Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Flight Dynamics, Inc.

Hughes Flight Dynamics, Inc.

John P Desmond

Robert B Wood

Mark A Thomas

John G Wilson

An enhanced vision system for an aircraft is disclosed. The system includes an imaging sensor mounted on the aircraft. The imaging sensor detects a range of radiation emanating from a scene. A display-generating processor is operationally connected to the imaging sensor and generates symbology representing information useful to operation of the aircraft. The display-generating processor combines the generated symbology with the detected range of radiation from the imaging to create a representation of the scene. The representation of the scene is created such that the generated symbology is scaled to conformally overlay the detected range of radiation. A display is operationally connected to the processor. The display is configured to display the representation of the scene such that the representation of the scene is non-conformal with a pilot's view out of a windshield of the aircraft.

Head-down enhanced vision system

An optical display system (10) presents visual source information to an observer (18) The display system includes a vision unit (14) that has reflective surfaces (16) through which the observer can view an outside world scene and which reflect source information emanating from an information source (22) for display to the observer In a preferred embodiment, the optical display system constitutes a head-up display system for an automobile and the observer is the driver of the automobile. The vision unit constitutes an automobile windshield with or without a reflection enhancement material and whose inner and outer surfaces reflect source information carried by light propagating form the information source, such as a liquid crystal display (32). A projection lens system (24) positioned between the inner surface of the windshield and the information source has optical light-directing properties for compensating for optical aberrations introduced by the nonplanar windshield surface. The projection lens system includes an aspheric element (262) that is unique to a specific aspheric windshield shape and remaining elements that are common to a great number of different windshield shapes. A positioning mechanism ( 130) allows the driver to adjust the vertical position of the source information (60) reflected by the windshield within a total display field of view for optimal viewing by a seated driver. The positioning mechanism also automatically changes the distance between the display image and the driver as a function of vehicle speed to promote safe vehicle operation.

Automobile head-up display system with apparatus for positioning source

An optical display system (10) presents visual source information to an observer (18). The display system includes a vision unit (14) that has reflective surfaces (16) through which the observer can view an outside world scene and which reflect source information emanating from an information source (22) for display to the observer. In a preferred embodiment, the optical display system constitutes a head-up display system for an automobile and the observer is the driver of the automobile. The vision unit constitutes an automobile windshield with or without a reflection enhancement material and whose inner and outer surfaces reflect source information carried by light propagating from the information source, such as a liquid crystal display (32). A projection lens system (24) positioned between the inner surface of the windshield and the information source has optical light-directing properties for compensating for optical aberrations introduced by the nonplanar windshield surface. The projection lens system includes an aspheric element (262) that is unique to a specific aspheric windshield shape and remaining elements that are common to a great number of different windshield shapes. A positioning mechanism ( 130) allows the driver to adjust the vertical position of the source information (60) reflected by the windshield within a total display field of view for optimal viewing by a seated driver. The positioning mechanism also automatically changes the distance between the display image and the driver as a function of vehicle speed to promote safe vehicle operation.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

John P Desmond