Modular display simulator and method

A simulator for presenting a display of a simulated space, which comprises:

• a control input means for generating a control signal;
• a first video monitor;
• a first memory for storing data representative of a simulated space;
• a master controller connected to said control input means, said first monitor and said first memory, said master controller generating signals to cause said first monitor to display a first portion of said simulated space which is spatially congruent with said first monitor, said master controller further generating a reference signal representative of a reference position of said first portion of said simulated space in response to simulated movement within said simulated space;
• a second video monitor juxtaposed with said first monitor;
• a second memory for storing data representative of the simulated space;
• and
• a slave controller connected to said master controller, said second monitor and said second memory, said slave controller generating signals based upon said reference signal from said master controller and said data in said second memory to cause said second monitor to display a second portion of said simulated space which is spatially congruent with said second monitor,
• wherein said master controller periodically calculates said reference position in response to said control signal transmitted from said control input means, and wherein said master and slave controllers respectively generate said displays of said first and second portions of said simulated space on said first and second monitors substantially when said master controller calculates said reference position.

A device for generating a changing image of a simulated space, which comprises:

• a base having means attached thereto for generating a control signal representative of a desired motion through the simulated space;
• a first memory for storing data representative of the simulated space;
• a first monitor mounted on said base;
• a master controller connected to said control signal generating means, said first monitor and said first memory, said master controller calculating a reference position based upon said control signal from said control signal generating means and said data stored in said first memory and generating signals to cause said fist monitor to present a first window displaying a first section of said simulated space having a predetermined orientation relative to said reference position, said master controller generating a position signal corresponding to said reference position;
• a second memory for storing data representative of the simulated space;
• a second monitor mounted on said base;
• and
• a slave controller connected to said master controller, said second monitor and said second memory, said slave controller responsive to said data stored in the second memory and said position signal from said master controller to generate signals to cause said second monitor to preset a second window displaying a second sector of said simulated space with a predetermined orientation relative to said reference position based upon said position signal and data stored in said second memory, the spatial relationship between said first and second sectors being congruent with the spatial relationship between said first and second monitor,
• wherein said master and slave controllers respectively generate said first and second sectors of said simulated space on said first and second monitors substantially when said master controller calculates said reference position.

A method for presenting images of a simulated space on the monitors as seen from a simulator having a selectable position and orientation in the simulated space, said simulator having a control input means, the first, second and third monitors, the first, second and third memories, and the master and first and second slave controllers, said method comprises:

• storing data representative of the simulated space in the first and second memories;
• generating a control signal representative of the desired movement of the simulator through the simulated space from the control input means;
• processing the control signal in the master controller to generate a reference signal representative of the position and orientation of the simulator in the simulated space;
• generating a first display signal in said master controller based upon the reference signal and said data stored in the first memory;
• displaying a first image of the simulated space on the first monitor in response to the first display signal, the first image being spatially congruent with the first monitor;
• generating a second display signal in the first slave controller based upon the reference signal from said master controller and said data stored in the second memory;
• and
• displaying a second image of the simulated space on the second monitor in response to the second display signal, the second image being spatially congruent with the second monitor,
• wherein said master controller periodically calculates said reference signal in response to a control signal transmitted from said control input means, and wherein said master and first slave controllers respectively generate said first and second images of said simulated space on said first and second monitors substantially when said master controller calculates said reference position.