Latency-reducing image generating system, device, and method

• US 9,669,940 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Lahr, Weston J., Tiana, Carlo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH-STEWART, DEMETRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/928,792
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/15 Aircraft landing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for reducing image generating latency of an image presented on a display unit are disclosed. An image processing unit (“IPU”) may receive the image data set; receive (1) first navigation data of a first time from which second navigation data of the second time is determined or (2) second navigation data of a second time; receive third navigation data of the second time; compare the second navigation data with the third navigation data; and select a subset of the image data set in response to the comparison. Differences arising from the comparison, if any, may be used in determining the location and/or rotation of a cropping frame that selects the subset and forms a cropped image which is then provided to a display system, whereby the image represented in the subset is presented to the viewer.

Claims

1. A system for generating an image presented on a display unit, such system comprising:

a navigation system; and

an image processing unit configured to;

receive first navigation data of a first time or second navigation data predicted to occur at a second time, where

the first navigation data is representative of at least first aircraft position and a plurality of first attitude parameters,

the second navigation data is representative of at least second aircraft position and a plurality of second attitude parameters, and

the first navigation data of the first time is used to determine second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time if the first navigation data of the first time is received;

receive third navigation data at the second time from the navigation system, where

the third navigation data is representative of at least third aircraft position and a plurality of third attitude parameters;

compare the second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time with the third navigation data received at the second time;

receive an image data set generated as a function of the second navigation data and representative of an image of an outside scene;

select a subset of the image data set in response to the comparison; and

provide the subset of the image data set to a display system, whereby

an image represented in the subset of the image data set is presentable to at least one viewer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the image data set is generated as a function of fourth navigation data of the first time, where

the fourth navigation data includes data of the first navigation data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the image data set is received from a source of image data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein

the selection of the subset of the image data set employs a cropping frame, where

a location and a rotation of the cropping frame with respect to the image of the outside scene is dependent upon differences, if any, between the second navigation data and the third navigation data determined from the comparison.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

a vertical distance between a frame reference point of the cropping frame and an image reference point of the image of the outside scene is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of pitch attitude represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data,

a horizontal distance between the frame reference point and the image reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of direction represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data, and

a rotation of the cropping frame about the frame reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of roll attitude in the second navigation data and the third navigation data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein

the measurements of direction are comprised of;

measurements of heading, or

measurements of ground track.

7. A device for generating a an image presented on a display unit, such device comprising:

an image processing unit configured to

receive first navigation data of a first time or second navigation data predicted to occur at a second time, where

the first navigation data is representative of at least first aircraft position and a plurality of first attitude parameters,

the second navigation data is representative of at least second aircraft position and a plurality of second attitude parameters, and

the first navigation data of the first time is used to determine second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time if the first navigation data of the first time is received;

receive third navigation data at the second time from the navigation system, where

the third navigation data is representative of at least third aircraft position and a plurality of third attitude parameters;

compare the second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time with the third navigation data received at the second time;

receive an image data set generated as a function of the second navigation data and representative of an image of an outside scene;

select a subset of the image data set in response to the comparison; and

provide the subset of the image data set to a display system, whereby

an image represented in the subset of the image data set is presentable to at least one viewer.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein

the image data set is generated as a function of fourth navigation data of the first time, where

the fourth navigation data includes data of the first navigation data.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the image data set is received from a source of image data.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein

the selection of the subset of the image data set employs a cropping frame, where

a location and a rotation of the cropping frame with respect to the image of the outside scene is dependent upon differences, if any, between the second navigation data and the third navigation data determined from the comparison.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein

a vertical distance between a frame reference point of the cropping frame and an image reference point of the image of the outside scene is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of pitch attitude represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data,

a horizontal distance between the frame reference point and the image reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of direction represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data, and

a rotation of the cropping frame about the frame reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of roll attitude in the second navigation data and the third navigation data.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein

the measurements of direction are comprised of

measurements of heading, or

measurements of ground track.

13. A method for generating a an image presented on a display unit, such method comprising:

receiving first navigation data of a first time or second navigation data predicted to occur at a second time, where

the first navigation data is representative of at least first aircraft position and a plurality of first attitude parameters,

the second navigation data is representative of at least second aircraft position and a plurality of second attitude parameters, and

the first navigation data of the first time is used to determine second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time if the first navigation data of the first time is received;

receiving third navigation data at the second time from the navigation system, where

the third navigation data is representative of at least third aircraft position and a plurality of third attitude parameters;

comparing the second navigation data predicted to occur at the second time with the third navigation data received at the second time;

receiving an image data set generated as a function of the second navigation data and representative of an image of an outside scene;

selecting a subset of the image data set in response to the comparison; and

providing the subset of the image data set to a display system, whereby

an image represented in the subset of the image data set is presentable to at least one viewer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

the image data set is generated as a function of fourth navigation data of the first time, where

the fourth navigation data includes data of the first navigation data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the image data set is received from a source of image data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein

the selection of the subset of the image data set employs a cropping frame, where

a location and a rotation of the cropping frame with respect to the image of the outside scene is dependent upon differences, if any, between the second navigation data and the third navigation data determined from the comparison.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

a vertical distance between a frame reference point of the cropping frame and an image reference point of the image of the outside scene is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of pitch attitude represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data,

a horizontal distance between the frame reference point and the image reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of direction represented in the second navigation data and the third navigation data, and

a rotation of the cropping frame about the frame reference point is commensurate to the difference, if any, between measurements of roll attitude in the second navigation data and the third navigation data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein

the measurements of direction are comprised of

measurements of heading, or

measurements of ground track.