Patent · US Expired

Visual display apparatus

US4340878A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
9References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 1980
Grant dateJul 20, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B2027/0198
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides head-coupled area-of-interest visual display apparatus particularly for ground-based craft-flight simulators. The apparatus provides a display projected onto the inside of a part-spherical shell which surrounds the pilot and carries a retro-reflective screen. The displayed scene covers an area of interest dependent upon craft position and heading and viewer's instantaneous line of view. The image generator may be of the computer generated image, laser-scanned model or closed-circuit television type. Multiple images are required for stereoscopic viewing or for more than one viewer. Line scanning apparatus is cockpit-mounted; line image is transmitted by fibre optic light guide ribbon and frame scan apparatus is mounted on a helmet worn by the viewer. A sensor measures head/helmet movement to permit voluntary scanning of a wide angle simulated view from the craft. The projected image is divided into zones each zone using separate line-scanning means and fibre optic light guide. The frame scanning projector means provides simultaneous frame scanning of each zone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.