USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Frank J Oharek

Denis R Breglia

Robert J Entwistle

Dorothy M Baldwin

Albert H Marshall

Windell N Mohon

Paul D Grimmer

Archer M Spooner

John C McKechnie

Wiley V Dykes

Gottfried R Rosendahl

David T Long

Curt Stahl

John H Dillard

Don D Doty

A head position and orientation sensor system utilizes a head mounted protor of known scan pattern which presents a visual display to the observer. In order to maintain proper display orientation, the head position and orientation are measured by intercepting the projected light scan pattern at a retroreflective screen upon which the visual display is focused. A photodetector array mounted in said screen intercepts the visual display regardless of head orientation and position. A computational unit having knowledge of the scan pattern parameters correlates the photodetector array output to a unique head position and orientation.

Head position and orientation sensor

A field of view test apparatus utilizes a plurality of interchangeable acic masks to vary the resolution characteristics of a projected field of view. An eye or head tracker provides line of sight direction signals to a servo which positions the mask with the optical path of the projection to correlate the area of higher resolution with the direction of the line of sight.

Field of view test apparatus

An articulated light guide having internal mirrors and rotatable joints, vides a transmission path to a helmet mounted projector wherefrom light is transmitted onto a retroreflective screen to produce images utilized in simulation training. Located at the screen are photodiodes which detect the orientation of said images with respect to a reference and provide alignment signals to a servo-controlled image rotation device.

Articulated light guide

A rotating shutter system for improving the resolution of a visual scene projected upon a spherical screen by a 360.degree. non-programmed visual display system. A rotating shutter, which has on its upper surface a plurality of opaque radial lines, is positioned within an annular probe of the 360.degree. non-programmed visual display system so as to improve the resolution of the annular probe. A direct current motor drives the rotating shutter at a predetermined rotational speed, and a feedback circuit maintains the rotational speed of the direct current motor at a constant value.

Rotating shutter system for improving the resolution of a visual display

A marksmanship training system is disclosed as comprising a viewing screen pon which a scenic picture having a predetermined target included therein is projected by a combination motion picture projector and film. A plurality of simulated rifles shoot laser light shots of different colors, respectively, at the target located within the image of said projected motion picture scene. A like plurality of receiver channels respond to the colors of said laser shots respectively, and as a result of being properly synchronized with said projector and film, determine and indicate the number of target 'hits' for any given number of shots. A color television camera and video tape recorder monitor training exercises, and a video tape player permits the playback thereof for additional training purposes. Optionally, a suitable sound system may be used in conjunction with the aforesaid projector and film combination, so as to provide a more realistic training environment for the marksmen while they are shooting at the aforementioned viewing screen with said simulated rifles.

Marksmanship training system

A drugless eye examination system is disclosed that incorporates: an opti system for illuminating the retina of an eye, which has preferably been previously dilated by standard dark room or other drugless procedures, with infrared energy; another optical system for projecting a tiny red spot light on the retina of said eye, for eye-fixation purposes; and still another optical system for permitting an observer to look at and, hence, examine said eye, while it is being held fixed on said red spot light and illuminated by the aforesaid infrared energy. In combination therewith are several other optical systems which permit the taking of color or other photographs of the retina of said eye while it is optionally and timely illuminated with a flash of white light, and for implementing the remote display thereof by television or other projection apparatus.

Drugless eye examination system

A stabilized viewing system is disclosed as having a telescope for viewing n object by an observer when the object is remotely located from the observer, a camera for timely photographing a succession of pictures of the object on a film that is processed immediately prior to exposure of the object of the film by a processing fluid which causes a positive image to be produced on the film after exposure of the object on the film which may be viewed by the observer immediately thereafter, a unique movable linkage-type servomechanism connected between the telescope and the camera for enabling one or the other to be selected as desired by the observer, in order that he may either view the object directly or the filmed image thereof, and a magnifying eyepiece disposed in such manner with respect to the telescope and the film of the camera that either one or the other may be observed in magnified form.

Stabilized scene viewing system

A laser scan converter is disclosed which converts the scan of a laser li beam in one plane--say, a horizontal plane--into a scan thereof in another plane--say, a vertical plane. The invention comprises a rotating multi-faceted mirror which, as it rotates, intercepts in a first plane a laser light beam that optionally has passed through a semi-mirror and reflectively scans it back to the reflective surface of said semi-mirror which re-reflects and redirects it to a full mirror which, in turn, re-re-reflects and re-redirects it to a predetermined surface of a utilization apparatus, the surface of which is located in a second plane that is different from the aforesaid first plane--say, one that is perpendicular thereto.

Laser scan converter

A system is disclosed for displaying a life or other size replica of a moboard or other scene in a non-programmed and real or other time manner, whereby said displayed replica constitutes a realistic ambient environmental simulation which may be used to facilitate the training of people in various and sundry situations, such as, for example, in piloting aircraft, tanks, automobiles, and other automotive devices, and the like. As disclosed, a modelboard scene is optically observed by a unique annular probe which forms an annular optical image thereof, rotates said annular optical image, and then timely converts it to a plurality of electrical signals proportional thereto. Suitable telemetering apparatus and timing circuits effect the transfer of said plurality of electrical signals to a unique annular projector which, in turn, reconstructs said converted annular optical image therefrom by means of lasers and laser light modulators, rotates it at a speed and in a direction that is equal and opposite to that mentioned above, and projects it onto the inner reflective surface of a substantially spherical or other wide angle screen as a displayed replica of the aforesaid modelboard scene, where it may be seen by the aforesaid people when they are located in proper proximity therewith.

360.degree. Non-programmed visual system

A universal weapon fire simulation system in which frames of motion picture ilm are employed to produce simultaneously from one set of frames a background area including a target and, from another set of frames, an infrared lead aim spot. The sets of film frames are coordinated in projection in a desired degree of non-registration between the lead spot and the target to provide a lead in the infrared spot representative of the correct lead and elevation of a properly aimed weapon. The invention also includes a receiver circuit comprising a quadrant arrangement of infrared detectors for sensing the infrared lead aim spot when the weapon is correctly aimed, and amplifier, comparator, logic and hit indicator means for indicating a miss, hit, or a specific area of near miss when the weapon is triggered to activate the sensor circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Orlando, FL, United States of America

Frank J Oharek