GB2049984A

GB2049984A - Head-up display

Info

Publication number: GB2049984A
Application number: GB8013389A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Elliott Brothers London Ltd
Current assignee: Allard Way Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1979-05-10
Filing date: 1980-04-23
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: GB2049984B

Abstract

A display arrangement, suitable for use in vehicles, e.g. aircraft, comprising a head-up display (HUD) system incorporating the usual combiner (3) and projector (7) and in addition a light reflective element (13) disposed between the observer and the HUD projector for presenting to the observer an image of a display, produced by a second projector (11), which appears to be located in the direction of the HUD projector. Further head-down displays 9A 9C may be incorporated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display arrangements This invention relates to display arrangements.

More particularly the invention relates to display arrangements of the kind including a headup display system. Such arrangements are sometimes required in vehicles, e.g. aircraft, where the limited space available poses difficult packing problems for the designer. These problems are aggravated where, as is frequently the case, it is required that the display arrangement should include further display systems e.g. head-down display systems in addition to the head-up display system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display arrangement wherein this problem is alleviated.

According to the present invention a display arrangement comprises a head-up display system including a combiner element through which an observer can view a distant scene; a first projector for projecting light representing a first display onto the combiner for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the first display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner; a light reflective element disposed between the observer and the first projector; and a second projector for projecting light representing a second display onto said reflective element for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the second display which appears to the observer to be located in the direction of the first projector.

The reflective element is preferably mounted adjacent the first projector.

In one particular arrangement in accordance with the invention said second projector is located at a position sufficiently remote from the first projector to allow at least one further display surface adapted for direct viewing by the observer to be mounted between the first and second projectors.

One display arrangement in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the layout of an aircraft display arrangement for use by a pilot; and Figure 2 illustrates the pilot's view of part of the display arrangement.

The display arrangement comprises a head-up display system and two head-down display systems.

Referring to the drawings, the head-up system is mounted on the aircraft coaming 1 and includes a semi-reflective combiner element 3 disposed in the pilot's forward line-of-sight to the distant scene through the aircraft windshield 5 from a viewing position '0', and a projector 7 disposed in relation to the aircraft coaming 1 such that substantially no part of it obstructs the pilot's view through the windshield.

In operation, collimated light representing a display is directed upwardly from the end of the projector 7 nearer the pilot onto the combiner 3 for reflection to the pilot so that the pilot sees an image of the display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner 3 as indicated by chain-dotted lines A in Figure 1.

The first head-down display comprises four primary aircraft instrument displays 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D mounted immediately below the projector 7 for convenient direct viewing by the pilot from position '0'.

The second head-down display comprises a projector unit 11 mounted between the pilot's legs and arranged to direct light representing a display in a generally upwardly direction onto a reflector 13 mounted adjacent the projector 7 in between the pilot's viewing position '0' and the projector 7. The reflector 13 is angled to provide the pilot with an image of the display produced by projector 11 which appears to the pilot to be located in the direction of the projector 7 in the space occupied by the projector 7, as indicated by chain-dotted lines B in Figure 1.

By this means the pilot is provided with an extra display in an area which would otherwise be totally unusable for display purposes due to the available space between the projector unit 7 and the pilot being insufficient to accommodate a display system. It will be appreciated that the space available at this location is necessarily limited due to the necessity for the head-up display projector 7 to project an appreciable amount rearwardly of the bottom edge of the combiner 3, towards the pilot.

Furthermore, the second projector 11 can be located at a position where direct viewing is very inconvenient if not impossible, but space is not at a premium.

If desired the projector 11 may be provided with a directional light filter 1 5 to prevent direct viewing from the position '0'.

Further directly viewed head-down display systems 1 7A, 1 7B may be located on either side of the projector 7, as shown in Figure 2, if space permits.

1. A display arrangement comprising a head-up display system including a combiner element through which an observer can view a distant scene; a first projector for projecting light representing a first display onto the combiner for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the first display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner; a light reflective element disposed between the observer and the first projector; and a second projector for projecting light representing a second display onto said reflective element for reflection thereby to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Display arrangements This invention relates to display arrangements. More particularly the invention relates to display arrangements of the kind including a headup display system. Such arrangements are sometimes required in vehicles, e.g. aircraft, where the limited space available poses difficult packing problems for the designer. These problems are aggravated where, as is frequently the case, it is required that the display arrangement should include further display systems e.g. head-down display systems in addition to the head-up display system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display arrangement wherein this problem is alleviated. According to the present invention a display arrangement comprises a head-up display system including a combiner element through which an observer can view a distant scene; a first projector for projecting light representing a first display onto the combiner for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the first display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner; a light reflective element disposed between the observer and the first projector; and a second projector for projecting light representing a second display onto said reflective element for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the second display which appears to the observer to be located in the direction of the first projector. The reflective element is preferably mounted adjacent the first projector. In one particular arrangement in accordance with the invention said second projector is located at a position sufficiently remote from the first projector to allow at least one further display surface adapted for direct viewing by the observer to be mounted between the first and second projectors. One display arrangement in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the layout of an aircraft display arrangement for use by a pilot; and Figure 2 illustrates the pilot's view of part of the display arrangement. The display arrangement comprises a head-up display system and two head-down display systems. Referring to the drawings, the head-up system is mounted on the aircraft coaming 1 and includes a semi-reflective combiner element 3 disposed in the pilot's forward line-of-sight to the distant scene through the aircraft windshield 5 from a viewing position '0', and a projector 7 disposed in relation to the aircraft coaming 1 such that substantially no part of it obstructs the pilot's view through the windshield. In operation, collimated light representing a display is directed upwardly from the end of the projector 7 nearer the pilot onto the combiner 3 for reflection to the pilot so that the pilot sees an image of the display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner 3 as indicated by chain-dotted lines A in Figure 1. The first head-down display comprises four primary aircraft instrument displays 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D mounted immediately below the projector 7 for convenient direct viewing by the pilot from position '0'. The second head-down display comprises a projector unit 11 mounted between the pilot's legs and arranged to direct light representing a display in a generally upwardly direction onto a reflector 13 mounted adjacent the projector 7 in between the pilot's viewing position '0' and the projector 7. The reflector 13 is angled to provide the pilot with an image of the display produced by projector 11 which appears to the pilot to be located in the direction of the projector 7 in the space occupied by the projector 7, as indicated by chain-dotted lines B in Figure 1. By this means the pilot is provided with an extra display in an area which would otherwise be totally unusable for display purposes due to the available space between the projector unit 7 and the pilot being insufficient to accommodate a display system. It will be appreciated that the space available at this location is necessarily limited due to the necessity for the head-up display projector 7 to project an appreciable amount rearwardly of the bottom edge of the combiner 3, towards the pilot. Furthermore, the second projector 11 can be located at a position where direct viewing is very inconvenient if not impossible, but space is not at a premium. If desired the projector 11 may be provided with a directional light filter 1 5 to prevent direct viewing from the position '0'. Further directly viewed head-down display systems 1 7A, 1 7B may be located on either side of the projector 7, as shown in Figure 2, if space permits. CLAIMS

1. A display arrangement comprising a head-up display system including a combiner element through which an observer can view a distant scene; a first projector for projecting light representing a first display onto the combiner for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the first display superposed on his view of the distant scene through the combiner; a light reflective element disposed between the observer and the first projector; and a second projector for projecting light representing a second display onto said reflective element for reflection thereby to provide the observer with an image of the second display which appears to the observer to be located in the direction of the first projector.

2. A display arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein said image of the second display appears to the observer to be located substantially in the space occupied by the first projector.

3. A display arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said reflective element is mounted adjacent the first projector.

4. A display arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second projector is located at a position sufficiently remote from the first projector to allow at least one further display surface adapted for direct viewing by the observer to be mounted between the first and second projectors.

5. A display arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the the accompanying drawings.