Screen simulator window

Details Screen simulator window Screen simulator window

1990-01-29

1992-01-14

Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.

Optics: image projectors

Miscellaneous

353 79, 359446, 359449, G03B 2110, G03B 2156

Patent

active

050804812

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a screen simulator window, the object of which is to provide to persons viewing the window a realistic simulation of apparent surroundings and events.
Simulators are currently used mainly for the training of service personnel particularly aircraft pilots, the simulator being arranged so that the person concerned looking into the simulator window sees a fairly realistic representation of a scene that has been previously recorded on film or video tape. Simulators at present in use are generally suitable for viewing only by one or a very small number of persons and, owing to the light losses involved in such systems relatively low levels of illumination can be a further limitation.
The object of the present invention is to provide a screen simulator window which can be viewed by a relatively large number of persons to provide enhanced realism with less limitations on brightness. It is also the object of the invention to provide a simulator window which increases the capacities and enhances the imagery of conventional simulator windows while reducing the cost of construction.
Simulator windows according to the invention may be applied in a variety of ways. One example is an enclosed cabin or capsule having front and side windows with provision for seating a number of people who may be called upon to imagine themselves in a bus, train, aeroplane, submarine or space capsule. In each of the windows a suitable scene is presented so that, to the persons in the cabin it appears that they are making a journey on land, under the sea or in space. In another application the window may be used as part of a flight simulator or racing car simulator or the like.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists in a screen simulator window comprising, means defining a window aperture through which a scene may be viewed; a partial screen arranged immediately behind the window, the screen consisting of alternate opaque screen portions and transparent portions; means to cause adjacent screen portions and transparent portions to be transposed at a speed such that the presence of the screen is not apparent to the eye of a viewer, the surfaces of the screen portions directed away from the window being suitable for the reception of a projected image; a projector arranged to project a scene onto the said surfaces of the screen portions of the screen so that light from the projector is not directly visible to a viewer of the window, the projected scene appearing on the screen portion; and a mirror arranged behind the partial screen viewable through the window, the scene projected onto the partial screen being visible in the mirror through the window.
The partial screen used in the screen simulator window according to the present invention may be constructed in a number of different ways. In one embodiment of the invention the partial screen comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats defining between them a series of openings moved continuously past the window or oscillating in front of it up and down or side to side. In another embodiment a continuous screen is provided with an array of spaced apart cut-outs, transparent portions or gaps or a chequerboard array of screen and transparent portions. In a still further embodiment the screen comprises a rotating disc comprising a series of screen segments separated by gaps or transparent segments.
In yet a further embodiment the partial screen comprises an array of parallel slats each mounted to rotate about a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slat but lying outside the slat. In order to remove flicker, shadows and moire effects it is desirable that the transparent and screen portions of the screen are transposed at a rate of at least 45 per second and more preferably 60 per second.
It is advantageous that the screen and the mirror lie in substantially parallel planes in side by side array. This may be conveniently achieved if the screen is formed of a sheet of transparent material such as glass coate

REFERENCES:
patent: 2132904 (1938-10-01), Martinez
patent: 2511702 (1950-06-01), Elian
patent: 3198066 (1965-08-01), McGhee
patent: 3316053 (1967-04-01), Giacometti
patent: 3480346 (1969-11-01), Reitz et al.
patent: 3741638 (1973-06-01), Geary
patent: 4167311 (1979-09-01), Pund

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