Abstract: A method to modify an image from a night vision camera is disclosed. The method comprises receiving at least one image from a night vision camera; modifying the at least one image, based on motion data from a tracker system and a shutter time of night vision camera, to remove smear from the image; and outputting the modified at least one image. FIG. 1 to be published with the application.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining an intended orientation and/or position of a user's head when the orientation of the user's head is being changed involuntarily by vibratory or buffeting forces transmitted through the user's body from a point of contact of the user's body with said forces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to a platform likely to be exposed to buffeting. The object may be a helmet worn by a pilot in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. According to the method, not only may orientation of an object may be predicted at some time ahead of a time point of validity of source sensor data, but the prediction may be dynamically configured to according to a detected severity of buffeting to reduce the effects of the buffeting upon the quality of data output by the system. The method includes measuring the severity of any buffeting using the same source data as used to determine orientation of the object.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining corrections to rate data output by inertial sensors of a type typically used in tracking changes in orientation of an object. The present invention also extends to a tracker system incorporating the correction functionality of the present invention. The method makes use of rate data output by inertial sensors associated with the object being tracked and rate data derived from measures of orientation supplied by a non-inertial tracker system also associated with the object being tracked and comprises determining from those rate data corrections for errors due to misalignment in rate data output by inertial sensors, by calculating a mapping between vectors linking points in inertial sensor rate space represented by a sample set of received rate data from the inertial sensors and vectors linking points in a derived object orientation rate space represented by a corresponding and synchronised sample set of derived rate data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a digital display device to generate an image for display, wherein the display device is arranged to generate the image as an array of pixels each of a defined brightness achieved by emitting a respective combination of light pulses of durations defined according to a predetermined pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme. Whereas, under conventional PWM schemes, each light pulse would be emitted by the same pixel of a display device, in the present invention rate data from an associated tracker system and data defining predetermined characteristics of the display and operation thereof are used to calculate a pixel displacement in respect of each defined pulse of the PWM scheme. The pixel displacement is used to modify control data defining those pixels to be activated to emit the defined pulse such that a different pixel to that intended emits the pulse during relative movement of the direction of gaze of a user's eye and the display apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to fixed, moving or moveable platform likely to be exposed to buffeting or similar effects. The object may for example be a helmet worn by a pilot of an aircraft in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. According to the method, not only may orientation of an object may be predicted at some time ahead of a time point of validity of source sensor data—a useful feature for digital display systems—but the functionality carrying out the prediction may be dynamically configured to according to a detected severity of buffeting upon the object and upon the tracker system sensors to reduce the effects of the buffeting upon the quality of data output by the tracker system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to a moving or moveable platform. The object may for example be a helmet worn by a pilot of an aircraft in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. The method and apparatus rely upon a combination or orientation rate data output by an inertial sensor arrangement associated with the object and orientation data output by a non-inertial tracker system associated with the object. Orientation data of the moveable platform is also used to reference the non-inertial tracker output to inertial space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a display device to generate a colour image for viewing by a user on a display, the colour image being formed by one or more colour components each of a colour selected from two or more different colours to be displayed with predetermined relative timings. Received image data define one or more colour components of a feature to be displayed as an element in the colour image. Rate data are received, e.g. from an associated tracker system, indicative of a rate of change in orientation of the display relative to a direction of gaze of an eye of the user. The received rate data are used to determine a position on the display for displaying each of the one or more colour components of the feature including determining any respective adjustment required to a determined position for the colour component according to its respective colour, the received rate data and the predetermined relative timings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a display device to generate an image for viewing by a user on a display, the image being formed by one or more light having predetermined relative timings. Received image data define one or more light components of a feature to be displayed as an element in the image. Rate data are received, e.g. from an associated tracker system, indicative of a rate of change in orientation of the display relative to a direction of gaze of an eye of the user. The received rate data are used to determine a position on the display for displaying each of the one or more light components of the feature including determining any respective adjustment required to a determined position for the light component according to the received rate data and the predetermined relative timings. The determined position of each of the one or more light components is output to the display device for display of the light component at the respective determined position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a display device to generate an image for viewing by a user on a display, the image being formed by one or more light having predetermined relative timings. Received image data define one or more light components of a feature to be displayed as an element in the image. Rate data are received, e.g. from an associated tracker system, indicative of a rate of change in orientation of the display relative to a direction of gaze of an eye of the user. The received rate data are used to determine a position on the display for displaying each of the one or more light components of the feature including determining any respective adjustment required to a determined position for the light component according to the received rate data and the predetermined relative timings. The determined position of each of the one or more light components is output to the display device for display of the light component at the respective determined position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a digital display device to generate an image for display, wherein the display device is arranged to generate the image as an array of pixels each of a defined brightness achieved by emitting a respective combination of light pulses of durations defined according to a predetermined pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme. Whereas, under conventional PWM schemes, each light pulse would be emitted by the same pixel of a display device, in the present invention rate data from an associated tracker system and data defining predetermined characteristics of the display and operation thereof are used to calculate a pixel displacement in respect of each defined pulse of the PWM scheme. The pixel displacement is used to modify control data defining those pixels to be activated to emit the defined pulse such that a different pixel to that intended emits the pulse during relative movement of the direction of gaze of a user's eye and the display apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to a moving or moveable platform. The object may for example be a helmet worn by a pilot of an aircraft in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. The method and apparatus rely upon a combination or orientation rate data output by an inertial sensor arrangement associated with the object and orientation data output by a non-inertial tracker system associated with the object. Orientation data of the moveable platform is also used to reference the non-inertial tracker output to inertial space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a display device to generate a colour image for viewing by a user on a display, the colour image being formed by one or more colour components each of a colour selected from two or more different colours to be displayed with predetermined relative timings. Received image data define one or more colour components of a feature to be displayed as an element in the colour image. Rate data are received, e.g. from an associated tracker system, indicative of a rate of change in orientation of the display relative to a direction of gaze of an eye of the user. The received rate data are used to determine a position on the display for displaying each of the one or more colour components of the feature including determining any respective adjustment required to a determined position for the colour component according to its respective colour, the received rate data and the predetermined relative timings.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining corrections to rate data output by inertial sensors of a type typically used in tracking changes in orientation of an object. The present invention also extends to a tracker system incorporating the correction functionality of the present invention. The method makes use of rate data output by inertial sensors associated with the object being tracked and rate data derived from measures of orientation supplied by a non-inertial tracker system also associated with the object being tracked and comprises determining from those rate data corrections for errors due to misalignment in rate data output by inertial sensors, by calculating a mapping between vectors linking points in inertial sensor rate space represented by a sample set of received rate data from the inertial sensors and vectors linking points in a derived object orientation rate space represented by a corresponding and synchronised sample set of derived rate data.