Cross projection visor helmet mounted display

• US 5,299,063 A
• Filed: 11/10/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritz, Bernard S., Fritz, Teresa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US07/973,875
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 359/625-627, 359/629-633, 359/639, 359/13-14, 359/362-364, 359/423, 359/434-435, 359/196, 340/700, 340/702, 340/705, 340/980, 351/158, 358/88, 358/103, 358/250
• US Class Current: 359/631
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0152 involving arrangement aiming to get lighter or better balanced devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays

Abstract

A helmet mounted display utilizing a pair of image sources mounted low on the helmet of a pilot and projecting an image across in front of the pilot'"'"'s face to the opposite partly reflecting portions of the visor of the helmet to create an image for each of the pilot'"'"'s eyes, which image is combined with the scene being viewed through the visor by the pilot.

Claims

1. A display system for use with a helmet having first and second sides and a partly reflective visor generally across a front side thereof to permit the eyes of a helmet wearer to observe a scene therethrough comprising:

a first image source mounted on the first side of the helmet approximately at the level of the wearer'"'"'s eyes; and

a first optical relay mounted to receive an image from the first image source and direct it across the helmet to a first portion of the visor on the second side of the helmet, the first portion reflecting the image to a first eye of the wearer.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first portion of the visor combines the image from the first image source with the scene observed by the wearer for simultaneous viewing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first optical relay operates to reimage the image from the first image source so that the image is viewed by the wearer at infinity.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first portion of the visor is substantially elliptical to collimate light from the first relay at the first eye of the wearer, which eye is nearest the second side of the helmet.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a second image source mounted on the second side of the helmet and a second optical relay for directing an image from the second source across the helmet to a second portion of the visor on the first side of the helmet, the second portion reflecting the image to a second eye of the wearer.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the second portion of the visor combines the image from the second image source with the scene observed by the wearer for simultaneous viewing.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the second optical relay operates to reimage the image from the second image source so that the image is viewed by the wearer at infinity.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second portion of the visor is substantially elliptical to collimate light from the second relay at the second eye of the wearer, which eye is nearest the first side of the helmet.