Abstract

Dome simulators have been routinely used to train pilots for a wide range of mission simulation. These simulations often require several very bright, high performance projectors to cover the entire dome. Each projector generally consists of a main projection lens with input from several target and background channels. Each target or background channel has a high resolution, high brightness image source and a telecentric projection lens. The target and background images are first collimated by the corresponding telecentric projection lenses and then they are coupled into the main projection lens through a beam combining module positioned at the projection lens entrance pupil. The main projection lens finally projects the target and background images onto the dome. To achieve the critical requirement of nondiscernability, all the projectors have to be mounted outside the dome with only a few small open holes in the dome for image projection. In the target and background channels, telecentric condition in the image source side is necessary to achieve high contrast and uniform illumination.

© 1998 Optical Society of America