Transparent Display Terrain Representation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display systems for aircraft struggle with rendering high-resolution terrain data efficiently due to increased digital storage requirements, which can lead to occlusion of underlying features when using complex point cloud data for transparent displays.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a database and representation engine that identifies local maximum points in point cloud data, calculates vectors within a distance threshold for various viewpoints, and generates a compact terrain database, allowing for efficient storage and rendering of terrain information on avionics hardware while maintaining transparency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex three-dimensional terrain datasets with high resolution are used, then terrain rendering accuracy is improved, but digital storage requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential terrain features (local maximum points representing peaks and ridgelines) from the complete point cloud data, discarding redundant information. This extraction approach maintains terrain rendering accuracy by preserving critical elevation information while dramatically reducing digital storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified vector-based representations (ridgelines) that copy only the most important terrain characteristics from the complex point cloud data. These vector copies serve as efficient substitutes for storing and processing full-resolution terrain datasets.
2Illumination intensity
If shaded terrain representations are overlaid on transparent displays, then terrain information visibility is improved, but underlying features become occluded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments terrain information into discrete vector elements (ridgelines and peaks) rather than using continuous shaded surfaces. This segmentation allows the terrain data to be rendered as transparent vector graphics that overlay underlying features without occluding them, maintaining both terrain visibility and environmental visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color and transparency adjustments in the vector-based terrain representation to ensure terrain information is visible while allowing light to pass through to underlying features. The vector graphics can be rendered with adjustable opacity and color properties that maintain terrain distinguishability without blocking the view of external environment or underlying display content.
3Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution point cloud data is stored and processed, then terrain detail accuracy is improved, but computational requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the data representation parameters from high-resolution point cloud formats to simplified vector formats (ridgelines and peak points). This parameter change reduces computational complexity for rendering and processing while maintaining terrain detail accuracy by preserving critical elevation information in a more efficient format.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a database and a representation engine. The database stores point cloud data including an indication of elevation of terrain. The representation engine is configured to determine a plurality of regions associated with the point cloud data. The representation engine is configured to identify, for each of the plurality of regions, a first point cloud data point having an elevation that is a local maximum for the corresponding region. The representation engine is configured to calculate, for a plurality of viewpoints corresponding to the point cloud data, a series of vectors connecting first point cloud data points located within a distance threshold of a search distance from each viewpoint. The representation engine is configured to output a terrain database storing the plurality of viewpoints associated with the corresponding series of vectors.