Abstract: A video projector, a shutter mechanism for a video projector, and a method for providing a visible image and an infrared image. The shutter includes first regions that filter out visible light and second regions that filter out infrared light. The second regions are arranged between adjacent first regions. The shutter can be synchronized with an image modulator that alternately outputs visible light images and infrared images. The infrared images can be viewed using night vision goggles, allowing night vision goggle users to train in a simulated environment.

Abstract: A video projector, a shutter mechanism for a video projector, and a method for reducing image blur. A shutter can include regions that are 100% transmissive to light and regions that are more than 0% transmissive (but less than 100% transmissive). The more than 0% transmissive regions raise the perceived brightness of the image relative to a shutter with 0% transmissive regions, enabling the 100% transmissive regions to be smaller. The smaller 100% transmissive regions result in reduced image blur. The more than 0% transmissive regions can include a filter that filters out certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum of the image to provide a perceived corrected image.

Abstract: A head up display or HUD system, including methods and apparatus, suitable for use in a flight simulator. According to the present teachings, a flight simulator HUD may be configured to produce a HUD image that appears superimposed on a simulated cockpit field of view image, and which has substantially the same relatively short focal distance from the user as the simulated image. A simulator HUD according to the present teachings does not require any holographic optical elements or an unrealistic cockpit volume, and provides an accurate simulation of conditions in a real aircraft cockpit.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed toward a visual image projection and display system including a motion platform, a toroidal constant vertical resolution surface having a bottom portion mounted to the motion platform and capable of displaying a single substantially constant vertical resolution image by blending portions of adjacent projected images on the toroidal constant vertical resolution surface, a top surface screen intersecting the top portion of the constant vertical resolution surface defined by a circular azimuth curve, and a set of image projectors. The set of image projectors include a radial array of image projectors mounted on the motion platform that project a corresponding series of images via at least one mirror attached to the motion platform onto a convex portion of the toroidal constant vertical resolution surface, and at least one image projector that projects an image on the top surface screen.

Abstract: A head up display or HUD system, including methods and apparatus, suitable for use in a flight simulator. According to the present teachings, a flight simulator HUD may be configured to produce a HUD image that appears superimposed on a simulated cockpit field of view image, and which has substantially the same relatively short focal distance from the user as the simulated image. A simulator HUD according to the present teachings does not require any holographic optical elements or an unrealistic cockpit volume, and provides an accurate simulation of conditions in a real aircraft cockpit.

Abstract: A video projector, a shutter mechanism for a video projector, and a method for reducing image blur. A shutter can include regions that are 100% transmissive to light and regions that are more than 0% transmissive (but less than 100% transmissive). The more than 0% transmissive regions raise the perceived brightness of the image relative to a shutter with 0% transmissive regions, enabling the 100% transmissive regions to be smaller. The smaller 100% transmissive regions result in reduced image blur. The more than 0% transmissive regions can include a filter that filters out certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum of the image to provide a perceived corrected image.

Abstract: A video projector, a shutter mechanism for a video projector, and a method for providing a visible image and an infrared image. The shutter includes first regions that filter out visible light and second regions that filter out infrared light. The second regions are arranged between adjacent first regions. The shutter can be synchronized with an image modulator that alternately outputs visible light images and infrared images. The infrared images can be viewed using night vision goggles, allowing night vision goggle users to train in a simulated environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to methods of creating and a visual image projection and display system including a tessellation of toroidal constant vertical resolution surfaces to display a single substantially constant vertical resolution image by blending projected images on adjacent constant vertical resolution surfaces. Each toroidal constant vertical resolution surface is defined by any horizontal section of the constant vertical resolution surface normal to a central vertical axis of the tessellation of constant vertical resolution surfaces being a constant distance from the central vertical axis. The system further includes a top surface screen intersecting the tessellation of toroidal constant vertical resolution surfaces defined by a circular azimuth curve, and a set of image projectors corresponding to each constant vertical resolution surface of the tessellation of toroidal constant vertical resolution surfaces and the top surface screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a uniform resolution display screen. In one embodiment, the uniform resolution display screen comprises a surface of the uniform resolution display screen having a curvature configured to display images with a uniform resolution across the display screen. The curvature is based on a projection distance from a projector to the uniform resolution display screen and a viewing distance from an eyepoint of an observer to the uniform resolution display screen. The geometry of the display screen is configured to display images associated with a high definition imaging format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a uniform resolution display screen. In one embodiment, the uniform resolution display screen comprises a surface of the uniform resolution display screen having a curvature configured to display images with a uniform resolution across the display screen. The curvature is based on a projection distance from a projector to the uniform resolution display screen and a viewing distance from an eyepoint of an observer to the uniform resolution display screen. The geometry of the display screen is configured to display images associated with a high definition imaging format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a uniform resolution display screen. In one embodiment, the uniform resolution display screen comprises a surface of the uniform resolution display screen having a curvature configured to display images with a uniform resolution across the display screen. The curvature is based on a projection distance from a projector to the uniform resolution display screen and a viewing distance from an eyepoint of an observer to the uniform resolution display screen. The geometry of the display screen is configured to display images associated with a high definition imaging format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a uniform resolution display screen. In one embodiment, the uniform resolution display screen comprises a surface of the uniform resolution display screen having a curvature configured to display images with a uniform resolution across the display screen. The curvature is based on a projection distance from a projector to the uniform resolution display screen and a viewing distance from an eyepoint of an observer to the uniform resolution display screen. The geometry of the display screen is configured to display images associated with a high definition imaging format.

Abstract: A system for tracking a gaze of an operator includes a head-mounted eye tracking assembly, a head-mounted head tracking assembly and a processing element. The head-mounted eye tracking assembly comprises a visor having an arcuate shape including a concave surface and an opposed convex surface. The visor is capable of being disposed such that at least a portion of the visor is located outside a field of view of the operator. The head-mounted head tracking sensor is capable of repeatedly determining a position of the head to thereby track movement of the head. In this regard, each position of the head is associated with a position of the at least one eye. Thus, the processing element can repeatedly determine the gaze of the operator, based upon each position of the head and the associated position of the eyes, thereby tracking the gaze of the operator.

Abstract: A gaze directed visual system includes a gaze tracker for determining an area of interest; an image generator for generating an area of interest image about the area of interest and generating a background image elsewhere; paired field buffers, for each field of view, for providing a composite image from the area of interest image and the background image; and a timing and control block for interleaving timing of read and write operations on each pair of field buffers whereby reading of the composite image commences upon completion of writing a first portion of the background image so that transport delay is minimized in displaying the composite image on a high resolution display device.

Abstract: A system for tracking a gaze of an operator includes a head-mounted eye tracking assembly, a head-mounted head tracking assembly and a processing element. The head-mounted eye tracking assembly comprises a visor having an arcuate shape including a concave surface and an opposed convex surface. The visor is capable of being disposed such that at least a portion of the visor is located outside a field of view of the operator. The head-mounted head tracking sensor is capable of repeatedly determining a position of the head to thereby track movement of the head. In this regard, each position of the head is associated with a position of the at least one eye. Thus, the processing element can repeatedly determine the gaze of the operator, based upon each position of the head and the associated position of the eyes, thereby tracking the gaze of the operator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visual display system that comprises an image generator and a plurality of adjacent video display modules. The image generator may be adapted to generate a video image viewable by an operator of the visual display system, where the video image may be representative of a portion of a composite display image. The plurality of adjacent video display modules include displays that may be adapted to display the portion of the composite display image, where the video display may be remotely coupled to the image generator and may be responsive to the video image generated by the image generator.

Abstract: A system for tracking a gaze of an operator includes a head-mounted eye tracking assembly, a head-mounted head tracking assembly and a processing element. The head-mounted eye tracking assembly comprises a visor having an arcuate shape including a concave surface and an opposed convex surface. The visor is capable of being disposed such that at least a portion of the visor is located outside a field of view of the operator. The head-mounted head tracking sensor is capable of repeatedly determining a position of the head to thereby track movement of the head. In this regard, each position of the head is associated with a position of the at least one eye. Thus, the processing element can repeatedly determine the gaze of the operator, based upon each position of the head and the associated position of the eyes, thereby tracking the gaze of the operator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visual display system that comprises an image generator and a plurality of adjacent video display modules. The image generator may be adapted to generate a video image viewable by an operator of the visual display system, where the video image may be representative of a portion of a composite display image. The plurality of adjacent video display modules include displays that may be adapted to display the portion of the composite display image, where the video display may be remotely coupled to the image generator and may be responsive to the video image generated by the image generator.

Abstract: A gaze directed visual system includes a gaze tracker for determining an area of interest; an image generator for generating an area of interest image about the area of interest and generating a background image elsewhere; paired field buffers, for each field of view, for providing a composite image from the area of interest image and the background image; and a timing and control block for interleaving timing of read and write operations on each pair of field buffers whereby reading of the composite image commences upon completion of writing a first portion of the background image so that transport delay is minimized in displaying the composite image on a high resolution display device.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating computed images on an electronically controlled display surface is provided with an improved intensity shading generator. The shading generator operates by assigning each scan line of a raster display a fixed intensity between first and second points. The sweep position is monitored and each succeeding scan line between an initial position and a break point position of the image is monitored. The sweep intensity is incremented for each sweep line until the break point is reached, at which time new values for intensity are generated. The shading generator of this invention greatly reduces the bandwidth required to generate accurately placed intensity gradients perpendicular to the horizon in a displayed image system.