually positioned external to the aircraft would appear to move to an occupant at the first passenger seat.