US 3832046 A
A panoramic motion picture projector useful in flight simulators and in the entertainment field is shown. A curved cylindrical segment of film which typically subtends 180 DEG at the film gate contains a full 360 DEG of picture information thus enabling projection of a complete panoramic image. The film segment is scanned by a slit of light revolving about the axis of curvature of the segment and the resulting image is converted to a rotating radial pattern having said axis as its center. In one embodiment, the speed of rotation of the radial pattern is increased to cause an input rotation of 180 DEG to cover 360 DEG , and the pattern is then restored to the cylindrical format by a scanning projection head for projection on a cylindrical screen. For use in situations, e.g., in flight simulators, where perspective transformations are required, means are provided to tilt the scanning slit in order to pick up the required image information and then to detilt it afterwards. Translation corrections are then obtained by Scheimpflug and anamorphic correction means and placed in the optical path prior to projection. A panoramic camera is also described.
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United States Patent [191' Mecklenborg Aug. 27, 1974 PANORAMICPROJECTOR AND CAMERA simulators and in the entertainment field is shown. A
. curved cylindrical segment of film which typically sub-  Inventor' g ggg it z s tends 180 at the film gate contains a full 360 of picture information thus enabling projection of a com-  Assignee: The Singer Company, Binghamton, plete panoramic image. The film segment is scanned by a slit of light revolving about the axis of curvature  Filed: No 13, 1972 of the segment and the resulting image is converted to a rotating radial pattern having said axis as its center.
[ PP N01 ,792 In one embodiment, the speed of rotation of the radial pattern is increased to cause an input rotation of 180 52 US. Cl. 352/69, 35/12 N 9"? and the Pattern. is gored 51 Int. Cl. G03b 37/00 l l y prolecm" for  Field of Search 352/69 132- 35/12 N Prolectm a cylmdrlcal Screen For use I trons, e.g., in flight simulators, where perspective  References Cited trlanslformations aiie requifjed, mean; are jlalrovided t3 ti t t e scanning s it in or er to pic up t e require UNITED STATES PATENTS image information and then to detilt it afterwards.
3,19 1 i 82 Caldwell Translation corrections are then btained S I-gimp- Primary Examiner-Monroe H. Hayes Attorney, Agent,.0r Firm-Francis L. Masselle; James C. Kesterson flug and anamorphic correction means and placed in the optical path prior to projection. A panoramic camera is also described.
ABSTRACT 49 Clains, 20 Drawing Figures A panoramic motion picture projector useful in flight a H LATERAL FILM ALT TRANS LIGHT FILM FILM DE SCHEIM- ALT SCREEN TILT ANAMORPH SOURCE SCAN I GATE TILT PFLUG ANAM R H A PAIfiNTfum-sznsu 3.832.046
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&W POSITION 1 PANORAMIC PROJECTOR AND CAMERA C ROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to panoramic cameras and projectors in general and more particularly to an improved panoramic projector useful in flight simulator visual systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art In aircraft flight simulators and other training devices it is often necessary to provide a visual system for presenting to the operator (trainee) a realistic scene representing an environment appropriate to the position, condition, attitude, etc., of the simulated aircraft at any given moment. Various types of visual systems have been developed including one, known as a cameramodel, which utilizes closed-circuit television and a terrain model. The camera is mounted for displacement in six degrees of freedom and positioned to view the terrain model. The position and attitude of the camera relative to the model is controlled in response to manipulation of the simulator controls and the resulting scene displayed to the trainee on a'CRT.
Camera-model visual systems have a number of drawbacks. perhaps the most important one of which is the limited brightness and resolution of the TV display together with the presence of raster lines which detract from its realism. In addition, a terrain model of suitable scale can be accommodated only in a very large room ora specially designed building.
These and other disadvantages of camera-model systems are avoided by visual systems using motion picture film as an image source. The film is made with a The present invention provides a film-based image generation and display system which has the advantages of providing both a panoramic view and perspective transformations, making it ideally suited for flight simulation.
To accomplish the desired perspective transformations, two well-known techniques are applied in the projection of the film as will be described below; these are the Scheimpflug and anamorphic corrections. Neither is explained in full detail herein. The Scheimpflug correction is described in US. Pat. No. 751,347 granted to T. Scheimpflug on Feb. 2, 1904. Anamorphic distortion is discussed in British Patent No. 8512 granted to P. Rudolph on Mar. 18, 1899.
The principal object of this invention is to provide a panoramic projector capable of altering the apparent perspective of the projected image.
Another object is to provide a motion picture image which covers a full 360 field of view.
A further object is to provide an improved panoramic projector in which differential gearing required is minimized by use -of an endless loop film drive.
An additional object is to provide a novel panoramic projector useful in flight simulators.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention contemplates a panoramic projector in which a cylindrical segment of image-bearing film is incrementally projected onto a coforward-looking camera mounted in an aircraft which flies a planned mission over the desired terrain, making landings and take-offs at an actual airport of choice while following, as closely as possible, an ideal flight profile. The film thus obtained is projected for the trainee in the simulator through controllable anamorphic optical systems responding to simulator control movements to distort the images so as to effect an apparent change in the viewpoint of the trainee corresponding to that which would occur in the out-of-thewindshield view from areal aircraft in response to the same control movements. Visual systems of this type are commercially available under the trademark VAMP from The Singer Company and are more fully described in agroup of patents, typified by US. Pat. No. 2,999,322, granted to H,-S. Hemstreet and assigned to the same assigneeas the present invention.
While the VAMP visual system is far superior in realism to camera-model types, .it is limited in its field of 'view. I
Ideally, a full 360 field of view'should be provided to a trainee-and while variouspanoramic projectors have been developed which will provide such a view, none include means to alter the apparent perspective point as is 'done in the VAMP visual system and quired .for flight simulation.
as is reaxially surrounding cylindrical screen by a radiallydirected scanning narrow beam or light slit normally extending parallel to and rotating about the axis of curvature of the film segment. To simulate a lateral displacement of the perspective point of projection from the perspective point from which the -film image was recorded, the light slit is skewed prior to scanning the film and restored to its normal attitude thereafter, the degree of skewingbeing a predetermined function of the extent of the simulated lateral displacement of the perspective points and of the altitude from which the film image was recorded. The resulting image modulated slit of light is then optically converted to a polar coordinate format with the slit rotating in a radial pattern, the image modulated slit of light coinciding with a first radial axis of the pattern produced when scanning that image portion which is in the plane of the lateral displacement and coinciding with a second radial axis of the pattern, perpendicular to the first, produced when scanning that image portion which isin a plane perpendicular to the plane of lateral displacement. A Scheimpflug correction is performed on the pattern with the correction axis aligned with the first axis, the amount of correction being a function of lateral displacement, and an anamorphic distortion is performed on the result as a function of lateral displacement with the magnification axis along the second axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE; DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a flight simulator system with the projector of the present invention installed atop the simulator cockpit.
FIGS. la to are utilized to explain the principles of the invention: 7
FIG. la is a perspective view of the mapping of points on a plane surface onto a first cylinder; FIG. 2 shows the resultant mapping of the same points of FIG. la onto a second cylinder laterally displaced from the first cylinder;
FIG. 3 shows the result of rotating the plane intersecting the aforesaid points and their projections in FIG. 2 to the vertical;
FIG. 4 shows the product of performing a Scheimpflug distortion on the final projection of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 shows the types of projections resulting on the second cylinder for points in planes having various angular relationships to the direction of lateral displacement.
FIG. 6 is a basic block diagram of the panoramic projector of the present invention.
FIGS. 7-90 are utilized to explain the principles and operation of the present invention:
FIG. 7 is a side view of the mapping of points onto a cylinder displaced from a desired vantage point;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mapping of the same points of FIG. 7;
FIG. 8a is a sectional view taken on line 8a8a of FIG. 8 showing the skewing of the points;
FIG. 9a is a mapping of the points of FIGS. 7 and 8 after transformation from cylindrical to radial projection;
FIG. 9b shows the result of a Scheimpflug transformation performed on FIG. 9a;
FIG. 9c shows the result of an anamorphic distortion performed on FIG. 9b.
FIGS. 10a and 10b jointly constitute an elevational view, partially in cross section, of a projector embodying the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates the film supply and take-up means for the embodiment of FIGS. 10a, 10b;
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a projector constituting a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the film drive system of the embodiment of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is a logic block diagram of a projection lamp control system for selective scanning as utilized in the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I shows a simulator cockpit 8 containing controls which provide commands to a computer 9 which contains the equations of motion and other equations describing the simulated aircraft performance. Computer 9 computes the aircraft parameters and provides instrument indications to cockpit 8 all in a manner well-known in the art. Surrounding cockpit 8 is a cylindrical or spherical screen 7 on which an image is projected by panoramic projector 10 mounted on top of cockpit 8. 1
In a manner which will become apparent as this description proceeds, projector 10 exhibits on screen 7 a photographic film or transparency of terrain overflown by an aircraft from which the film was made while following a predetermined flight path. Projection of the film presents on screen 7 for viewing by occupants of simulator cockpit 8 an image of the terrain which corresponds substantially identically to that seen from the photographing aircraft at the precise instant that, and so long as, the simulated position of the simulator coincides with the aircraft attitude and position along said flight path. Should the simulated position deviate from that flight path, perspective transformations of the projected image are effected so that the image is correct for the deviant simulated position. This is accomplished by the unique panoramic projector 10 under the control of computer 9 which supplies the required inputs, such as film speed, in accordance with the equations of motion and stored data related to the flight path and attitude of the photographing aircraft. For a more detailed explanation of the general principles involved, reference may be had to the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 2,999,322 to Hemstreet.
Translational displacement of the apparent viewpoint along the flight path (i.e., in range) is effected by forward/reverse advancement of the film and/or changes in magnification; lateral and altitude displacements with respect to the flight path are accomplished by projector 10 as will be described below. Rotational displacement may be provided using conventional image rotation techniques and asynchronous film movement.
As will now be described with reference to FIG. la, a panoramic image of a portion of the earths surface may be recorded by scanning a line in a circular path and imaging that line on a cylindrical piece of photographic film. In this FIG. (la), point 11 represents a lens located on the longitudinal axis 20 of a cylinder 17. A plane 13 through axis 20 intersects the ground plane 15 and cylinder 17. Points 19 lying on the intersection of plane 13 with ground plane 15 will be imaged on a line 21 formed by the intersection of plane 13 with cylinder 17. If plane 13 is rotated through 360 about cylindrical axis 20 and cylinder 17 is photographic film, 7
then a panoramic image of ground plane 15 is recorded. This image may then be projected on a cylindrical screen to display the recorded image. To an observer located substantially at the point of projection, the projected image appears as if viewed from point 11, the location of the taking lens, which may also be considered a perspective point.
In FIG. 1a, line 23 represents the horizon. The scene above the horizon, i.e., portions of sky, can be recorded on a lower portion of cylinder 17, not shown. For a further description of a panoramic camera adaptable for making film in this way reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 3,191,182.
If it is desired to project a picture which will appear to an observer as if viewed from a different perspective point (i.e., different from the viewpoint of the taking lens) using the same recorded information various transformations must be'made. For ease of reference, the viewpoint from which the filrn image is recorded may hereafter sometimes be called the film? or recording viewpoint and the apparent perspective point which it is desired to simulate may be called the simulated'or display" viewpoint. The cylinders associated with the respective viewpoints, which are utilized for purposes of explanation, may be correspondingly designated.
The display viewpoint may be displaced from the film viewpoint along three orthogonal axes: (1') laterally,
(2) vertically (i.e., in altitude) and (3) forwardly and rearwardly (i.e., in range). As previously mentioned, a change in range can be simulated by forward/reverse advancement of the film and/or a change in magnification; while this is not a primary concern of the present invention, it may, of course, be utilized therein and in flight simulator applications normally would be used. This description will address itself initially to the accomplishment of lateral displacement of viewpoint; displacement in altitude will be described in due course.
. are recorded on cylinder 27 along a line 31 formed by the intersection of plane 13 with cylinder 27.
The first step in providing the required display is to pick up the desired information from line 31. As projection is accomplished by scanning a line across the cylinder, that line must be optically tilted (i.e., skewed with respect to the axis of the cylinder) to intersect the film along line 31 and then optically straightened and correctly distorted to be projected as if coming from line 2l of FIG. la.
The result of straightening the line is shown in FIG. 3. The image of line 31 is now in the proper plane but actual perspective point 11 is displaced from the desired perspective point 29 by an altitude increment A and a range displacement T. It is well-known that a displacement such as T may be corrected by Scheimpflug distortion. The results of such distortion are shown in FIG. 4; perspective point 11 now lies right above desired point 29. The final transformation may be accomplished using anamorphic distortion, also well-known, to bring the two points'into coincidence at point 29.
The foregoing explanation treats a series of ground points defining a single line; the line may be considered as a single element of a complete panoramic view which can be generated by rotating plane 13 about axis 20. For any given displacement of the simulated viewpoint from the film viewpoint, the amount and type of correction varies sinusoidally with the instantaneous angular position of plane 13, i.e., the scan angle, as will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. [The datum or plane of reference for the scan angle is a plane nor mal to a plane defined by the axes of the film viewpoint cylinder and the simulated viewpoint cylinder. Where aerial views are being photographed for use in flight simulator visual systems, this datum would correspond to the forward view along the flight path of the filming aircraft.]
When plane 13 lies in the direction of lateral displacement of the display viewpoint from the film viewpoint, as shown by plane 13a, no tilting isrequired as both cylinders are intersected by a vertical line. The only correction that must be made at this point of the scan is the Scheimpflug distortion. When plane 13 is perpendicular to the direction of lateral displacement as shown by plane 130 then, after tilting and straightening, only an anamorphic distortion is required. In between these two extremes a combination is needed.
FIG. 6 shows an overall block diagram of the film projection system used to make these transformations.
A light source 41 is arranged to project a slit or sheet of light. This light is caused to scan in a cylindrical fashion by scanning mechanism 43 driven by a scan drive 45. Prior to intersecting film gate 47 which is in the form of a cylinder, the slit of light is tilted by block 48 in accordance with the extent and direction of lateral displacement of the display viewpoint from the film viewpoint as well as the scan position, i.e., as previously mentioned, tilt will be Zero when the scan is in the plane of lateral displacement of the viewpoints and at maximum when perpendicular thereto and thus sinusoidally varies with scan position. The maximum amount of tilt will depend on the amount of lateral displacement. After passing through film gate 47 and picking up or being modulated by the proper image information the slit of light is returned to the normal, untilted position by block 49. The modulated slit of light is then passed through block 51 where Scheimpflug distortion, as a function of lateral displacement, is applied and then through an anamorphic corrector 53 to make the final correction.
l-Ieretofore, only lateral displacement has been discussed but, as previously mentioned, the simulated viewpoint may also vary in altitude from the film'viewpoint. This may be corrected by additional anamorphic transformation indicated by block 55. The slit of light modulated by the image information is finally is provided to an output scanner which will cause the slit to scan in a circular path for projection on a coaxially dis posed cylindrical screen.
A better understanding of the required transformation is possible from FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. FIG. 7 shows how points, in the plane of translation on two circles 61 and'63 in a ground plane, image on two cylinders 67 and 69. Cylinder 69 represents the desired image and cylinder 67 the image recorded on the film. Points 71 and 73 on cylinder 67 are lower than the desired position on cylinder 69 and too close together; points 75 and 77 are higher and spread too far apart.
FIG. 8 shows a top view of the circles 61 and 63 and cylinders 67 and 69. Two points on the circles 61 and 63 directly in front of cylinder 69 map as points 79 and 81 on cylinder 67. FIG. 8a shows a fragmentary sectional view of this portion of cylinder 67 wherein it is evident that the points lie on a diagonal 84. When the scanning line is tilted as previously described to pick up these points and then straightened, the points will appear as on line 83; however, they should appear as on line 85, that is, they are spaced too far apart. Points (not shown) on circles 61 and 63 to the rear of cylinder 69 (i.e., diametrically opposite points map in the same manner.
If, as the cylinder is scanned, all the lines are brought out through an optical system to a plane which has the horizon point on the optical axis of the system and foreground at the edges of the field, the result is as shown in FIG. 9a. Lines 83,83 represent radial scan linesin a plane perpendicular to the line of lateral viewpoint displacement, which plane would represent the flight path of an aircraft taking film for use in a flight simulator. The points 81, 81' and 79, 79 are magnified from the positions on circles 87 and 89 where they shouldbe I if the simulator were on the flight path of the filming aircraft. Line 91 and 93 represent the radial scans to the right and left within the plane of displacement; on theselines, points 71 and 73 are compressed and 75 and 77 expanded as they were in FIG. 7.
61 and 63). will If a Scheimpflug distortion is applied to this image, the result is as shown in FIG. 9b. The points 71 and 73 are expanded and 75 and 77 compressed to bring them onto circles 87 and 89. Points 79, 79' and 81, 81' are not affected. Then if the image of FIG. 9b is anamorph ically demagnified along the axis of lines 83, 83 points 79, 79 and 81, 81 will be brought onto circles 87 and 89, as shown in FIG. 9c, to obtain the desired image which may then be projected onto a screen. Although a number of scan lines are shown it should be kept in mind that at one instantaneous time period only one line will be present. At the stage of operation of the system shown in FIG. 90, this scan willrotate like the scan on a radar PPI scope. A line such as line 83 will pass through the center or optical axis with the horizon at that point, and where an upper part is shown, a portion of sky may be present.
FIGS. a and 10b jointly show in detail a first embodiment of a panoramic projector which utilizes the principles described above. Referring first to FIG. 100, an illumination assembly 10 includes a light source 116 which emits a thin, elongated slit of light through a condenser lens assembly 118. A Pechan prism 120 is mounted in a cylindrical housing 122 with its optical axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the housing. Housing 122, in turn, is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis which coincides with the optical axis 125 of the projector.
An illumination drum 124 is mounted for rotation about optical axis 125 and includes a prism 126 which reflects the slit of light from the Pechan prism 120 into a radial path. The radially projected slit of light is transferred by means of a prism 128 and a prism 130, each mounted within the illumination drum 124, toward a film transport drum 132. The slit of light impinging on film transport drum 132, hereafter sometimes referred to as the film gate drum, is directed radially toward the optical axis 125 of the projector. Drum 132 is cylindrically-shaped and includes spaced rows of sprocket teeth 134 and 136 (best shown in FIG. 11) thereon which engage corresponding sprocket holes in a film strip. Drum 132 is formed with a cylindrical glass portion 133 mounted between the rows of sprocket teeth 134 and 136 through which the slit of light is passed after picking up the image from the film. A lens assembly 138 transmits the slit of light passing through the film to a prism 140. Both lens assembly 138 and prism 140 are fixedly mounted to, and rotate with, illumination drum 124. A lens and prism assembly 142 transmits the slit of light reflected from prism 140 to a Pechan prism 144 which is mounted, with its optical axis coincident with axis 125, within a housing 146 which is, in turn, mounted for rotation along with prism 1'44 about optical axis 125.
A projector servo 147 (appearing in FIG. 10b) has a driveshaft 148 connected to one input of a differential 150 having an output differentially coupled to housing 146which supports Pechan prism 144. Another input to differential 150 is provided from a libration generator 152. Projector servo drive shaft 148 is also differentially coupled to illumination drum 124 by means of a gear 154. Illumination drum 124 is differentially coupled to housing 122 which supports Pechan prism 120. Libration generator 152 is also differentially coupled to housing 122. A film drive servo 156 is differentially coupled to illumination'drum 124 and Pechan prism 144 (through housing 146) and is directly connected by means of a gear 158 to film drum 132.
The various gear ratios are established to provide Pechan prism 120 with an angular velocity (0 in accordance with the expression:
m denotes the angular velocity of Pechan prism 120,
0), denotes the angular velocity at the output of projector servo 147, m denotes the angular velocity at the output of film servo 156, and w; denotes the angular velocity at the output of libration generator 152.= In addition, illumination drum 124 is provided with an angular velocity (a in accordance with the expression:
Pechan prism 144 is driven at an angular velocity w, in accordance with the expression: I
Assuming a case where the film is stationaryand the simulated perspective is coincident with the point from which the image was recorded, the following would take place. Film gate drum 132 would then be stationary and illumination drum 124 would rotate about the film. As no tilting is required (because the perspective points are coincident), the light slit must constantly intersect the film in a line parallel to optical axis 125. Thus the orientation of the slit input to prism 126 must be optically aligned with, and immobile relative to, this prism. Consequently, as prism 126 rotates along with drum 124, the slit from illumination source 116 must also rotate. The rotation of the slit is the function of Pechan prism 120. However, as is characteristic of Pechan prisms, the output of prism 120 will be rotated twice the angular rate of the prism. In this example, therefore, it would be required that prism 120 rotate one-half the rate of drum 124. This is confirmed by equations (1) and (2) as follows:
Per equation (1), the angular velocity, (0 of prism 120 Per equation (2), the angular velocity, (a of drum 124 In. the assumed example (no film motion, no viewpoint displacement),
m and m 0 Therefore,
(05 (1)1/8 and (D (01/4 or 2(05 Prism 144 at the output of illumination drum 124 is rotated at a speed equal to that of drum 124 and thus the image will not be changed as it passes through prism 144, i.e., w, (0 /4 w If the film is moved but no skewing is required a com ponent must be added to each rotation to account for film motion. Assuming one is looking at a fixed slit
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