Development of terrain-following displays for the Tornado aircraft

A ground-based simulation system for the development of terrain-following displays is described. The method has been used to develop such displays for the Tornado aircraft and enables development decisions to be made by relatively inexpensive mathematical modelling without recourse to flight trials. Examples of use of the facility are given in assessing experimental changes, assessing failure cases and warning mechanization, and in providing training material.     

Application and experience of colour CRT flight deck displays

Colour CRT displays have the potential both to enhance the presentation of primary flight information and also to improve the interface between complex avionic systems and the flight deck crew. This paper describes research to explore this potential, and reports the opinions of a wide range of pilots who experienced such displays in the working environment.     

Four-dimensional flight management using colour CRT displays

Major problems are faced in the aerospace industry today concerning safety in the crowded skies around airports and continuing increases in fuel prices. Lockheed-California Company in collaboration with the NASA Langley Research Center has been working on a development that tackles both of these problems — an airborne four-dimensional computer capability for the L-1011 Tristar jetliner. A trial installation plane is flying with colour electronic displays on a portion of its instrument panel to achieve these ends. The display system is intended to control flights to such a degree that arrival times can be predicted to within a matter of seconds, substantially reducing the congestion and delays of today's airways. Accurate on-board prediction of arrival times in conjunction with an en route traffic metering technique should make air traffic flow much more efficient and lead to a substantial reduction in fuel consumption.     

Man,machine and configuration: human factors versus hardware in avionic display design

The reasons for the appearance of a new generation of aircraft cockpits with multifunction displays are briefly explained. The increasing importance of human factors for the optimization of this ‘intelligent’ cockpit is stressed. Multifunction displays will be the most prominent components components of the new cockpit configuration, and some important features of the different types of display are discussed. Special attention is paid to head-down displays and the question of whether colour is required. It is concluded that advances in display hardware are needed and that more efficient man-machine models for performance evaluation could permit the adaptation of the cockpit to the individual pilot not only in seat height but also in control logic and information display.     

Designing readable scrolling displays

This report focuses on a form of scrolling display in which the message moves horizontally along a single-line display panel. Recommendations are given for the optimal scrolling mode, window width and display rate. The properties that enhance alphanumeric legibility and the techniques that maximize the effectiveness of a scrolling message are also discussed.     

A battery-powered evaluator for flat panel LEF displays

A hand-held, battery-operated prototype display using thin film a c electroluminescent technology is introduced. The paper describes the structural and some functional aspects of the unit. A microprocessor-controlled evaluation unit for the display is also described.     

Calculating the perceptibility of monochrome and colour displays viewed under various illumination conditions

Results from a series of calculations which assist the display designer to assess the optimum colour or colours for use on a display device are presented. Plots are produced which indicate the principles which must be adopted in the evaluation of the relative importance of display luminance and colour when the device is to be viewed under both specific and widely differing illumination conditions.     

Silicon TFTs for flat panel displays

Liquid crystal displays work best when directly driven by an active matrix system. Such matrices can be made in different ways, but one of the most promising is the amorphous silicon thin film transistor (a-Si TFT) technology. Although an a-Si TFT technique seems quite suitable for LCD drives, polysilicon TFTs should be preferred for fast peripheral addressing circuits. Two basic TFT processes are proposed, using a-Si and SiO₂ films deposited on glass by the glow discharge technique. Silicon was deposited at 300°C in the first process and at 500°C in the second. Only in this latter case could silicon be easily recrystallized to give a polysilicon TFT on glass. This paper devotes most of its attention to the amorphous Si TFT. Static and dynamic characteristics are presented emphasizing the predominant role of traps, and a LC switching simulation is demonstrated. Finally a large area circuit is proposed and its problems discussed.     

Comparison of colour and black-and-white visual displays as indicated by bombing performance in the 2B35 TA-4J flight simulator

Ten highly qualified and experienced instructor pilots were tested with respect to bombing performance in the General Electric 2B35 full colour wide screen flight simulator. Half the pilots flew with colour first and then black-and-white and the other half with the reverse order. Repeated bombing runs were made and circular bombing errors obtained. Under the conditions of the study, no statistically significant differences were shown between performances in colour and those in black-and white.     

Transition metal oxide electrochromic materials and displays: a review: Part 1: oxides with cathodic coloration

Thin films of a number of transition metal oxides, when employed as electrodes in the appropriate electrochemical cells, exhibit electrochromism by a reversible ion-insertion mechanism. These oxides may be divided into two groups, those which colour cathodically by a reduction process, and those which colour anodically by an oxidation process. At present the former class is known to contain the oxides of W, Mo, V, Nb and Ti, whereas those of Ir, Rh, Ni and Co are contained in the latter class. A two-part in-depth review is given of the electrochromic behaviour of thin films of these oxides. This part of the paper considers cathodically coloured oxides, with anodically coloured oxides the subject of the second part. Special attention is given to tunstic oxides as the most studied example and as a model for the behaviour of other members of its class. Significant advances in the understanding and development of electrochromic displays are highlighted. Fabrication and performance of display electrode and complete display cells based on these materials is described and compared, suggestion put forward regarding the most promising electrochromic material/electrolyte combinations for further study. Emphasis is placed on the method and details of film deposition or growth which determine film stoichiometry (including moisture content) and morphology and in turn strongly influence electrochromic behaviour.     

The application of ergonomics in the design of automotive displays

Ergonomics can play an important role in the design and evaluation of novel display concepts. The rapid growth in the application of new technology has posed as many queries for the designer and engineer as it has provided design opportunities. Car dashboard displays are an example of such an ara of growth. Ergonomists have addressed the queries arising from the interface between the display and the user and can work with the designers and engineers towards solutions.     

Brightness and contrast of nematic liquid crystal bistable configuration displays

A photometer was used to measure the angular dependence of the brightness and contrast ratio of bistable configuration displays in both reflection and transmission modes. The essential result is that the field of view is not limited by any cut-off in the angular properties of the bistable configurations themselves, but is determined primarily by the conditions of illumination and properties of the reflector. The contrast ratio drops off only slightly for large viewing angles, and hence the acceptable field of view is determined primarily by the angular dependence of the brightness. The latter depends strongly on the nature of the illumination. For normally incident light, the full width at half maximum of the reflective display was 25° with a contrast ratio about 2.4. The transmission display was illuminated through a ground glass scattered by light normally incident on the ground glass. Under these conditions, the full width at half maximum was essentially the same as that of the ground glass alone, about 15dg and a contrast ratio of about 2. The photometer measurements of contrast ratio are in rough agreement with densitometer measurements of the absorption characteristics of the dichroic dye guest in the liquid crystal host in its parallel-aligned state.     

Electrochromic displays: status and future prospects

This paper reviews some of the materials and structures possible for electrochromic displays. Tungstic oxide is seen as the likeliest electrochromic material for practical applications, and the role of the electrolyte and counter-electrode in these displays is given more detailed consideration. Driving methods are discussed and areas in which ECDs must improve to become a commercial possibility are outlined.     

Vacuum fluorescent displays: from single digits to colour TV

Physical principles and operational characteristics of various vacuum fluorescent displays are outlined. A VFD history and details of construction are also given. Displays of various resolutions for different applications are described up to a 256 × 256 dot matrix unit. Uniform brightness and precise switching operation are realized using improved anode and grid electrode construction, anode baseplate processing, and grid configuration and its fixing processes. A scrolling VFD and a MOS FET switching array VFD are introduced. The latter uses an integrated circuit of 241 × 246 elements to produce a picture 23 × 23 mm. Prospects for the development of VFDs are given in conclusion.     

Contrast enhancement of LED,vaccum fluorescent and plasma displays with circular polarizing filters

Filters are widely used for contrast enhancement of active electronic displays. This paper considers the application of circular polarizers to LED, vacuum fluorescent and plasma displays under a variety of ambient illumination situations. Relevant parameters controlling contrast enhancement have been identified. The degree of contrast enhancement obtained with appropriate circular polarizing filters under different ambient illumination values is reported for each display type. These values are compared with those obtained using non-polarizing chromatic filters. In general, when contrast is being degraded by specular reflections of ambient light, the circular polarizing filters improve contrast to a much greater extent than the non-polarizing filters.     

Performance of a-WO3/LiClO4-PC electrochromic displays

This paper deals with the improvements in response time and reliability of the aWO₃/LiClO₄-PC (propylene carbonate) electrochromic display. Response time was improved by adopting the highly porous a-WO₃ film, the porous reflector and the high surface area non-polarizable counter-electrode. Results from the reliability tests indicated that the ECD had a sufficient lifetime for practical applications such as in watches, clocks and calculators. The mechanism of performance drift upon cycling the display is investigated using ESCA, AES and atomic absorption methods.     

Thin film electroluminescent displays produced by atomic layers

Electroluminescence (EL), light emission generated by an electric field in solid state, has been known as a phenomenon since 1936. Quite a lot of research and development has resultedin the establishment of the principle of thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) structures enabling display devices of good performance and simple structure to be built. The reasons for their non-availability in practice are mainly based on deficiencies in the existing material technologies. This paper reports the development of a new method for producing thin films, atomic layer epitaxy (ALE), which is now used in the Finlux EL displays.     

Vacuum fluorescent displays for automotive applications

Vacuum fluorescent displays are now widely used in automobiles. This paper describes the various technical requirements for their automotive application. Although VFDs originated in the mature technology of electron tubes, continous development such as introducing thin film technology, thick film technology by photolithography and new phosphor materials, will create a breakthrough for a new generation of VFDs. The current status of the VFD product adopting new technologies and the future trends are presented. In the near future meanwhile, flat panel graphic displays in full colour are expected for practical application.