Optics: image projectors – Plural
Patent
1998-07-15
2000-03-28
Dowling, William
Optics: image projectors
Plural
353 30, 353 99, 434 44, G03B 2128
Patent
active
060422386
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an image projection display system for use in large field-of-view presentation. The large field-of-view presentation may be, for example, simulation, leisure, computer aided design or visualization where multi-channel displays are to be used to immerse the observer to some degree in an alternative environment.
Simulation such for example as flight, vehicle, marine or leisure simulation often requires a high fidelity image display system to be connected to the simulation apparatus. The high fidelity visual system should ideally be such that it gives a display equivalent to a person looking out of a window, the display thus being known as an out-of-the-window display. The simulation apparatus comprises three major components, that is a computer image generator, a simulated real world database which is loaded into the computer image generator, and the image projection display system. The image projection display system is used to present a real-time out-of-the-window scene to a person using the simulation apparatus, for example a pilot in the case of flight simulation or a driver in the case of vehicle simulation. The input to the image projection display system is provided by the computer image generator. The computer image generator forms the image in real time, in response to stimulus from the person using the simulation apparatus. Many approaches to out-of-the-window visual displays are known, including the use of direct-view graphics monitors, collimated monitor optics, real image wide-angle projection, and collimated wide-angled projection.
Known image projection display systems for use in simulation apparatus comprise at least one projection device and an optical system that provides a surface upon which an image is formed and which the person utilizing the simulation apparatus can view, either directly or indirectly. Optical considerations, limitations of display technologies, and other factors such for example as computer image generator limitations, normally result in the need to use multiple image generation channels and hence projected display channels, to form a single image to the person. The formation of a single image from the multiple images requires that projected images from each channel at least abut, and that information displayed by each projected channel correlates both with the simulated real-world coordinate system, and with adjacent channels. It is normal in high fidelity simulation that adjacent projected channels overlap by a margin sufficient to allow the blending of image contributed by each channel, a process whereby the image is faded out at the edge of adjacent channels such that intensity variations are minimised. Image content in the overlap region is common to each channel.
The known image display systems usually use cathode ray tube projectors. The cathode ray tube projectors suffer a number of undesirable attributes, most notably complexity, stability, limited operational life, size and mass. Further, multiple projection lenses are required to project separate red, green and blue images that must be converged at the screen surface.
An alternative to using image projection display systems with cathode ray tube projectors is to use image projection display systems with fixed matrix display devices, for example fixed matrix liquid crystal display devices. If used in an off-axis projection display device, image distortion is applied either by the computer image generator or by a separate digital remapping system. In the first instance, the total performance and/or cost of the computer image generator is compromised. In the second instance, the total display resolution is degraded and/or cost is compromised.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an image projection display system which uses a plurality of fixed matrix display devices, but without the need to apply corrections, whilst at the same time maintaining total display requirements. This enables the present invention to utilize the advantages of fixed matrix display devices over cath
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Blackham Geoffrey Howard
Edwards Roger Alan
Dowling William
SEOS Displays Limited
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