Adaptive HUD Formatting for Pilot Eye Box Position Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up displays (HUDs) require the pilot to maintain their head within an 'eye box' for clear viewing, which is compromised when seating positions change, reducing the HUD field of view and complicating its use as a primary flight display (PFD).
Innovation Solution
A head-up display system that dynamically adjusts display data based on the pilot's head position relative to the HUD, using sensors to monitor eye reference point (ERP) distance and field of view (FOV) angle, reformating data to ensure critical information remains visible across varying seating positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pilot adjusts seating position forward or backward, then comfort and operational flexibility improve, but the HUD field of view is reduced and critical display data becomes imperceptible
Solution Approach 1:
The HUD system dynamically adjusts the formatting and presentation of display data based on real-time detection of the pilot's head position and eye reference point distance. The graphics processors continuously reformat display content to ensure all critical information remains within the pilot's field of view, transforming a static display system into an adaptive one that responds to changing operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs sensors to continuously monitor the pilot's head position and eye reference point distance, feeding this information back to the graphics processors. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to detect when the pilot moves outside the traditional eye box and automatically adjusts the display formatting to maintain full visibility of critical flight information
2Loss of information
If the pilot maintains head within the eye box, then full HUD display visibility is achieved, but seating position flexibility and operational comfort are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the display parameters dynamically based on the detected eye reference point distance and field of view angle. When the pilot moves outside the traditional eye box, the graphics processors adjust display parameters such as symbology size, positioning, and formatting to ensure all critical information remains visible within the altered field of view conditions
3Device complexity
If conventional HUD units are used with fixed eye box requirements, then display formatting is simple, but the system cannot function as a primary flight display when seating positions change
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static display formatting of conventional HUDs into a dynamic system that continuously adapts to changing pilot positions. The graphics processors automatically adjust display content based on real-time sensor data, enabling the HUD to maintain full PFD functionality regardless of seating position variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the HUD to universally function as a primary flight display across multiple seating positions and operational scenarios. By detecting eye reference point distance and field of view angle, the system adapts the display to ensure full PFD functionality whether the pilot is in the optimal eye box position or has moved forward or backward due to autopilot engagement or other operational needs
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for dynamic formatting of a vehicle-based head-up display (HUD) provides a HUD including a combiner and graphics processor for generation of display data based on environmental information received from vehicle sensing systems (e.g., flight data collected by avionics systems). The HUD combiner is within the field of view (FOV) of a pilot, vehicle operator, or other user (e.g., partially or fully transparent) and provides the display data within the user's FOV. The HUD includes sensors for monitoring the eye reference point (ERP) distance between the combiner and the user's eyes or head. Based on changes in the ERP distance (e.g., when the user's eyes move relative to the combiner) the HUD reformats the display to ensure that any critical display data is visible to the user at their current ERP distance.