Abstract: A signal having instantaneous voltage values, defined by a peak-to-peak voltage magnitude and a D.C. offset voltage level, is converted into another signal having time corresponding waveform characteristics similar to the unconverted signal but having different instantaneous voltage values defined by a lesser peak-to-peak magnitude and/or another D.C. offset voltage level. This signal conversion is used by a triangle generator of the type employing an integrator, detector/control, and a switch so that triangular waveforms of any desired peak-to-peak magnitude and D.C. offset voltage level are produced independent of detector/control requirements.

Abstract: A flight simulator combines flight data and polygon face terrain data to provide a CRT display at each window of the simulated aircraft. The data base specifies the relative position of each vertex of each polygon face therein. Only those terrain faces currently appearing within the pyramid of vision defined by the pilots eye and the edges of the pilots window need be displayed at any given time. As the orientation of the pyramid of vision changes in response to flight data, the displayed faces are correspondingly displaced, eventually moving out of the pyramid of vision. Faces which are currently not visible (outside the pyramid of vision) are clipped from the data flow. In addition, faces which are only partially outside of pyramid of vision are reconstructed to eliminate the outside portion. Window coordinates are generated defining the distance between each vertex and each of the boundary planes forming the pyramid of vision.

Abstract: In complex systems which involve a large amount of interacting electronic equipment, the amount of interconnecting cabling and the attending cross-talk, electromechanical interference and other types of noise pickup become so significant that great expense and skill is required to design a system with satisfactory performance. The system of this invention includes new techniques for data exchange between components of such a complex system with the result that the cross-talk and interference problems are substantially eliminated, while at the same time, the amount of cabling required is reduced to a single communication path which includes only seven conductor pairs. The new system includes a master controller for converting parallel digital data from a computer to serial digital data which is transmitted to the using device through the communication path where it is then converted to a form suitable for the using device.

Abstract: This invention comprises a system that may be utilized in a simulated radar and/or sonar system to convert polar coordinate range and bearing radar and/or sonar scans into X, Y coordinate radar and/or sonar scans. Information regarding the geographic area that is being simulated is entered into this invention and the output of this invention is an X, Y scan conversion that represents the intensity of matter that is going to be written on displays.

Abstract: The visual system within an aircraft flight simulation system receives flight data and terrain data which is formated into a buffer memory. The image data is forwarded to an image processor which translates the image data into face vertex vectors Vf, defining the position relationship between the vertices of each terrain object and the aircraft. The image processor then rotates, clips, and projects the image data into two-dimensional display vectors (Vd). A display generator receives the Vd faces, and other image data to provide analog inputs to CRT devices which provide the window displays for the simulated aircraft. The video signal to the CRT devices passes through an edge smoothing device which prolongs the rise time (and fall time) of the video data inversely as the slope of the edge being smoothed. An operational amplifier within the edge smoothing device has a plurality of independently selectable feedback capacitors each having a different value.

Abstract: Apparatus for abrading or polishing a spherical or other curved surface is disclosed. This apparatus includes a support base which is held and manipulated by an operator. A multiplicity of dowels having various lengths are permanently attached perpendicular to a surface of the support base. The length of the dowels is selected such that the unattached ends of the dowels defines a surface which conforms to the curved surface to be abraded or polished. A sheet of material for abrading or polishing the curved surface is stretched over the unattached ends of the dowels such that when in operation the working sheet also conforms to the surface. Pads may be included on the ends of the dowels which support the working sheet to provide resilience.

Abstract: A controlled video mixer is employed in a special effects generator of a flight simulator visual display system to produce realistic reduced visibility scenes. The video mixer produces a composite video signal from a camera video signal and a cloud function signal. The video mixer includes a gated variable transconductance device which has a differential input and operates in a range where its gain is an exponential function of its gate voltage. A control signal which is directly proportional to slant range and inversely proportional to visibility range is provided to the gate of the variable transconductance device. The output of this device is summed with the cloud function signal to produce a composite video signal which, when displayed on a TV receiver, accurately depicts atmospheric visibility effects.

Abstract: A digital radar landmass simulator system for an aircraft flight simulator including a mapping radar portion using a computer to transfer pertinent blocks of terrain defining parameters stored in a high volume memory to a high speed memory and a processor accessing the high speed memory for collecting those parameters which correspond to each radar sweep line and for developing therefrom a mapping radar display driving signal and a terrain following radar portion having a profile line memory for storing those sweep line parameters which are collected by the mapping radar portion processor and which coincide with the azimuth angle of a simulated terrain following radar antenna, and a pair of processors for developing therefrom both a terrain following radar display driving signal and an autopilot driving climb/dive signal.

Abstract: A terrain model board and method of construction for use with the closed circuit television display system of a vehicle simulator is disclosed. According to this invention a multiplicity of panels containing the detail of a simulated terrain are joined together in a manner which allows quick and easy disassembly of one or all of the panels. A packing strip having a cord secured to its top surface is inserted into the spaces between adjoining panels prior to filling the spaces or seams with an elastic and adhesive seam filling compound. Thus, one or more of the panels can easily be removed for repair or replacement by simply gripping the string and pulling it up and along the seam thereby cutting through the adhesive.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic warfare simulator that is used to teach students how to operate passive electronic warfare equipment. A computer produces simulated radar signals that duplicate the characteristics of real world radar emitters. These characteristic signals are inputted to a plurality of pulse generators and mixers which act upon the signals and stimulate a pulse analyzer in order for the pulse analyzer to realistically activate electronic warfare equipment.

Abstract: A field of view display for presenting data in focus on a subject's far field of view is disclosed. The display comprises an optically transparent viewing medium interposed between a subject and the subject's far field of view. Display units are attached to or embedded in the medium for producing a visual signal to the subject which is small enough to allow substantially unobstructed viewing of the far field view. Focusing material connected to or comprising part of the medium between the subject and the display units brings the display units into focus on the subject's field of view.

Abstract: The CRT visual system within an aircraft flight simulator receives flight data from a flight simulation computer, and polygon face terrain data from a gaming area data base. The vertices of each polygon face are defined by three object position coordinates. A perspective relationship is maintained between the vertices as the observer changes course in the training flight. The position of each face vertex on the CRT display is determined by two display coordinates. A separate miniraster is constructed for each face based on the position of the vertices. The set of spaced scan lines of progressively increasing and decreasing length thus provided systematically fill in the face area outlined by the face vertices. The vertical position of each vertex will normally not coincide exactly with a scan line, but will fall somewhere between two adjacent scan lines. The endpoint of the scan line subsequent to each vertex must be properly proportioned to accurately position the subsequent edge.

Abstract: The visual system within an aircraft flight simulation system receives flight data from a flight simulation computer, and terrain data from a gaming area data base. A computer within the visual system organizes this image data in a buffer memory according to a particular format, and forwards the image data to an image processor. The following types of data are formatted and processed:Position vectors, defining the changing position of the aircraft with respect to the origin of the terrain coordinate system.Rotational data, defining the changing attitude of the aircraft with respect to the terrain coordinate system.Initialization vectors, defining the position of the landmark points within the terrain coordinate system. The landmark points are translated into the aircraft coordinate system to form translated vectors.Delta data, defining the position of other points, lines, and faces with respect to the landmark points.CIF data, defining color, intensity, defocus, etc.

Abstract: The terrain data within an aircraft flight simulation system includes two and three dimensional object items formed by polygon faces having shapes orientations and dimensions selected from a series of fundamental shapes orientations and dimensions. The image data is coordinated in a buffer memory according to a particular format, and forwarded to an image processor. Instruction words appear throughout the format for identifying the type of data in the data words following each instruction word, and for controlling the flow of data through the image processor. The image data formatted and processed includes:Initial position data (Vo), defining the position of initial points or landmark points (i.e., the first vertex of each polygon face) within the terrain coordinate system.Shape data (delta data) defining the relative position of other points, (i.e., the remaining vertices of the fundamental shape incorporated in each polygon face) with respect to the landmark points of each Vo.

Abstract: A digital signal phase shifting system which comprises a timing signal generator producing cyclic digitally coded timing signals; a first system output signal generator capable of decoding the timing signals and producing first system output signals in response to the occurrences of predetermined timing signals; a second system output signal generator capable of decoding digitally coded signals and producing a group of second system output signals in response to operation of the timing signal generator; and a setting device adjustable by the user to condition the second system output signal generator to shift the phase of the group of second system output signals.

Abstract: Material to be manually fed into a machine's point of operation is supported by a surface plate. A pusher, interrelated with the surface plate by keying means, is held by the machine operator such that the operator uses the pusher to push the material into the machine point of operation without having the operator's hands coming in dangerous proximity with the machine point of operation or with the machine's structure.

Abstract: A simulated view on a viewing surface of a raster scan television display of a changeable illuminated area located on a plane surface is provided. The source of illumination is a cone of light whose apex can be located at any distance from an eyepoint and the plane surface and whose conical surface intersects the plane surface creating the illuminated area. Electronic components determine when a line of sight from the eyepoint through the viewing surface intersects the illuminated area. For each line of sight intersection point lying within the illuminated area, a corresponding illumination is created on the viewing surface.

Abstract: Over wide altitude ranges, signals representative of the altitude of an eyepoint viewing a synthetic grid pattern on a ground reference plane are scaled to provide strong signals. These strong signals are used to electronically define the intersection of a line of sight from the eyepoint to the grid pattern so that a clearly defined grid pattern as viewed over the wide altitude range can be displayed.

Abstract: A flight simulator which abandons the traditional aesthetic preference for an aircraft-like flight compartment exterior in favor of an open strut cockpit construction affording convenient access to cockpit equipment for maintenance purposes. The simulated flight compartment, electronic equipment, a visual display and maintenance walkway are all enclosed within an octagonal enclosure and mounted on a motion system.