d

IIIHHHHHHHHIIIHIII USOO5302964A
United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,302,964
Lewins 45) Date of Patent: Apr. 12, 1994
54, HEADS-UP DISPLAY (HUD) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Terje Gudmestad; Wanda K.
NCORPORATING CATHODE-RAY TUBE Denson-Low
IMAGE GENERATOR WITH DIGITAL
LOOK-UP TABLE FOR DISTORTION 57 ABSTRACT.
CORRECTION A heads-up display (50) for an aircraft includes a digital
image generator (52), a cathode ray tube (CRT) (54)
75 Inventor: g J. Lewins, Marina Del Rey, and an optical system (56) which projects an image (58)
formed on the CRT screen (54a) indicating the status of
73 Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company, Los the aircraft operation onto a holographic mirror com
Angeles, Calif. biner (60) at a slant angle. The combiner (60) is transpar
21) Appl. No.: 951,077 ent to the pilot's direct view through the aircraft wind
ar, shield, but produces a reflected image of the CRT
22 Filed: Sep. 25, 1992 screen (54a) which is superimposed on the direct view.
51) Int. Cl. ............................................... G09G 1/04 Pincushion distortion in the CRT (54) and geometric
52 U.S.C. .......................................... 345/7; 345/14; distortion caused by the slant projection angle are cor
345/16 rected by a digital look-up table memory (82,84) which
58 Field of Search ............... 340/705, 736, 739,720, alters the initially orthogonal CRT horizontal and verti
340/723, 732,980; 359/629, 630; 345/14, 16, 7 cal deflection signals (Vh,Vv) in a manner which is the
56) References Cited inverse of the distortion such that the image (58) on the
combiner (60) as viewed by the pilot appears undis
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS torted. The size of the look-up table memory (82,84) is
3,422,306 l/1969 Gray ................................... 315/37 greatly reduced by making approximations based on
4,507,656 3/1985 Morey et al. ....................... 340/736 analysis of the mathematical functions which define the
4,632,508 12/1986 Connelly ............................. 30/705 distortion.
4,831,366 5/1989 Iino ..................................... 340/705
Primary Examiner-Richard Hjerpe 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

Ddh

Ddv

12 bits
U.S. Patent Apr. 12, 1994 Sheet 1 of 4 5,302,964

FIG. 1.
(PRIOR ART)

FIG. 2.
(PRIOR ART)
U.S. Patent Apr. 12, 1994 Sheet 2 of 4 5,302,964

FIG. 3.
(PRIOR ART)

FIG. 4.
(PRIOR ART)

f1LT I I

FIG. 5.
(PRIOR ART)
U.S. Patent Apr. 12, 1994 Sheet 4 of 4 5,302,964

Odh

\! FIG. 8a.

FIG. 8C.
 1.
5,302,964
2
will appear as curved upwardly and increasing in size in
HEADS-UP DISPLAY (HUD) INCORPORATING the downward direction as illustrated in FIG. 5.
CATHODE-RAY TUBE IMAGE GENERATOR Certain types of distortion in CRT based displays can
WITH DIGITAL LOOK-UP TABLE FOR be corrected as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,306,
DISTORTION CORRECTION entitled “DISTORTION CORRECTION CIR
CUITRY', issued Jan. 14, 1969 to S. Gray. Uncor
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION rected analog deflection signals are predistorted in an
1. Field of the Invention inverse Zaanner to the distortion caused by the CRT to
The present invention generally relates to the art of produce corrected analog deflection signals which,
cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, and more specifically 10 when applied to the deflection amplifiers of the CRT,
to a heads-up display (HUD) for an aircraft including a cause the CRT image to be free of pincushion and non
CRT image generator and a digital look-up table mem linearity distortion.
ory which corrects for image distortion in the display. The circuitry for predistorting the deflection signals
2. Description of the Related Art includes a complicated arrangement of analog multipli
HUDs provide a pilot with information relating to 15 ers, squarers, operational amplifiers and discrete com
the flight status of his or her aircraft superimposed on ponents. Analog systems of this type have inherent
a direct visual view through the windshield. The pilot is accuracy and thermal drift problems, and are expensive
freed from having to constantly shift sight from the and difficult to manufacture. The systems are calibrated
windshield to dials in the cockpit in the conventional and adjusted using analog potentiometers, requiring
manner. This capability can provide a crucial advantage 20 constant skilled maintenance. In addition, it is extremely
during high speed flight maneuvers, and during take difficult to provide a built-in test (BIT) capability in an
offs and landings in which conditions can deteriorate analog system of this type.
rapidly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a typical HUD 10 includes a 25 A heads-up display (HUD) for an aircraft embodying
holographic mirror combiner 12 which is built into a the present invention includes a digital image generator,
pilot's helmet, mounted between a pilot's head 14 and an a cathode ray tube (CRT) and an optical system which
aircraft front windshield 16 as shown or incorporated projects the image formed on the CRT screen indicat
directly into a windshield. The flight information image ing the status of the aircraft operation onto a holo
is generated by a system electronic unit 18 to form an 30 graphic mirror combiner at a slant angle. The combiner
image on a screen of a CRT 20 which is projected by an is transparent to the pilot's direct view through the
optical system 22 onto the combiner 12 at a slant angle. aircraft windshield, but produces a reflected image of
The combiner 12 is transparent to the pilot's view the CRT screen which is superimposed on the direct
through the windshield 16 as indicated by arrows 24, view.
but reflects the image from the screen of the CRT 20 35 Pincushion distortion in the CRT and geometric dis
such that it is visible by the pilot superimposed on the tortion caused by the slant projection angle are cor
direct view. The CRT image can be a radar display rected by a digital look-up table -memory which is
generated in a raster pattern, or an information display accessed by both the horizontal and vertical coordi
which may be generated in a raster pattern but is more nates of the image and alter the initial orthogonal hori
preferably generated in a stroke pattern. zontal and vertical CRT deflection signals in a manner
An exemplary HUD information image 26 is illus which is the inverse of the distortion such that image on
trated in FIG. 2, and includes symbols designating roll the combiner as viewed by the pilot appears undis
angle 28, cross track 30, aircraft waterline 32, pitch torted.
limits 34, horizon 36, course 38, heading 40, glide slope The size of the look-up table memory is greatly re
42, runway outline 44, altitude 46 and airspeed 48. 45 duced by making approxiraations based on analysis of
CRTs for use in HuDs, as well as other avionic dis the mathematical functions which define the distortion.
plays, must have flat screens. The image for the HUD Typically, the correction functions in a particular axis
display 26 is generated by the electronic unit 18 in an (horizontal or vertical) are less dependent on the input
orthogonal raster or stroke pattern to form a visual from the opposite axis than on the input from their own
image on the screen of the CRT 20. However, if no SO axis. This enables the number of bits of the opposite axis
corrective means are provided, the image as projected input to be less than that of the same axis input and still
from the CRT 20 onto the combiner 12 and viewed by produce a satisfactory image distortion correction.
the pilot will be distorted. This is unacceptable in appli In addition, the rate of change of the corrected verti
cations in which the CRT image must be superimposed cal deflection signals with respect to the initial orthogo
accurately onto the direct view. 55 nal vertical deflection signals is approximately unity.
The distortion inherent in the HUD 10 is caused by This enables the memory section for the vertical correc
several different sources. Due to non-linearity in the tion to be addressed by only the higher order bits of the
magnetic or electrostatic deflection of the electron vertical input, with the uncorrected lower order bits
beam in the CRT 20, an image consisting of orthogonal being added to the output of the vertical memory sec
lines as illustrated in FIG. 3 will be subjected to "pin tion.
cushion' distortion in which the lines curve toward the The digital correction in combination with the re
center as illustrated in FIG. 4. duced memory requirement enable the present HUD
Another source of distortion is caused by the slant and CRT display to be manufactured easily at low cost,
angle at which the CRT image is projected by the opti with reduced component count and space requirements,
cal system 22 onto the combiner 12, as well as aberra 65 improved reliability and testability and built-in test
tions in the optical system 22 itself. This is known as (BIT) capability.
"geometric" distortion. Assuming that the image is These and other features and advantages of the pres
projected onto the combiner 12 from above, the image ent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art
 5,302,964
3 4.
from the following detailed description, taken together The computer 66 is preferably programmed to alter
with the accompanying drawings, in which like refer natingly switch between the radar raster image and the
ence numerals refer to like parts. information stroke image such that both appear on the
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS combiner 60 superimposed on the view through the
aircraft windshield. The raster image consists of a con
FIG. I is a diagram illustrating a typical heads-up tinuously generated pattern of horizontal lines in which
display (HUD); a bright point is produced by unblanking the electron
FIG. 2, is a diagram illustrating an information image beam and a dark point is produced by blanking the
produced by the system of FIG. 1; electron beam. The stroke image is generated by mov
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an undistorted image O ing the electron beam between only the bright points of
consisting orthogonal lines; the image. The beam is unblanked to illuminate the
FIG. 4 similar to FIG. 3, but illustrates the image bright points and blanked during movement.
after being subjected to "pincushion' distortion; The corrector unit 70 is configured such that an
FIG. 5 is also similar to FIG. 3, but illustrates the image on the combiner 60 as viewed from a predeter
image after being subjected to "geometric" distortion; mined angle indicated by an arrow 80 will appear undis
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a HUD em torted. The vector signal generator 68 generates a vec
bodying the present invention; tor image consisting of the horizontal and vertical vec
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a memory unit tor signals Vh and Vv which are selected in combina
of the HUD of FIG. 6; and tions corresponding to the image from an orthogonal
FIGS. 8a to 8c are diagrams illustrating the operation 20 array. The corrector unit 70 predistorts the digital hori
of the memory unit of FIG. 7. zontal and vertical deflection signals Ddh and Ddv in a
manner which is the inverse of the inherent distortion in
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE the HUD 50 such that the image on the combiner 60
INVENTION appears the same as the orthogonal image Vh, Vvgen
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a heads-up display (HUD) 50 25 erated by the vector signal generator 68. In other
embodying the present invention includes a system words, the corrector unit 70 generates distortion which
electronic unit 52 which generates images for display on reverses the inherent distortion in the HUD 50.
a flat screen 54a of a cathode ray tube (CRT) 54. An The digital deflection signals Ddh and Ddv differ
optical system 56 projects an image 58 of the screen 54a 30
from the vector signals Vh and Vv in a predetermined
onto a holographic mirror combiner 60 in the manner manner which depends on the types of distortion inher
described above with reference to FIG. 1. ent in the HUD 50. Ddh is related to Vh and Vv by a
The electronic unit 52 includes a radar unit 62 which horizontal correction function feh such that Ddh=fch
generates, for example, a radar image of the ground in (Vh, Vv), whereas Ddv is related to Vh and Vv by a
front of and below an aircraft to aid in low visibility 35 vertical correction function few such that
landings. Sensors 64 provide aircraft flight status infor Ddv=fcv(Vh,Vv).
mation including airspeed, altitude, etc. as illustrated in For example, horizontal and vertical correction func
FIG. 2. The data generated by the radar unit 62 and tions finh and fpinv respectively for pincushion distor
sensors 64 is fed to a digital processing unit which may tion as illustrated in FIG. 4 can be represented by qua
be a general purpose digital computer 66. 40
dratic equations of the form
The computer 66 feeds data to a vector signal genera
tor 68 including a raster image generator Bection 68a
for generating a radar image in a raster pattern and a
stroke image generator section 68b for generating an finh(X) = x a and
information image in a stroke pattern. The vector signal 45
generator 68 generates digital horizontal and vertical ?piny(Y) = r - a 2 2
vector signals Vh and Vv respectively and feeds them
to a digital signal corrector unit 70.
The vector signals Vh and Vw are selected from an where X and Y are the numerical values of the vector
orthogonal array in various combinations to form an 50 signals Vh and Vv respectively, and k is a constant
orthogonal image such as illustrated in FIG. 2. The which depends on the beam deflection angle in the CRT
corrector unit 70 receives the signals Vh and Vv and 54.
produces digital horizontal and vertical deflection sig Horizontal and vertical correction functions foll(X)
nais Ddh and Ddv respectively in response thereto and foly(Y) respectively for geometric distortion as
which are corrected for inherent distortions in the 55 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be represented by polynomial
HUD 50. Horizontal and vertical digital-to-analog con equations of the form
verters (D/A) 72 and 74 receive the signals Ddh and
Ddv and generate analog horizontal and vertical deflec
tion signals Adh and Adv respectively in response
thereto. 60
The CRT54 further includes an electron gun 54b for
emitting a beam of electrons toward the screen 54a, and
horizontal and vertical deflectors 54c and 54d for later where j and ji2 and k1 to k12 are constants which de
ally deflecting the electron beam in response to the pend on the slant projection angle of the image 58, focal
signals Adh and Adv from the converters 72 and 74 65 length of the optical system 56, etc.
after amplification by horizontal and vertical deflection The horizontal and vertical correction functions feh
amplifiers 76 and 78 respectively. The deflector 54c and and fev are calculated as combinations of the correction
54d may be magnetic coils or electrostatic plates. functions for the individual types of distortion by math
 5,302,964
5 6
ematical functional composition. In the exemplary case lized for addressing the memory 82. This is accom
of pincushion and geometric distortion, fch=finh O plished by configuring the memory 82 as an ill X7 ar
folyh and fev=fpiny O folyvi, where "o" is the symbol for ray, and connecting only the 7 most significant bits of
functional composition. the Vv output of the vector signal generator 68 to the
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the corrector unit 70 includes Vv address inputs of the memory 82. In a similar man
a horizontal or H-axis look-up table memory 82 and a ner, it is determined that the vertical memory 84 can be
vertical or V-axis look-up table memory 84. The memo addressed using only the 9 most significant bits of the
ries 82 and 84 may be read-only memories (ROM) as horizontal vector signal Vh.
illustrated, or may alternatively be random access mem The memory required for distortion correction can
ories (RAM). In either case, the digital horizontal de 10 be further reduced by examining the rates of change of
flection signals Ddh are stored in memory cells or loca the digital deflection signals with respect to the vector
tions in the memory 82 which are addressed by both of signals. Mathematically, this relationship can be ana
the vector signals Vh and VV. lyzed by calculating the partial derivatives of the digital
More specifically, the memory 82 includes an orthog deflection signals with respect to the vector signals in
onal array of locations which are addressed by two 15 the image area. If a calculated partial derivative is unity,
dimensional orthogonal inputs consisting of the vector the overall gain of the loop-up table in the axis in which
signals Vh and Vv. Each discrete combination of Vh the partial derivative is taken is also unity.
and Vw addresses a single location in the memory 82 in If these rates of change (partial derivatives) are suffi
which a respective value of Ddh is stored. ciently close to unity, only a selected number of the
It is within the scope of the invention to configure the 20 most significant bits of the vector signal can be used to
memory 84 in the same manner as the memory 82, and generate coarse digital deflection signals, and the re
apply all 11 bits of the vector signals Vh and Vv to the maining least significant bits are then added to the
address inputs of both memories 82 and 84. In this case, coarse digital deflection signal. In the present example,
the memories 82 and 84 in combination will require two 3Ddv/aVva-1, indicating that the rate of change of the
11 bit address inputs, and two 12 bit words stored at 25 digital vertical deflection signals Ddv with respect to
each address. The capacity of the raemories 82 and 84 in the vertical vector signals vv is approximately unity.
combination will be approximately 96 megabits. As illustrated in FIG. 7, only the 9 most significant
In order to reduce the required capacity of the memo bits of the vertical vector signal Vv are applied to ad
ries 82 and 84 and thereby the cost and size of the HUD dress the memory 84. In this case, the memory 84 stores
50, and also increase the speed of operation, approxima 30 coarse or intermediate digital vertical deflection signals
tions are made based on the analysis of the mathematical Idv which are corrected for vertical distortion based on
functions which represent the distortion and correction. the applied bits of the vector signals Vh and Vv. Al
This enables the numbers of bits of the address inputs to though the signals Idv consist of 12 bits, they are based
the memories 82 and 84 to be reduced while still provid on 9 bit rather than 11 bit vertical resolution, which can
ing acceptable distortion correction. 35 cause vertical displacement of image points from their
For example, the correction functions in a particular proper positions and result in the formation of errone
axis (horizontal or vertical) are generally less dependent ous patterns in a manner known as "aliasing'.
on the input from the opposite axis than on the input Due to the approximately unity gain of the look-up
from their own axis. This enables the number of bits of table in the vertical direction, satisfactory vertical reso
the opposite axis input to be less than that of the same 40 lution can be restored by applying the 2 least significant
axis input and still produce a satisfactory image correc bits of the vertical vector signal Vv to the two least
tion. More specifically, the digital horizontal deflection significant bit lines of one input of a 12 bit adder 86. The
signals Ddh are more dependent on the respective hori entire 12 bits of the intermediate vertical deflection
zontal vector signals Vh than on the vertical vector signal Idv are applied to another input of the adder 86
signals vv, and the digital vertical deflection signals 45 such that the least significant 2 bits of the signal Vv are
Ddv are more dependent on the vertical vector signals added to the signal Idv to produce the digital vertical
Vv than on the horizontal vector signals Vh. deflection signal Ddiv. In this manner, the resolution
This can be analyzed mathematically by calculating which was lost by approximating the Vv signal input to
the maximum values (max) of the partial derivatives of the memory 84 by 9 rather than 11 bits is restored to a
the digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals 50 satisfactory extent.
Ddh and Ddiv with respect to the vector signals Vh and The operation of the memory 84 and adder 86 is
Vv. In this case, maxaDdh/aVh demax add illustrated in FIG. 8a. It is assumed that the intermedi
h/aVv and max addv/avved maxa Ddv/aVh. ate deflection signal Idv has a first value Idv1, a second
As an example of this type of approximation, it will be value Idv2 which can be much higher (as illustrated) or
assumed that the vector signals Vh and Vd for the raster 55 lower than the value Idiv1, and a third value Idv3 which
image require 9 binary bits each to provide satisfactory is one incremental value higher than Idv2 with the
resolution and distortion correction. The vector signals vertical vector signal Vv approximated by 9 bits. The
Vh and Vv for the stroke image require the higher incremental values provided by the 2 least significant
resolution provided by 11 bits. The digital deflection bits of the signal Vv as applied to the adder 86 are desig
signals Ddh and Ddv must have 12 bits each to provide nated as binary 00, 01, 10 and 11 respectively.
the necessary resolution and distortion correction re It will be seen that, due to the unity gain of the verti
quired by the raster image. cal correction function in the look-up table, the signal
By numerical simulation and/or empirical investiga Idv2 plus four incremental steps of the least 2 significant
tion based on the above analysis, it is determined, al bits of the signal Vv is equal to the signal Idv3. Since the
though all 11 bits of the horizontal vector signal Vh are 65 increment between Idv2 and Idv3 is accurately spanned
required to address the memory 82, that satisfactory by four incremental steps of the 2 bit Vv input to the
correction of distortion will occur if only the 7 most adder 86, the increments 00, 01, 10 and 11 will be pro
significant bits of the vertical vector signal Vv are uti portionally correct. Thus, the vertical distortion correc
 7
5,302,964
8
tion can be provided using a 9 bit approximation of the digital-to-analog converter means for generating said
vertical vector signal VV, and the missing resolution analog horizontal and vertical deflection signals in
restored by adding the uncorrected 2 least significant response to said digital horizontal and vertical de
bits of the signal Vv to the corrected intermediate signal flection signals which are output from the memory
Idv. means in response to addressing of said locations by
For comparison, FIG. 8b illustrates the situation in said horizontal and vertical vector signals respec
which the rate of change of the vertical correction is tively;
greater than that of the vertical vector signal Vv. In this said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals
case, addition of four incremental steps of the least 2 differing from said horizontal and vertical vector
significant bits of the signal Vv to the signal Idv2 pro 10 signals in a manner which is predetermined to re
duces a value which is greater than Idv3. FIG. 8c illus verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus
trates the situation in which the rate of change of the such that an image formed on the screen by said
vertical correction is smaller than that of the vertical beam in response to selected combinations of Said
vector signal Vv. In this case, addition of four as incre horizontal and vertical vector signals generated by
mental steps of the least 2 significant bits of the signal 15 the vector signal generator means as viewed from a
Vv to the signal Idv2 produces a value which is smaller predetermined position appears substantially or
than Idv3. thogonal; in which
Although the approximation utilizing the adder 86 the rate of change of said digital vertical deflection
has been described and illustrated for only the vertical signals with respect to said respective vertical vec
axis, it may also be applied to the horizontal axis. 20 tor signals is approximately unity;
The two approximation methods as illustrated in said vertical vector signals each comprise a predeter
FIG, 7 enable the combined size of the memories 82 and mined number of most significant bits and a prede
84 to be reduced from 96 Megabits to 6 megabits, with termined number of least significant bits;
the only increase in parts count being the addition of 2 the memory means comprises a vertical memory
one 12 bit adder 86. The memories 82 and 84 can be 5 section for storing digital intermediate vertical
embodied in practice by six commercially available signals in locations which are addressed by said
memory chips, each having 262,144 (256K) addressable horizontal vector signals and are also addressed by
locations, with 4 bits stored in each location. and differ from said most significant bits of said
It is further within the scope of the invention to em vertical vector signals in said predetermined man
body the memories 82 and 84 as RAMs rather than
30 ner; and
ROMS, and download the signals Ddh and Ddv into the apparatus further comprises adder means for add
the memories 82 and 84 prior to operation of the HUD ing said intermediate vertical signals to said least
50. In this case, the signals Ddh and Ddv can be significant bits of said respective vertical vector
signals.
changed dynamically to enable precise calibration and 35 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which:
tuning of the correction functions for the particular the screen is flat;
combination of CRT 54 and optical system 56 being said inherent distortion comprises pincushion distor
used.
It is also possible to change the signals Ddh and Ddv tion created in the cathode ray tube; and
to perform image' scaling, translation and rotation. A said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals
built-in test (BIT) capability can be easily provided differ from said horizontal and vertical vector sig
nals in a manner which is predetermined to create
using RAMS, as well as the ability to bypass the distor distortion which is substantially the inverse of said
tion correction if desired for testing and other purposes. pincushion distortion.
While several illustrative embodiments of the inven 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:
tion have been shown and described, numerous varia 45 a surface; and
tions and alternate embodiments will occur to those optical means for projecting said image from the
skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and screen onto the surface, in which:
scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that said inherent distortion comprises geometric distor
the present invention not be limited solely to the specifi tion created by the optical means; and
cally described illustrative embodiments. Various modi 50 said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals
fications are contemplated and can be made without differ from said horizontal and vertical vector sig
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as nals in a manner which is predetermined to create
defined by the appended claims. distortion which is substantially the inverse of said
I claim: geometric distortion.
1. A display apparatus, comprising: 55 4. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which the memory
a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent means is configured such that said digital horizontal and
screen, beam generating means for emitting an vertical deflection signals have a larger number of bits
electron bean toward the screen and deflection than said horizontal and vertical vector signals.
means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor 5. A display apparatus, comprising:
dance with applied analog horizontal and vertical 60 a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent
deflection signals; screen, beam generating means for emitting an
vector signal generator means for generating digital electron beam toward the screen and deflection
horizontal and vertical vector signals selected from means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor
an orthogonal array; dance with applied analog horizontal and vertical
memory means for storing digital horizontal and ver 65 deflection signals;
tical deflection signals in an orthogonal array of vector signal generator means for generating digital
locations which are addressed by said horizontal horizontal and vertical vector signals selected from
and vertical vector signals respectively; and an orthognal array;
 5,302,964
10
memory means for storing digital horizontal and ver the memory means comprises a vertical memory
tical deflection signals in an orthogonal array of section for storing intermediate vertical signals in
locations which are addressed by said horizontal locations which are addressed by said horizontal
and vertical vector signals respectively; and vector signals and are also addressed by and differ
digital-to-analog converter means for generating said 5 from said most significant bits of said vertical vec
analog horizontal and vertical deflection signals in tor signals in said predetermined manner; and
response to said digital horizontal and vertical de the HUD further comprises adder means for adding
flection signals which are output from the memory said intermediate vertical signals to said least signif.
means in response to addressing of said locations by icant bits of said vertical vector signals respec
said horizontal and vertical vector signals respec 10 tively.
tively; 7. A HUD as in claim 6, in which:
said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals said inherent distortion comprises pincushion distor
differing from said horizontal and vertical vector tion created in the cathode ray tube; and
signals in a manner which is predetermined to re said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals
verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus 15 differ from said horizontal and vertical vector sig
such that an image formed on the screen by said nals in a manner which is predetermined to create
beam in response to selected combinations of said distortion which is substantially the inverse of said
horizontal and vertical vector signals generated by pincushion distortion.
the vector signal generator means as viewed from a 8. A HUD as in claim 6, in which:
predetermined position appears substantially or 20 the optical means projects said image from the screen
thogonal; in which: onto the combiner at a slant angle to create geo
said digital horizontal deflection signals are depen metric distortion; and
dent on said respective horizontal vector signals said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals
and said respective vertical vector signals; and differ from said horizontal and vertical vector sig
the memory means is configured such that said loca 25 nals in a manner which is predetermined to create
tions for storing said digital horizontal deflection distortion which is substantially the inverse of said
signals are addressed by a larger number of bits of geometric distortion.
9. A HUD as in claim 6, in which the vector signal
said horizontal vector signals than of said vertical generator
vector signals. means comprises rester image generator
30 means and stroke image generator means for generating
6. A heads-up display (HUD), comprising:
a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent said horizontal and vertical vector signals in such a
manner as to alternatingly form raster and stroke images
screen, beam generating means for emitting an on the screen respectively.
electron beam toward the screen and deflection 10. A HUD as in claim 9, in which the stroke image
means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor generator means generates said horizontal and vertical
dance with applied analog horizontal and vertical vector signals to form said stroke image with a larger
deflection signals; - number of bits than the raster image generator means
a combiner; generates said horizontal and vertical vector signals to
optical means for projecting an image formed on the form said raster image.
screen by said beam onto the combiner; 40 11. A HUD as in claim 6, in which the memory means
vector signal generator means for generating digital is configured such that said digital horizontal and verti
horizontal and vertical vector signals correspond cal deflection signals have a larger number of bits than
ing to said image which are selected from an or said horizontal and vertical vector signals.
thogonal array; 12. A heads-up display (HUD), comprising:
memory means for storing digital horizontal and ver- 45 a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent
tical deflection signals in an orthogonal array of screen, beam generating means for emitting an
locations which are addressed by said horizontal electron beam toward the screen and deflection
and vertical vector signals respectively; and means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor
digital-to-analog converter means for generating said dance with applied analog horizontal and vertical
analog horizontal and vertical deflection signals in 50 deflection signals;
response to said digital horizontal and vertical de a combiner;
flection signals which are output from the memory optical means for projecting an image formed on the
means in response to addressing of said locations by screen by said beam onto the combiner;
said horizontal and vertical vector signals respec vector signal generator means for generating digital
tively; 55 horizontal and vertical vector signals correspond
said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals ing to said image which are selected from an or
differing from said horizontal and vertical vector thogonal array;
signals in a manner which is predetermined to re memory means for storing digital horizontal and ver
verse inherent distortion in the display such that tical deflection signals in an orthogonal array of
said image as projected onto the combiner by the locations which are addressed by said horizontal
optical means and viewed from a predetermined and vertical vector signals respectively; and
position appears substantially orthogonal; in which digital-to-analog converter means for generating said
the rate of change of said digital vertical deflection analog horizontal and vertical deflection signals in
signals with respect to said respective vertical vec response to said digital horizontal and vertical de
tor signals is approximately unity; 65 flection signals which are output from the memory
said vertical vector signals comprise a predetermined means in response to addressing of said locations by
number of most significant bits and a predeter said horizontal and vertical vector signals respec
mined number of least significant bits; tively;
 5,302,964
11 12
said digital horizontal and vertical deflection signals electron beam toward the screen and deflection
differing from said horizontal and vertical vector means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor
signals in a manner which is predetermined to re dance with applied orthogonal analog first axis and
verse inherent distortion in the display such that second axis deflection signals;
said image as projected onto the combiner by the 5 vector signal generator means for generating orthog
optical means and viewed from a predetermined onal digital first axis and second axis vector signals
position appears substantially orthogonal; in selected from an orthogonal array;
which: memory means for storing orthogonal digital first axis
said digital horizontal deflection signals are depen and second axis deflection signals in an orthogonal
dent on said respective horizontal vector signals 10 array of locations which are addressed by said first
and said respective vertical vector signals; and axis and second axis vector signals respectively;
the memory means is configured such that said loca and
tions for storing said digital horizontal deflection digital-to-analog converter means for generating said
signals are addressed by a larger number of bits of analog first axis and second axis deflection signals
said horizontal vector signals than of said vertical 15 in response to said digital first axis and second axis
vector signals. deflection signals which are output from the mem
13. A display apparatus, comprising: ory means in response to addressing of said loca
a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent tions by said first axis and second axis vector sig
screen, beam generating means for emitting an nals respectively;
electron beam toward the screen and deflection 20 said digital first axis and second axis deflection signals
means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor differing from said first axis and second axis vector
dance with applied orthogonal analog first axis and signals in a manner which is predetermined to re
second axis deflection signals; verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus
vector signal generator means for generating orthog such that an image formed on the screen by said
onal digital first axis and second axis vector signals 25 beam in response to selected combinations of said
selected from an orthogonal array; first axis and second axis vector signals generated
memory means for storing orthogonal digital first axis by the vector signal generator means by viewed
and second axis deflection signals in an orthogonal from a predetermined position appears substan
array of locations which are addressed by said first tially orthogonal; in which
axis and second axis vector signals respectively; 30 said digital first axis deflection signals are dependent
and on said respective first axis vector signals and said
digital-to-analog converter means for generating said respective second axis vector signals; and
analog first axis and second axis deflection signals the memory means is configured such that said loca
in response to said digital first axis and second axis tions for storing said digital first axis deflection
deflection signals which are output from the mem- 35 signals are addressed by a larger number of bits of
ory means in response to addressing of said loca said first axis vector signals than of said second axis
tions by said first axis and second axis vector sig vector signals.
nals respectively; 15. A heads-up display (HUD), comprising:
said digital first axis and second axis deflection signals a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent
differing from said first axis and second axis vector 40 screen, bean generating means for emitting an
signals in a manner which is predetermined to re electron beam toward the screen and deflection
verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor
such that an image formed on the screen by said dance with applied orthogonal analog first axis and
beam in response to selected combinations of said second axis deflection signals;
first axis and second axis vector signals generated 45 a combiner;
by the vector signal generator means as viewed optical means for projecting an image formed on the
from a predetermined position appears substan screen by said beam onto the combiner;
tially orthogonal; in which vector signal generator means for generating orthog
the rate of change of said digital second axis deflec onal digital first axis and second axis vector signals
tion signals with respect to said respective second 50 corresponding to said image which are selected
axis vector signals is approximately unity; from an orthogonal array;
said second axis vector signals each comprise a prede memory means for storing orthogonal digital first axis
termined number of most significant bits and a and second axis deflection signals in an orthogonal
predetermined number of least significant bits; array of locations which are addressed by said first
the memory means comprises a second axis memory 55 axis and second axis vector signals respectively;
section for storing digital intermediate second axis and
signals in locations which are addressed by said digital-to-analog converter means for generating said
first axis vector signals and are also addressed by analog first axis and second axis and second axis
and differ from said most significant bits of said deflection signals which are output from the mem
second axis vector signals in said predetermined 60 ory means in response to addressing of said loca
manner; and tions by said first axis and second axis vector sig
the apparatus further comprises adder means for add nals respectively;
ing said intermediate second axis signals to said said digital first axis and second axis deflection signals
least significant bits of said respective second axis differing from said first axis and second axis vector
vector signals. 65 signals in a manner which is predetermined to re
14. A display apparatus, comprising: verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus
a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent such that an image formed on the screen by said
screen, beam generating means for emitting an beam in response to selected combinations of said
 5,302,964
13 14
first axis and second axis vector signals generated corresponding to said image selected from an or
by the vector signal generator means as viewed thogonal array;
from a predetermined position appears substan memory means for storing orthogonal digital first axis
tially orthogonal; in which and second axis deflection signals in an orthogonal
the rate of change of said digital second axis deflec array of locations which are addressed by said first
tion signals with respect to said respective second axis and second axis vector signals respectively;
axis vector signals is approximately unity; and
said second axis vector signals each comprise a prede digital-to-analog converter means for generating said
termined number of most significant bits and a analog first axis and second axis deflection signals
predetermined number of least significant bits; 10 in response to said digital first axis and second axis
the memory means comprises a second axis memory deflection signals which are output from the mem
section for storing digital intermediate second axis ory means in response to addressing of said loca
signals in locations which are addressed by said tions by said first axis and second axis vector sig
first axis vector signals and are also addressed by nals respectively;
and differ from said most significant bits of said 15 said digital first axis and second axis deflection signals
second axis vector signals in said predetermined differing from said first axis and second axis vector
manner; and signals in a manner which is predetermined to re
the apparatus further comprises adder means for add verse inherent distortion in the display apparatus
ing said intermediate second axis signals to said such that an image formed on the screen by said
least significant bits of said respective second axis 20 beam in response to selected combinations of said
vector signals. first axis and second axis vector signals generated
16. A heads-up display (HUD), comprising: by the vector signal generator means as viewed
a cathode ray tube including a cathodoluminescent from a predetermined position appears substan
Screen, beam generating means for emitting an tially orthogonal; in which
electron beam toward the screen and deflection 25 said digital first axis deflection signals are dependent
means for laterally deflecting said beam in accor on said respective first axis vector signals and said
dance with applied orthogonal analog first axis and respective second axis vector signals; and
second axis deflection signals; the memory means is configured such that said loca
a combiner; tions for storing said digital first axis deflection
optical means for projecting an image formed on the 30 signals are addressed by a larger number of bits of
screen by said beam onto the combiner; said first axis vector signals than of said second axis
vector signal generator means for generating orthog vector signals.
onal digital first axis and second axis vector signals k

35

45

SO

55

65