Dual wavelength enhanced vision system optimized for visual landing light alignment

• US 7,617,022 B1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tiana, Carlo L., Wood, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/883,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 340/447, 340/425.5, 345/633, 345/7, 345/640, 345/639, 345/619, 345/629, 345/76, 348/113, 348/115, 348/148, 250/330, 382/276, 382/190, 382/307, 382/103
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0129 comprising devices for correcting parallax
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

An enhanced vision system for an aircraft is disclosed. The invention includes a display apparatus having a display element positioned between the pilot and a scene. The display element permits the pilot to view the scene therethrough. A first sensor is mounted adjacent to the display element. The first sensor is configured to detect light having a first radiation spectrum emanating from a first portion of the scene. A second sensor is mounted upon the aircraft away from the display element. The second sensor is configured to detect light having a second radiation spectrum emanating from a second portion of the scene. The display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the first radiation spectrum precisely conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot. The display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the second radiation spectrum substantially conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot.

Claims

1. An enhanced vision system for an aircraft, comprising:

a display apparatus configured to generate and display information for a pilot of the aircraft, the display apparatus including a display element positioned between the pilot and a scene, wherein the display element is configured to permit the pilot to view the scene therethrough; and

a first sensor mounted adjacent the display element and configured to detect light having a first radiation spectrum emanating from a first portion of the scene having a first level of importance for operation of the aircraft;

a second sensor mounted upon the aircraft away from the display element and configured to detect light having a second radiation spectrum emanating from a second portion of the scene having a second level of importance for operation of the aircraft, where the second level of importance is less than the first level of importance;

wherein the display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the first radiation spectrum precisely conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot, and wherein the display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the second radiation spectrum substantially conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot, such that the pilot simultaneously views the scene and the visual representation of the detected radiation when looking at the display element.

2. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the first radiation spectrum is between about 0.8 microns and about 2 microns and is within the infrared spectrum.

3. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the second radiation spectrum is between about 3 microns and about 5 microns.

4. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the second radiation spectrum is between about 7 microns and about 13 microns.

5. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the scene includes lights adjacent a runway, and further wherein the second portion of the scene includes a thermal background of the scene.

6. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is mounted in a radome of the aircraft.

7. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is a head-up display system and the display element is a combiner for the head-up display system, the head-up display system further comprising:

a processor that receives inputs from the first sensor and the second sensor and creates an image to be viewed on the combiner; and

a projector that transmits the image to the combiner.

8. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the first radiation spectrum includes visible wavelengths emitted by solid-state runway landing lights.

9. The enhanced vision system of claim 1, wherein the second radiation spectrum includes reflected wavelengths in the millimeter-wavelength range.