Visual display system for producing a continuous virtual image

A visual display system for use as part of an aircraft flight simulator operated by a simulation pilot, the visual display system producing a composite display image perceived as a far-focused continuous virtual image by the simulation pilot positioned in a predetermined viewing volume and having an associated field of view concentrically surrounding a line of sight extending outwardly from the simulation pilot's viewing volume, the display system comprising:

• a plurality of adjacent video image generation and display modules, each module comprising:
• an image generator that generates a video image, wherein the video image is representative of a portion of the composite display image;
• and
• a video display, operatively connected to the image generator and responsive to the video image generated by the image generator for displaying the portion of the composite video image, wherein the video display comprises a border surrounding a display area;
• and
• a plurality of adjacent lenses, each lens associated with one module and positioned between the simulation pilot and the video display, wherein each lens restricts the simulation pilot's field of view such that the simulation pilot views only a portion of the display area of the video display;
• wherein the lenses associated with adjacent modules are joined together along their edges to form an enclosure partially surrounding the simulation simulation pilot so that the pilot views the composite display image displayed on the plurality of video displays through the plurality of lenses and perceives the composite display image as a continuous far-focused virtual image.

A method for producing a composite display image perceived as a continuous far-focused virtual image by an operator positioned in a predetermined viewing volume and having an associated field of view concentrically surrounding a line of sight extending outwardly from the operator's viewing volume, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of video images, wherein each video image is representative of a portion of the composite display image;
• arranging a plurality of adjacent video displays that display one of the plurality of video images, wherein the video displays each comprise a border surrounding a display area;
• arranging a plurality of adjacent lenses, each lens associated with one video display and positioned between the operator and the video display, wherein each lens restricts the operator's field of view such that the operator views only a portion of the display area of the video display;
• arranging adjacent lenses such that their edges are joined together to form an enclosure partially surrounding the operator so that the operator views the continuous far-focused virtual image displayed on the plurality of video display through the plurality of lenses.