The Singer Company

Richard A Mecklenborg

David L Peters

Richard B Mallinson

Kadam S Lakshminarayanasetty

George M Belva

Frederic N Forehand

Richard E McClenahan

The disclosure describes a vehicle simulator visual system for training two individuals, such as a pilot and a co-pilot seated side-by-side to view compound images that are projected on the same large curved screen. Structurally, the system comprises two projectors, each of which has a polarizer to polarize the individual light images in opposite directions in a circular manner. Two separate windshields are simulated and each one supports an analyzer that is polarized in the opposite circular direction from its projector. The polarization of each analyzer is such that one windshield will pass light that is polarized from one projector, and the other windshield will pass light that is polarized by the other polarizer.

Visual system with filter for a simulator

Visual system (37) for providing high detail, high resolution imagery anywhere a trainee is looking throughout a wide field of view. An image generation system (38) of visual system (37) accepts inputs from a helmet mounted oculometer system (30) which determines a trainee's instantaneous eye line-of-sight. The image generation system (38) provides a foveal view of high detail, high resolution imagery at the eye line-of-sight. The foveal view is projected on a screen (46) by a foveal projection system (40). The image generation system (38) further provides a peripheral view of low detail, low resolution imagery that is projected on screen (46) by a peripheral projection system (42). The foveal view is merged with the peripheral view by a merge electronics system (44).

Eye line-of-sight responsive wide angle visual system

Optical probe (21) for simultaneously providing two images along independent lines-of-sight that correspond to front and side views in a single camera model visual system. An optical probe comprises a first pitch prism (24) and a second pitch prism (28). The pitch prisms have respective first and second apparent entrance pupils that are external to each prism and common to both prisms at a particular location (32). All motion of the optical probe is constrained to rotations about the location (32) of the first and second apparent entrance pupils.

Optical probe

A front projection screen includes a substrate backing member (12), a primer (14) sprayed on the substrate, a metallic silver mixture (16) adjacent to the primer, and a mist flake mixture (20) adjacent to the mixture (16). The mixture (16) includes a combination of lacquer binder (17), mixing color agent (18) and flattening agent (19); the mist flake mixture (20) includes a combination of silver powder flakes (23) and lacquer binder (17). By selectively changing and controlling the ratios of the components of the metallic silver mixture (16) and the mist flake mixture (20), the screen's peak gain and peak gain fall off can be controlled to produce screens exhibiting a selective, high peak gain, or a constant gain independent of the viewing angle, or a gradient gain.

Front projection screen with precision gain control

The disclosure describes an enclosed area (19) between a beamsplinter (11) and a curved reflective surface (12), two end surfaces (20) and (21) and a top membrane (22). The space (19) is hermetically tight and encloses a suitable dry gas, such as nitrogen. With a device constructed in this manner positioned adjacent a suitable television tube, such as CRT (17), the device will function as is well known, but cleaning and damage to optically coated surfaces is eliminated completely.

Optical display apparatus

Visual images in proper perspective are optically displayed to each eye of one or more movable observers through a common display system. Real images of aperture stop pupils continuously track their respective eyepoints when the eyepoints change location. Each of the individual images as confined by their respective real pupil images are viewed at their corresponding eyepoints without optical interference.

Binocular viewing technique

The vertical field of view of a standard spherical mirror-beamsplitter infinity image display is increased by skewing the display with respect to an observer. The display is skewed so that the center of curvature of the display mirror is shifted laterally and rearwardly relative to the observer's eyepoint. To maintain the displayed image in proper alignment, the input image to the display is also displaced.

Infinity image display having increased vertical field of view

Light transmission of ends of optical fibers simulating runway lights in a scale-model system is markedly increased by grinding and polishing each such fiber end at an angle which provides total internal reflection of most light in each fiber and consequent light projection in a desired direction at a small angle to a simulated airfield runway surface.

Visual display apparatus

Scheimpflug correction is achieved by maintaining Scheimpflug relay lenses at a fixed tilt angle with respect to the axis of the lens system and revolving pairs of said relay lenses about said system axis. The present disclosure revolutionizes previous concepts of how Scheimpflug correction may be achieved, permits the use of less complex lens structures of fewer elements, eliminates the problem of image displacement and reduces to relative simplicity the mechanical drive requirements of the movable elements while totally eliminating the need to translate lenses to compensate for lens tilt angle adjustments.

Growing community of inventors

Binghamton, NY, United States of America

Richard A Mecklenborg