Patent US2342753A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4001499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display systems
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
•
Filing: 1975-03-26
•
Granted: 1977-01-04
•
Expires: 1995-03-26
Abstract
Abstract In a head-up display system video signals derived by a television (or infra-red) camera which is mounted on the aircraft nose to view substantially the same scene as viewed by the pilot along his line-of-sight through the partially-transparent reflector of the head-up display system, are mixed with the video signals which are supplied by a waveform generator in accordance with aircraft-attitude and weapon-aiming symbology that is used for projection onto the reflector. The combined signals, representing the external scene with the symbology superimposed, are supplied to a video-tape recorder for subsequent, or immediate, replay by a television monitor in the aircraft or via the pilot's head-up display unit, and are also supplied to a transmitter to enable recording and display to be carried out at a ground station. A second head-up display unit having its own waveform generator, is provided in the aircraft for use by an instructor during pilot training, and a mixer associated with this is supplied with the combined signals or with the camera signals alone. The combined signals may be used to intensify the view through the reflector of a pilot's head-up display unit used for a military mission, so as to ensure more ready identification of a target.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Dowell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/0101; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181; H04N7/183; G02B2027/0138; G02B2027/014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
In a head-up display system which is for use in a aircraft and which includes a partially-transparent reflector for mounting in the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft so that the pilot's view of a scene external to the aircraft is along said line-of-sight through said reflector, means for generating electric video signals in accordance with a display for presentation to the pilot, displaying means, and signal-supply means for supplying said electric video signals to said displaying means, said displaying means responding to said electric video signals supplied thereto by said signal-supply means to project an image of said display onto said reflector so as to present said generated-display image in said line-of-sight against the background of the said external scene through said reflector, the improvement wherein the system also includes further electric signal-generating means for generating further electric video signals in accordance with a scene viewed thereby, means mounting the said further electric signal-generating means to view substantially the same external scene as viewed by the pilot along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said mounting means mounting said further signal-generating means out of said line-of-sight to view said scene apart from said reflector whereby said further electric video signals generated by said further electric signal-generating means represent said external scene devoid of said generated-display image, signal-combining means responsive both to the said further video signals generated by said further signal-generating means and to the said first-mentioned video signals supplied to said displaying means by the first-mentioned signal-supply means, said signal-combining means combining the said further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said external scene having the said generated display superimposed thereon, and electric video-signal recording means for recording utilizing said combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a head-up display system which is for use in a aircraft and which includes a partially-transparent reflector for mounting in the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft so that the pilot's view of a scene external to the aircraft is along said line-of-sight through said reflector, means for generating electric video signals in accordance with a display for presentation to the pilot, displaying means, and signal-supply means for supplying said electric video signals to said displaying means, said displaying means responding to said electric video signals supplied thereto by said signal-supply means to project an image of said display onto said reflector so as to present said generated-display image in said line-of-sight against the background of the said external scene through said reflector, the improvement wherein the system also includes further electric signal-generating means for generating further electric video signals in accordance with a scene viewed thereby, means mounting the said further electric signal-generating means to view substantially the same external scene as viewed by the pilot along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said mounting means mounting said further signal-generating means out of said line-of-sight to view said scene apart from said reflector whereby said further electric video signals generated by said further electric signal-generating means represent said external scene devoid of said generated-display image, signal-combining means responsive both to the said further video signals generated by said further signal-generating means and to the said first-mentioned video signals supplied to said displaying means by the first-mentioned signal-supply means, said signal-combining means combining the said further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said external scene having the said generated display superimposed thereon, and electric video-signal recording means for recording utilizing said combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A head-up display system according to claim 1 wherein said further electric signal-generating means for supplying the said further electric video signals is a television camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A head-up display system according to claim 1 wherein said further electric signal-generating means for supplying the said further electric video signals is an infra-red camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an aircraft, a head-up display system comprising a partially-transparent reflector located in a line-of-sight from the aircraft, means to supply electric video signals in accordance with a display of symbology generated for presentation in said line-of-sight, displaying means responsive to said electric video signals supplied by said supply means to project said symbology display onto said partially-transparent reflector so as to present said symbology display in said line-of-sight through said reflector, electronic camera means, means mounting said camera means spaced from said reflector out of said line-of-sight to view from the aircraft a scene substantially the same as that viewable along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said camera means being responsive to the scene viewed thereby to supply further electric video signals in accordance with said scene, means for mixing the further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said scene having the said generated symbology-display superimposed thereon, and video-signal recording means for recording the combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an aircraft, a head-up display system comprising a partially-transparent reflector located in a line-of-sight from the aircraft, means to supply electric video signals in accordance with a display of symbology generated for presentation in said line-of-sight, displaying means responsive to said electric video signals supplied by said supply means to project said symbology display onto said partially-transparent reflector so as to present said symbology display in said line-of-sight through said reflector, electronic camera means, means mounting said camera means spaced from said reflector out of said line-of-sight to view from the aircraft a scene substantially the same as that viewable along said line-of-sight through said reflector, said camera means being responsive to the scene viewed thereby to supply further electric video signals in accordance with said scene, means for mixing the further and first-mentioned electric video signals with one another to derive combined electric video signals corresponding to said scene having the said generated symbology-display superimposed thereon, and video-signal recording means for recording the combined video signals for subsequent playback reproduction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A head-up display system according to claim 4 wherein the said electronic camera means is a television camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A head-up display system according to claim 4 wherein the said mounting means is means mounting said camera means at the nose of the aircraft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A head-up display system according to claim 4 including a transmitter for transmitting the said combined electric video signals from the aircraft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |