Enhanced vision system and method for an aircraft

• US 8,830,143 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Wood, Robert B., Pitchford, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suteerawongsa, Jarurat
• Application Number:
  US11/528,920
• Time in Patent Office: 2,903 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 359 13- 14, 359629-632, 349/11
• US Class Current: 345/9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/026 Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence

Abstract

An aircraft optical display system for implementing an enhanced vision system based on light available within the flight deck of an aircraft. The display system includes a visible light imager configured to receive light within a spectral range defined by the photon transmissivity of windshield of the aircraft and generate image data. The system further includes a combiner configured to enable viewing of the world outside of the combiner, and allowing viewing of an enhanced vision image. The system yet further includes an image processing system configured generate an enhanced vision image representative of an external scene to the aircraft based at least in part on the image data from the visible light imager, wherein the enhanced vision image is conformally mapped onto the combiner.

Claims

1. An aircraft optical display system for implementing an enhanced vision system based on light available within a flight deck of an aircraft, the display system comprising:

a visible light imager configured to receive light within a spectral range defined by the photon transmissivity of windshield of the aircraft and generate image data;

a combiner, the combiner enabling viewing of the world outside of the combiner, and allowing viewing of an enhanced vision image; and

an image processing system configured to generate the enhanced vision image representative of an external scene to the aircraft based at least in part on the image data from the visible light imager, wherein the enhanced vision image is conformally mapped onto the combiner.

2. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein the visible light imager is positioned such that imager axes are proximal to the normal visual axis of a pilot of the aircraft.

3. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein the enhanced vision image is generated based on information received from an infrared sensor positioned external to the flight deck.

4. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein the enhanced vision image includes a representation of color of an external light source.

5. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein the enhanced vision image is configured to include an enhanced representation of an airfield surface.

6. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein intensity of the enhanced vision image is configured based on ambient light data received from the visible light imager.

7. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein contrast of the enhanced vision image is configured based on ambient light data received from the visible light imager.

8. The aircraft optical display system of claim 1, wherein the image processing system is configured to generate the enhanced vision image by removing weather effects from the image data received from the visible light imager.

9. A method of generating an enhanced vision image based on light available within a flight deck environment of an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving image data from a visible light imager, the visible light imager being representative of light within a spectral range defined by the photon transmissivity of windshield of the aircraft;

generating an enhanced vision image representative of an external scene to the aircraft based at least in part on the image data from the visible light imager; and

displaying the enhanced vision image on a combiner positioned within the flight deck environment of the aircraft such that the enhanced vision image is displayed conformally in the line of sight of a pilot on the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the enhanced vision image is generated based on information received from one additional sensor such as an infrared sensor positioned external to the flight deck.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the enhanced vision image includes a symbolic or actual representation of color of an external light source.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the the enhanced vision image is generated by removing weather effects from the image data received from the visible light imager.

13. An aircraft optical display system for implementing an enhanced vision system based on light available within a flight deck of an aircraft, the display system comprising:

a visible light imaging means configured to receive light within a spectral range defined by the photon transmissivity of windshield of the aircraft and generate image data;

a combiner, the combiner enabling viewing of the world outside of the aircraft, and allowing viewing of an enhanced vision image; and

an image processing means configured to generate the enhanced vision image representative of an external scene to the aircraft based at least in part on the image data from the visible light imaging means, wherein the enhanced vision image is conformally mapped onto the combiner.

14. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein the visible light imaging means is positioned such that imager axes are proximal to the normal visual axis of a pilot of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein the enhanced vision image is generated based on information received from an infrared sensing means positioned external to the flight deck.

16. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein the enhanced vision image includes a representation of color of an external light source.

17. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein the enhanced vision image is configured to include an enhanced representation of an airfield surface.

18. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein intensity of the enhanced vision image is configured based on ambient light data received from the visible light imaging means.

19. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein contrast of the enhanced vision image is configured based on ambient light data received from the visible light imaging means.

20. The aircraft optical display system of claim 13, wherein the image processing system is configured to generate the enhanced vision image by removing weather effects from the image data received from the visible light imaging means.