Crossed monitoring device for head-up displays

• US 8,497,816 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Coloma, Laurent, Bideau, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIS, RANDAL L
• Application Number:
  US12/682,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/8
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A crossed monitoring device for a head-up display that can be used for displaying a representation of at least one first datum. The device includes a mechanism generating at least one first image from the at least one first datum, a mechanism receiving from the at least one second display at least one second image generated from at least one second datum, and a mechanism selecting one of the first and at least one second image. The device can further include a mechanism modifying images according to characteristics of the displays. Each display can modify the images to be displayed according to its characteristics, and each display can modify the images according to the characteristics of each display.

Claims

1. A crossed monitoring device for a display system of an aircraft comprising:

means for activating the crossed monitoring; and

means for accessing data; and

a first head-up display unit; and

a second head-up display unit;

each head-up display unit including;

means for processing data to generate a first image;

means for calculating a first image distortion correction for the generated first image, associated with a projection format;

means for calculating a second image distortion correction for the generated first image, associated with a second projection format;

means for projecting the first corrected image; and

means for outputting the second corrected image to the other head-up display unit,

wherein activating the cross-monitoring function allows the second corrected image generated by one of the head-up display units to be projected onto the other head-up display unit.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving an independent external synchronization signal.

3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for inserting, in an image, an indication that the image originates from the second head-up display unit.

4. An aircraft comprising the device according to claim 1.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first image generated by the first head-up display unit can be integrated with images from the second head-up display unit, and the first image generated by the second head-up display unit can be integrated with images from the first head-up display unit.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first image generated by one of the head-up display units can be integrated with images from at least one source other than the other head-up display unit.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for calculating an image distortion correction for each head-up display unit calculates the image distortion correction for its own projection format.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for calculating an image distortion correction for each head-up display unit calculates the image distortion corrections for the projection formats of both head-up display units.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein each head-up display unit includes means for outputting an image to a head-down display.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein each head-up display unit includes means for outputting an image to a different head-up display unit.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein each head-up display unit includes means for integrating the first image with images from at least one other source.

12. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for inserting, in the first image, a notification of time lags associated with defective synchronization between head-up display units.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for activating the cross-monitoring is a monostable control, permitting temporary activation of said crossed-monitoring.

14. An apparatus for cross-monitoring on a display system for an aircraft, said apparatus comprising:

a monostable control which permits temporary activation of said crossed-monitoring;

a first head-up display unit; and

a second head-up display unit, wherein each head-up display unit includes;

a processing module which transforms data into a first image;

a distortion correction module which calculates a first distortion correction and a second distortion correction for the first image;

an output port which outputs the second corrected image to the other head-up display unit;

an input port which receives the second corrected image from the other head-up display unit;

a projector which projects the first corrected image; and

a screen which displays the first corrected image,

wherein activating the cross-monitoring function allows the second corrected first image generated by one of the head-up display units to be projected onto the other head-up display unit.