Abstract: An electronic vernier for a laser range finder enhances the resolution of the range finder to that of the vernier without increasing the frequency of the range clock. The range finder includes a range counter circuit for storing the total integer number of clock pulses produced by a range clock and counted by a range counter. The vernier includes a tapped delay line which subdivides the clock pulses into a predetermined plurality of equal increments. The contents of the tapped delay line at the time of transmission of the ranging pulse, and reception of the reflected ranging pulse identify the phase of the clock pulse. An electronic storage register of the vernier captures and stores the contents of the tapped delay line, and then transfers vernier transmission and reception fractions to a system controller for computing a corrected range measurement from the total integer number of clock pulses produced by the range clock and counted by the range counter.

Abstract: A chord or scale indicating device includes at least one fixed member and at least one movable member. On one of the fixed or movable members a scale is provided of at least one octave including both the white and black notes of the octave. In this octave, the white notes A, G and D, are greater in transverse or radial extent than the white notes E, F, B, and C by a factor of about 1.5. The other of the fixed and movable members includes a series of indicating positions which indicate at least one scale or chord position for a given input key. Relative movement between the fixed and the movable member will enable the scale and or chord positions to be determined for each of the notes in the ocatve by such relative movement.

Abstract: A Schlieren-type color television projector utilizes a fiber optic rear projection screen (FORPS) at an initial focal point to translate the spatially separated, converging rays of component colors produced by the Schlieren-type color television projector into a plurality of spatially combined, diverging rays of combined colors which are then suitable for further processing by a conventional optical lens system which can either aperture or vignette the image without color fringing, separation, or a shift in the color balance normally experienced when aperturing or vignetting a Schlieren-type color television image.

Abstract: A Schlieren-type color television projector utilizes a fiber optic rear projection screen (FORPUS) at an initial focal point to translate the spatially separated, converging rays of component colors produced by the Schlieren-type color television projector into a plurality of spatially combined, diverging rays of combined colors which are then suitable for further processing by a conventional optical lens system which can either aperture or vignette the image without color fringing, separation, or a shift in the color balance normally experienced when aperturing or vignetting a Schlieren-type color television image.

Abstract: A system for image generation is provided which includes a device for controlling the sweep voltages of a CRT so that realistic views of the earth can be projected on a curved screen surface from a flat transparency and for generating a haze band between the earth and sky interface of the projected scene. The preferred embodiment is an aircraft flight simulator in which real world scenes are projected and updated in accordance with simulated aircraft maneuvers. Various visual flight cures are or can be presented to an operator during training. These flight cues include a dynamic haze or cloud band along the projection of the earth and sky interface. The system permits image projection with six degrees of freedom (yaw, pitch, roll, altitude, north/south and east/west vector components) over simulated terrain. In the preferred embodiment, the haze or cloud band generation is accomplished so that it is compatible with a single projector technique.

Abstract: This light modulating device comprises three subsystems: an electron gun which produces a scanning constant intensity electron beam, a liquid crystal cell, and an appropriate optical system to deliver light to and from the modulating effects of the liquid crystal cell. The modulation is accomplished by utilizing a scanning constant intensity electron beam to deposit electrical charge through a secondary emission process on the dark side of a dielectric mirror within the liquid crystal cell, the amount of charge deposited being dependent upon the video voltage at the transparent electrode of the cell which is applied in synchronism with the scanning electron beam. In this manner a charge distribution is written on the back of the dielectric mirror which now contains all of the information within the video signal. The electrical field arising from this charge distribution in turn modulates the birefringence across the nematic phase liquid crystal.