Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Other

Daniel J Henry

Donald E Glass

Max G Taylor

Matthew Jacob Cunnien

Michael J Armstrong

Robert D Brown

Tracy J Barnidge

Ian J Bull

Peter J Flugstad

Shawn M Spencer

Andrew Jarrett

Jeffrey E Crow

Thomas Schnell

Nathan A Vaughn

A system for displaying a stereo image is disclosed. The system includes a stereoscopic head up display (HUD) that includes a combiner and a display configured to display a stereo image. The system further includes either a head tracking sensor or an eye tracking sensor configured to generate a tracking dataset. The system further includes a processor and a memory with instructions that cause the processor to receive the tracking dataset, generate a distortion map based on the tracking dataset and a distortion function, receive a media stereo image, generate a stereo signal based on the distortion map and the media stereo image, and transmit the stereo signal to the display. The system is capable of conveying an image to an operator in the absence of a relay lens.

Low cost HUD using stereo and head tracking

A situational awareness system for aerial refueling is disclosed. In embodiments, the situational awareness system may include one or more millimeter wave devices of a tanker aircraft configured to transmit one or more emitter signals toward an aircraft to be refueled, and receive one or more reflected signals reflected from the aircraft to be refueled. In embodiments, the situational awareness system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more millimeter wave devices and the display device, the controller configured to determine a distance between a refueling assembly of the tanker aircraft and the aircraft to be refueled based on the one or more reflected signals, and generate one or more control signals configured to cause a display substrate of a display device to display at least one of a metric or image indicative of the determined distance.

Covert distance determination via millimeter wave proximity sensor

A system and method for calibrating stereoscopic cameras in an aircraft utilizes a plurality of lasers aimed at a desired convergence point, such as at a point on a runway or other ground facility or projection surface. Each of the stereoscopic cameras are adjusted in terms of pitch, yaw, and roll to align the convergence point in each camera. Misalignments are iteratively corrected, as required. An alignment crosshair is applied, physically or electronically, and the convergence point aligned to the alignment crosshair.

Stereoscopic camera alignment via laser projection

A stereoscopic system that employs stereo infrared imaging to improve resolution and field of view (FOV) is disclosed. In embodiments, the stereoscopic system includes first and second infrared cameras that are configured to detect scenery in the same FOV. The stereoscopic system further includes at least one display and at least one controller configured to render imagery from the first infrared camera and imagery from the second infrared camera via a display (or multiple displays) to generate stereoscopic infrared imagery.

Stereo infrared imaging for head mounted devices

Systems and methods for improving target object visibility in captured images can include an imaging sensor for mounting on an aircraft at a fixed position and orientation. A predetermined portion of the aircraft can appear as a region of interest (ROI) at a predefined location across images captured by the imaging sensor. A processor can receive a first image signal captured by the imaging sensor and corresponding to a first image that includes the ROI. The processor can determine a first image intensity range of the ROI in the first image and gain and offset values for modifying the first image or a subsequent image. The processor can cause a second image signal, received from the imaging sensor, to be amplified according to the gain and offset values and cause the region of interest in a second image to have a second image intensity range different from the first image intensity range.

Enhancing image quality based on characteristics of a reference region of interest

A dynamically tinted display visor (DTDV) is disclosed. In embodiments, the DTDV includes a visor surface having an untinted or substantially transparent setting and a tinted or substantially opaque setting. The visor surface is fixed to a helmet worn by an operator (e.g., a pilot or co-pilot), the helmet further including a head tracking system for monitoring the head pose (e.g., head position and orientation) of the operator. Helmet-mounted cameras include auto-gain sensors capable of assessing ambient light levels consistent with the head pose of the operator. The DTDV includes a tint processor for adjusting the tint setting of the visor surface based on an assessment of the head pose data and sensed ambient light levels, automatically detinting or darkening the visor as conditions demand or manually detinting/darkening at the operator's command.

Dynamically tinted display visor

An infrared sensor including a plurality of infrared cameras is described. Each infrared camera includes an infrared detector and imaging optics. The imaging optics are arranged to image infrared light onto the infrared detector, the imaging optics having a field of view with a center optical axis, and field of view boundary lines bounding the field of view on sides of the field of view. The infrared cameras are arranged such that the center optical axes of the field of views intersect each other, and the fields of view overlap each other.

Cross-eyed sensor mosaic

Systems and methods for improving target object visibility in captured images can include an imaging sensor for mounting on an aircraft at a fixed position and orientation. A predetermined portion of the aircraft can appear as a region of interest (ROI) at a predefined location across images captured by the imaging sensor. A processor can receive a first image signal from the imaging sensor and corresponding to a first image that includes the ROI. The processor can determine a first image intensity range of the ROI in the first image and a gain value for modifying the first image or a subsequent image. The processor can cause a second image signal, received from the imaging sensor, to be amplified using the gain value and cause the region of interest in a second image to have a second image intensity range different from the first image intensity range.

A head-tracking system utilizing radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers. RF fiducials are disposed on a helmet and a constellation of receivers receives one or more RF carriers with defined pulse frequencies. Measured time delays are used to produce a head pose. Alternatively, phase shifting is measured to determine the location of each RF fiducial within a single wavelength. In some embodiments, multiple frequency ranges may be used to define a coarse location via phase shifting within a long wavelength RF carrier and a fine location via phase shifting within a short wavelength RF carrier. In a further aspect, polarization and amplitude measurements in conjunction with a known peak RF transmitter amplitude may be used to determine a receiver's relative position with respect to the RF transmitter. GPS location methodologies, spread spectrum frequency hopping, and encryption may also be utilized.

Radio frequency head tracker

A system is disclosed which utilizes a three-dimensional (3D) display system, in combination with an avionics Synthetic Vision System (SVIS), to provide 3D synthetic images of scenes around an aircraft where the systems are dynamically modified to meet particular needs of a flight crew, depending upon variable characteristics of the aircraft and environment including: phase of flight of the aircraft; attitude of the aircraft; proximity of the aircraft to Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) conditions; whether the 3D display system is an head-down display (HDD) or an immersive head-mounted display (HMD); and whether the 3D display system is an head-up display (HUD) or an HMD with a transparent visor.

Dual simultaneous image presentation for a three-dimensional aviation display

An aviation display system includes an input source configured to provide a left eye input channel including a first band and an input source configured to provide a right eye input channel having a second band different from the first band. A processor is coupled with the input sources and with a non-transitory processor readable medium storing processor executable code, which causes the processor to receive data indicative of the left eye and right eye input channels from the input sources and to generate a left eye output channel and a right eye output channel. A display is configured to receive the left and right eye output channels from the processor and to provide an image indicative of the left eye output channel to a left eye of a user, and an image indicative of the right eye output channel to a right eye of the user.

Aviation display system and method

Methods and systems for indicating boundaries of a volume of space are disclosed. A method may include: providing a first pair of indicators positioned to visually indicate boundaries of a predefined volume of space with respect to a first axis; providing a second pair of indicators positioned to visually indicate boundaries of the predefined volume of space with respect to a second axis; and configuring the first pair of indicators and the second pair of indicators to provide a first type of visual indication visible to a viewer from positions outside of the predefined volume of space. The methods and systems may be utilized for indicating boundaries of a volume of space for proper and/or improper viewing of a display device.

Systems and methods for indicating improper viewing angles

A method and system for displaying to a pilot, or other airborne personnel, high resolution video signal content on a lower resolution display, by providing a plurality of pilot selectable aspects of the high resolution video signals, which are predetermined to accentuate a particular characteristic of said high resolution video signals, where the aspects are non-linear mappings of the high resolution signals (x) to (y) on said lower resolution display, where the non-linear mapping has y determined by a constant with an exponent which includes x and a logarithmic constant.

System and method for displaying to airborne personnel mission critical high dynamic range video on a low resolution display

Disclosed is a polishing composition for refinishing a plastic surface of a compact disk. The composition is made of (a) from about 15 to about 25 weight percent of a solvent for the plastic surface, (b) from about 12.5 to about 35 weight percent of an abrasive particulate, (c) from about 15 to about 35 weight percent of a petroleum distillate, (d) from about 2 to about 10 weight percent of a hard wax, and (e) from about 15 to about 25 weight percent water.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Daniel J Henry