Helmet Display System Documentation Navigation via Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aeronautical helmet display systems fail to efficiently manage and display documentation during flight, requiring pilots to divert attention from external vision and lose information provided by the display system when consulting paper or digital documentation.

Innovation Solution

A helmet display system that conditionally displays aeronautical documentation based on helmet orientation, allowing data to be fixed in a reference frame and navigated through by adjusting the helmet posture, with documentation appearing centered and uppermost in the visual field, enabling seamless consultation without significantly modifying the existing system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the pilot consults paper or digital documentation during flight, then the pilot can access aeronautical information, but the pilot must divert attention from external vision and lose information provided by the display system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation lossVSAvoiddocumentation consultation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the documentation display with the helmet display system by projecting documentation images onto the combiner surface, allowing both external vision and documentation to be viewed simultaneously through the same optical path, eliminating the need to switch between separate documentation sources and the helmet display

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The combiner acts as an intermediary surface that reflects or transmits documentation images from the display device into the pilot's field of view through the helmet, enabling documentation access without blocking the external landscape view

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the helmet display system projects collimated images superimposed on the external landscape, then the display information is visible, but the system cannot efficiently manage and display documentation during flight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocumentation display capabilityVSAvoidsystem modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The helmet display system is extended to perform multiple functions: it displays both traditional flight instrumentation/symbology and aeronautical documentation through the same optoelectronic display assembly and combiner, eliminating the need for separate documentation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts documentation display based on detected helmet orientation, automatically controlling when and how documentation appears in the pilot's field of view based on head position and orientation parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the documentation is displayed in the helmet display system, then the pilot can access information without diverting attention, but the documentation must be navigated through by adjusting helmet posture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocumentation navigationVSAvoidnavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the pilot's natural head movements and orientation changes as the input mechanism for navigating documentation, eliminating the need for separate controls or interfaces - the helmet's own motion serves as the navigation interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3111271B1System comprising a helmet with display means and data-management means
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 THALES SA
  • EP3111271B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3111271B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns a system comprising a headset equipped with a display device and a system for detecting the position of the headset in relation to a known frame of reference. The display system comprises a document database and means for displaying and managing the document data depending on the position of the headset. The invention is characterized in that, once they have appeared, the data being structured in the form of pages (P1, P2), and a whole page being presented in the display device, the page-change towards the right or the left is brought about by modification of the headset position to the left or the right by at least a plurality of degrees.