Multiple target projector system and method

A target projector for projecting images of targets against a projection screen of a simulator system, said projector comprising:

• an image display having at least four image display portions each displaying a respective image;
• at least four projection assemblies each associated with a respective image display portion, said projection assemblies each receiving the respective image from the respective image display portion and projecting said image on said projection screen;
• said projection assemblies each comprising
• a lens assembly projecting light from the image in a generally conically expanding projection path therefrom,
• a first mirror receiving the image from the lens assembly and reflecting said image outwardly from the image display,
• said first mirror having an upper end portion and a lower edge portion, said lower edge portion being adjacent the image display portion, said mirror extending obliquely upwardly and flaring outwardly from said lower edge portion,
• a movable mirror positioned to receive the image from the first mirror and reflect the image to the projection screen, the movable mirror being supported on a gimbaled system selectively positioning the movable mirror in varying angular positions to selectively locate the projected image on the screen,
• the first mirrors being grouped together adjacent the image display, the lower edge portions of adjacent mirrors being supported generally perpendicular to each other.

A method for simulating on a projection screen in a simulation system an out-the-window view including a plurality of targets, said method comprising:

• providing a background projector and a target projector both positioned so as to project images on the screen, said target projector, said target projector including an target image display having at least two image display portions each configured to display a respective image and each having associated therewith a respective target projection assembly for receiving and projecting the respective image on said projection screen, said projection assemblies each including a system for independently and selectively locating the projected target image on the screen;
• causing the background projector to project a background image on the screen;
• forming target images on said display portions of the target projector;
• causing the target projector to locate said target images on said projector screen;
• said target images being at a higher resolution than said background image.

A simulation system comprising:

• a projection screen supported so as to be viewed by a user;
• sensors sensing commands of the user;
• a host computer connected with the sensors and having an image generating system generating OTW imagery including background imagery and target imagery for the user to view;
• a background projector connected with the image generating system and receiving therefrom the background imagery and projecting said background imagery on said projection screen at a background resolution;
• a target projector with the image generating system and receiving therefrom the target imagery and projecting said target imagery on said projection screen at a target resolution, said target projector comprising
• a target image display having at least two target image display portions each displaying a respective target image;
• at least two projection assemblies each associated with a respective target image display portion and a respective target image, said projection assemblies each receiving the respective target image from the respective target image display portion and projecting said target image on said projection screen at a target resolution;
• and
• said projection assemblies each including a system for selectively locating the respective projected target image on the screen.