Concave Display Screen Optical Fiber Faceplate Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Simulator display systems with backlit spherical surfaces face high life cycle costs due to frequent projector replacements and issues with binocular perspective viewing, leading to misalignment of out-the-window imagery and symbology, and increased system size due to projector placement requirements.
Innovation Solution
A display system featuring a concave screen surface composed of optical fiber faceplates and image panels, where optical fibers transmit light coherently from a planar input surface to a concave output surface, allowing for seamless image projection without the need for external projectors, reducing misalignment and system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projectors are used to display imagery on backlit spherical screens, then real-time out-the-window imagery can be projected, but the system size increases markedly and life cycle costs increase due to frequent lamp and optic replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the projector component from the display system. Instead of using external projectors to display imagery, the invention integrates display panels directly into the spherical screen structure, removing the need for separate projection devices and their associated maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the display function and the screen structure into a single integrated system. Display panels are incorporated directly into the spherical screen, combining what were previously separate components (projectors and screens) into a unified structure that reduces overall system complexity and size
2Manufacturing precision
If flat panels are used for back projection screens, then imagery can be displayed, but binocular perspective viewing causes misalignment between out-the-window imagery and helmet-mounted display symbology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical curvature to the display screen to match the natural field of view and binocular perspective. The spherical screen ensures that imagery is displayed at consistent distances across the entire viewing area, eliminating the misalignment problems associated with flat panels and enabling proper superposition with helmet-mounted display symbology
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution extends the service life of the display system by reducing the need for frequent projector replacements, improves image alignment, and minimizes system size while maintaining high-resolution imagery across the spherical surface.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the screen elements comprises a respective faceplate comprising optical fibers extending adjacent each other so as to transmit light therethrough between two opposing face surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A display system comprises a screen having a concave spherical surface positioned so as to be visible to a user of the system. The screen comprises a plurality of kite-shaped screen elements supported adjacent one another so as to form that spherical surface. Each of the screen elements comprises a respective faceplate comprising optical fibers extending adjacent each other so as to transmit light therethrough between two opposing face surfaces. One of the face surfaces is a concave spherical display image output surface, and the other of the face surfaces is a substantially planar image input surface. The screen elements also each comprise a respective image panel having a field of pixels each transmitting light corresponding to serial images of said panel. The fibers of the faceplate receive the light of the pixels of the image panel and together transmit the light from the image panel coherently to its image output surface so that the images of the panel are displayed on the image output surface.