GB2337630A - Instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

An instrument panel is described which avoids expensive electromechanical instruments. Instead, a back projector system casts an image on a translucent layer (22). Bezels (30) and manual controls can be mounted thereon without affecting the display. The panel is particularly suitable for simulators. The translucent layer (22) is mounted on a supporting structure in the form of a plate (20) which may include apertures (24) through which the image may be projected. The translucent layer (22) may be screen printed or otherwise provided with markings.

Description

2337630 1 INSTRUMENT PANEL The present invention relates to an instrument

panel. It is particularly useful in the construction of simulators, such as flight simulators, but can be employed in other training devices or simulators where there is a requirement for portraying visually realistic representations of real world information whilst operating vvithin a simulated or training environment. Alternatively, it can be used for the presentation of real information.

Flight simulators for example are now well established for use in pilot and aircrew training. They provide invaluable opportunities to familiarise aircrew with new aircraft types and to test qualified pilots in unfamiliar or dangerous situations. Many hours of expensive flying time can be saved through the use of simulator and training system work, enabling unfamiliar and dangerous situations can be simulated safely without the associated risk to persons and high capital value equipment (e.g. aircraft).

The cost of full capability simulators is however very significant. In the case of flight simulators, much of this cost is traceable to factors such as the provision of motion cuing systems and imaging system(s). It is therefore common to produce what might be termed as "type trainer" simulators. These "type traineC simulators range from desktop trainers to three-dimensional representative trainers or simulators.

In the case of a flight training device this may comprise a cockpit with a set of instruments that is appropriately responsive to manipulation of the controls. Thus, no movement or vision is provided. Such a trainer is suitable for the initial learning of emergency drills and cross-training, i.e. where a pilot is familiarised with the drills appropriate to a particular type after transferring from another type.

1 W 1 2 Another major cost element of the simulator is the instrument panel. It is usually desired to use actual instrument faces so that a familiar view is presented. Aircraft instruments are intrinsically expensive, and instruments for simulators, whilst less expensive, are usually a significant cost. This is because associated electromechanical apparatus must be fitted behind the face of the actual instrument so as to drive the indicator or indicators in an appropriate manner. The cost of this will usually be very significant, and costs per instrument vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands per instrument. As the majority of tlainers require a number of instruments, this cost inevitably impacts on a type trainer simulator, since the instruments are a necessary part.

The present invention seeks to provide an adequately representative instrument panel, at a significantly lower cost.

Attempts have been made to employ lower cost instrument panels, by providing liquid crystal display (LCID) or cathode-ray displays behind the panel. However, in the case of aircraft instrument panels this is not a practical solution since they tend to have knobs, switches and levers interspersed liberally between the instrument f aces. For example, altimeters always have a rotatable knob immediately adjacent to the instrument to set the reference pressure. This knob is an integral part of the altimeter and must be present in any simulator or trainer where a representation of the actual aircraft equipment fit is required or the training tasks dictate. However, cathode-ray tubes and LCIDs will inevitably overlap the instrument dial area, and will (in the case of an LCID) be squared off. As a result, they will foul the rear of the knob or control concerned.

The inventors are aware of a system in which cathode-ray tubes are visible through an aperture in a particularly thick front plate, thus providing suitable clearance between the front face of the cathode-ray tube and the front face of the instrument panel. This clearance is sufficient to accept a 3 control. However, the trainee or operator (e.g. pilot) is essentially forced to look at the instrument down a tube, which is most unrealistic and distracting. Furthermore, if the training device or simulator incorporates additional crew members (e.g. a co-pilot) then the crew membersviews of co-crew members' instruments will not be as per the real device. For example, in the case of a flight training device, if a copilot chooses to look at the pilot's instrument (cross cockpit viewing), he will obviously see it from an entirely different angle and in the case of a particularly thick front plate being used, most of the instrument will be obscured due to the depth of the tube. Therefore, such arrangements are felt to be most unsatisfactory and can be perceived as providing negative or unrealistic training.

The inventors are also aware of a system using CRT's or LCID's where an attempt to maintain semi-realistic viewing angles has been attempted by the use of extremely expensive custom designed "one off" low profile simulated controls and indicators or alternatively non representative low profile devices. The result of this approach is that whilst attempting to maintain the visual appearance of the instruments, tactile and visual fidelity of the panel mounted controls and indicators is sacrificed, with a subsequent reduction in training fidelity.

The present invention therefore provides an instrument panel comprising a translucent layer, a supporting structure for the layer, and a projection apparatus behind the layer, the projection apparatus being arranged to project an image of an instrument onto the translucent layer.

This provides a realistic representation (in terms of visual fidelity and spatial correctness) of the instruments whilst also maintaining the ability to provide the correct visual, spatial and tactile correctness of the panel mounted controls and indicators.

According to this construction, no real instruments are used. The 4 cost saving thereby achieved is significantly greater than the additional cost of a projector. Meanwhile, the use of a projector enables a free space to be provided immediately behind the instrument panel, so controls can be fitted thereto and extend into this free space. If necessary, the controls can be fitted through apertures in the translucent layer. Despite the free space behind the instrument panel, the images of instruments still appear to be on the front surface of the panel. A single projector can provide images for several instruments.

It is preferred if the support is positioned behind a translucent sheet. A suitable form of support is a plate lying immediately behind. If the plate is opaque, it will need to include apertures through which the image can be projected onto the translucent sheet.

It is preferred if simulated front bezels for the instruments are affixed on the front of the translucent sheet or layer. This can be by way of a plurality of individual fittings, or by a single sheet affixed to the front which carries suitable bezels. This will clearly need to include apertures therein so that the translucent sheet or layer is visible at appropriate locations so as to provide the image to the observer.

Manually operated controls can be mounted either on the front sheet, if necessary extending through a translucent sheet, or an the translucent sheet itself in the absence of a front sheet, or mounted directly to the support, extending through the translucent sheet if necessary.

The translucent sheet or layer can be screen printed or otherwise provided with markings. These markings can be graduations of instruments, with the remainder of the instrument detail being provided by the projector. Alternatively, images of the instrument bezels can be printed on the translucent sheet or layer thereby obviating the need to provide additional structures.

It is possible to integrate the support and the translucent layer into a single item. For example, the support could be a plate of transparent acrylic material, the front face of which has been roughened thereby to provide a translucent layer. That layer will then act as a translucent sheet. A suitable acrylic material is Perspex (Registered Trade Mark).

As noted above, the instrument panel of the present invention is particularly useful for simulators such as aircraft simulators. Further, it has other applications.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which; Figure 1 is a partial view of a typical instrument panel; Figure 2 is a cross-section through an instrument panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through an instrument panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an instrument panel 10 comprising a number of instruments such as that indicated at 12. As mentioned above, the cost of each instrument on the panel in the simulator is generally several thousand pounds. Figure 1 shows the investment in instrumentation in a single simulated cockpit is therefore likely to be very significant, given that only approximately one-third of the cockpit panel is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through an instrument panel according to the present invention. A plate 20 acts as a supporting structure for a sheet 22 of a suitable translucent material such as Mylar (Registered Trade Mark). The plate 20 can be of any suitable material, such as aluminium or 6 other metallic materials. Mylar is a polyester film available in a range of grades including translucent forms. By translucent is meant a material through which light can travel but which scatters light significantly during its thickness. This can be contrasted to a transparent material which transmits light without significant scattering. A translucent material is capable of accepting a projected image on one side for viewing on the other side from a variety of angles.

A plurality of apertures 24 are formed in the supporting structure 20 immediately behind the areas of the translucent film 22 where, it is intended that an instrument will be provided. The translucent film 22 is then attached to the supporting structure 20 as indicated at 26, in the regions between apertures 24.

Bezels 28, 30 are then attached to the front of the translucent film 22. These bezels comprise realistic supports such as will be found around instruments, but usually have an aperture 32, 34 instead of an instrument face. Some instruments, such as the artificial horizon, include a convex or concave lens. This can be replicated in the bezel 28 or 30. Thus, in the apertures 32, 34 the translucent film 22 is visible and an image projected thereon will be apparent.

Images are provided on a translucent film 22 by a suitable projector (not shown in Figure 2). This is driven by a suitable software package.

it is possible either to screen print images of the instrument graduations etc, or include these within the projected image. It is generally preferably to screen print on the translucent screen 22, as this is generally more realistic and will reduce the processor load of the software package.

Manually operated controls can easily be integrated into this 7 instrument panel by drilling through the translucent screen 22 and mounting them on the supporting structure 20. Cabling can be affixed to the rear of the supporting structure 20 and routed between apertures 24.

Figure 3 shows an alternative and somewhat more economic construction. The image quality produced is likely to be somewhat lesser than the embodiment of Figure 2, but the manufacturing cost may be lower.

This embodiment includes a block of acrylic material 50. A suitable acrylic material is Perspex (Registered Trade Mark). The front face 52 of the block is roughened, for example by grit blasting, thereby providing a translucent layer 54 in front of a transparent supporting structure 56. A projector 58 is placed behind the block 50 and projects an image. This will pass through the transparent supporting structure 56 and be apparent on the translucent layer 54.

It is then feasible to print on the roughened surface 52 in order to augment the projected image as above, or to provide an adhesive-backed transparent layer which is pre-printed.

Manually operated controls can be easily integrated into the panel, for example as at 60. A button is placed within a drilled hole in the acrylic block 50, and a cable 62 leaves the button 60 is brought out behind the block 50. The route is chosen to coincide with areas between projected instruments, i.e. where the front face 52 would normally be printed with overlying detail.

It will be appreciated that many variations can be made to the abovedescribed embodiment, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, instrument panels can include light transmissive plates to illuminate the instrument face. These could be incorporated into the above panels without significant difficulty.

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Claims (15)

1. An instrument panel comprising a translucent layer, a supporting structure for the layer, and a projection apparatus behind the layer, the projection apparatus being arranged to project an image of at least one instrument onto the translucent layer.
2. 2. An instrument panel according to claim 1 in which the support is positioned behind the translucent layer.
3. An instrument panel according to claim 1 in which the support is a plate lying immediately behind the translucent layer.
4. 4. An instrument panel according to claim 2 in which the plate includes apertures through which the image can be projected onto the translucent sheet.
5. An instrument panel according to any preceding claim in which front bezels for the instruments are affixed in front of the translucent layer.
6. 6. An instrument panel according to claim 5 in which a plurality of bezels are formed on a single sheet affixed to the front.
7. 7. An instrument panel according to any preceding claim in which manually operated controls are mounted on either the front sheet, or on the translucent layer, or on the support.
8. 8. An instrument panel according to any preceding claim in which the translucent layer is screen printed or otherwise provided with markings.
9. 9. An instrument panel according to claim 8 in which the markings a 9 graduations of instruments.
10. 10. An instrument panel according to any preceding claim in which a sheet of translucent material provides the translucent layer.
11. 11. An instrument panel according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the support is a plate of transparent material, one face of which is roughened thereby to provide a translucent layer.

    A
12. 12. An instrument panel according to claim 11 in which the plate is an acrylic material.
13. 13. An instrument panel according to claim 11 in which the plate is Perspex.
14. 14. A simulator comprising an instrument panel according to any preceding claim.
15. 15. An aircraft simulator comprising an instrument panel according to any preceding claim.