Display system and method using a detached combiner

• US 9,244,281 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• 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: Zimmerman, Kenneth A., Tiana, Carlo L., Barber, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gagnon, Grant
• Application Number:
  US14/038,400
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

An apparatus provides a virtual display in an environment for various applications including avionic, naval, military, remote control, medical and other applications. The apparatus can be a head up display (HUD) or head worn display (e.g., helmet mounted display (HMD) and can include image sources disposed at a respective image source position, and a combiner detached from the image sources. The combiner is movable to a respective combiner position for receiving light from a respective image source of the image sources. The combiner provides an image from the respective image source to a user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a virtual display in an environment, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of image sources, the image sources each being disposed at a respective image source position, the image sources comprising a first image source comprising a first projector and a second image source comprising a second projector; and

a combiner detached from the image sources and movable to a first combiner position for receiving a first image from the first projector and a second combiner position for receiving a second from the second projector, wherein the combiner provides the first image or the second image to a single user based upon the combiner being in the first combiner position and the second combiner position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image is comprised of primarily flight data and the combiner receives light from a real world scene.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third image source comprising a third projector disposed at a third respective position, and wherein the combiner is movable to a third respective combiner position for receiving light from the third image source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combiner is part of a head worn display.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combiner is not worn by the pilot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image sources are disposed in a ceiling of an aircraft.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein respective collimating optics are disposed with each image source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one image source provides an enhanced vision image, the enhanced vision image being presented conformally with a real world scene through a window of a cockpit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, respective combiner positions are provided on a band provided about a head of a user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one image source provides a synthetic vision image, the synthetic image being presented conformally with a real world scene through a window of a cockpit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image sources are disposed on a rail in the cockpit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the respective combiner positions is associated with a center view in the cockpit and provides primary flight data or targeting data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the respective combiner positions is associated with a non-center view in the cockpit and provides electronic flight bag data or navigation data, the non-center view not including a view through a cockpit window for the single user and the center view including a view through the cockpit window for the single user.

14. A method of providing a virtual display in an environment, the method comprising:

positioning a combiner at a first position of at least two positions, the first position for receiving light from a first image source comprising a first projector;

providing a first virtual image to at least one eye, the first virtual image including a first image from the first projector of the first image source associated with parameters of the environment;

positioning the combiner at a second position of the two positions, the second position for receiving light from a second image source comprising a second projector; and

providing a second virtual image to the at least one eye, the second virtual image including a second image from the second projector of the second image source, wherein the combiner is physically detached from the first image source and the second image source and physically movable between the first position and the second position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first virtual image is a primary flight display image provided at a window position so that the virtual image conforms to a real world scene.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein combiner is positioned on a head band.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the combiner is positioned on a rail above a glare shield in a cockpit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the rail has three non-parallel segments comprising a first end segment and a second end segment inclined toward the user with respect to a middle segment, wherein the middle segment is associated with the first position and one of the first and second end segments is associated with the second position.

19. An apparatus for providing an optical display, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an image from one of two or more image sources and providing the image to eyes, wherein the means for receiving comprising a single combiner; and

means for physically positioning the single combiner of the means for receiving at a first position associated with a first image source of the images and at a second position associated with a second image source of the second image sources, wherein the first image source comprises a first projector providing a first image and the second image source provides a second image, wherein the single combiner receives the first image provided by the first projector when positioned at the first position and receives the second image provided on the second projector when positioned at the first second position, wherein the single combiner is movable to the first position and the second position during flight of an aircraft.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus comprises a head worn or head up display.