Modular video display system

• US 5,746,599 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Lechner, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US08/407,138
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 434/38, 434/43, 434/44, 434/29, 434/30, 434/55, 434/307 R, 434/308, 345/8, 345/9, 348/36, 348/61, 348/117, 348/121, 348/123, 352/85, 352/69, 353/630, 353/30, 353/94, 353/79, 472/130, 359/481, 359/454, 359/460
• US Class Current: 434/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/403 Edge-driven scaling; Edge-based scaling
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/302 the image being transformed by computer processing, e.g. updating the image to correspond to the changing point of view
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/32 by projected image G09B9/307, G09B9/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/326 the image being transformed by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/36 Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/56 Simulation of sonar

Abstract

A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system. The visual display system also includes image redirection means, such as fold mirrors, to redirect the video images projected by the aligned video projectors so as to provide the video images to the respective display screens in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of each display screen. In addition, adjacent display screens can be attached by a pair of rearwardly extending tabs which are positioned so as to not mask the projected video images. At least one of the pair of tabs is opaque such that the projected video images will not pass between the adjacent display screens. Thus, at least the portion of the video image displayed along the edges of the adjacent display screens is clarified.

Claims

1. A flight simulation system comprising:

video projection means for projecting a predetermined video image;

a plurality of display screens, responsive to said video projection means, for displaying the predetermined video image projected by said video projection means, said plurality of display screens comprising a front screen, first and second opposed side screens and an upper screen, wherein each of said first and second opposed side screens has a trapezoidal shape such that each side screen has a first edge adjacent said front screen and a second edge, opposite the first edge, and wherein the height of each side screen increases in an outward direction from the front screen such that the second edge of each side screen is longer than the first edge;

a control station for providing control signals in response to actuation by an operator of the flight simulation system based upon the predetermined video image displayed on said plurality of display screens, wherein the operator is positioned in a predetermined viewing position; and

a flight simulation controller for controlling the video image projected by said video projection means in response to the control signals provided by the operator,

wherein each of said plurality of display screens is circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about a design eye of the flight simulation system, and wherein the design eye is positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the viewing position of the operator such that distortion of the displayed video image is thereby reduced.

2. A flight simulation system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of display screens includes a planar surface having a plurality of corners, and wherein said plurality of corners of each of said planar display screens intersects the imaginary sphere which circumscribes said plurality of display screens.

3. A flight simulation system according to claim 1 further comprising image generation means for generating video signals representative of the predetermined video images wherein the video signals generated by said image generation means which are representative of video images to be displayed on said first and second side screens represent a video image having a trapezoidal shape corresponding to the trapezoidal shape of said first and second side screens.

4. A flight simulation system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of display screens further comprises first and second rear side screens and a rear upper screen, said first and second rear side screens and said rear upper screen also being circumscribed by the imaginary sphere centered about the design eye of the flight simulation system.

5. A flight simulation system comprising:

video projection means for projecting a predetermined video image;

a plurality of display screens, responsive to said video projection means, for displaying the predetermined video image projected by said video projection means, said plurality of display screens comprising a front screen, first and second opposed side screens and an upper screen, wherein said front screen has a first predetermined aspect ratio of greater than one such that the width of the video image displayed on said front screen is greater than the height of the video image displayed on the front screen, and wherein each side screen has a second predetermined aspect ratio of less than one such that the width of the video image displayed on the respective side screen is less than the height of the video image displayed on the respective side screen;

a control station for providing control signals in response to actuation by an operator of the flight simulation system based upon the predetermined video image displayed on said plurality of display screens, wherein the operator is positioned in a predetermined viewing position; and

a flight simulation controller for controlling the video image projected by said video projection means in response to the control signals provided by the operator,

wherein each of said plurality of display screens is circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about a design eye of the flight simulation system, and wherein the design eye is positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the viewing position of the operator such that distortion of the displayed video image is thereby reduced.

6. A flight simulation system according to claim 5 wherein the first predetermined aspect ratio is the inverse of the second predetermined aspect ratio.