Visibility of Night Vision Imaging System Compatible Displays

摘要

In an effort to incorporate color displays into night vision imaging system (NVIS) compatible cockpits, the F-16 System Program Office through Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, requested Honeywell's Aerospace Electronic Systems division to design and construct a prototype color multifunction display. Observers indicated during preliminary operational testing that this display, when configured in NVIS mode, did not present video with the desired level of detail and was too dim to easily read under certain conditions. Testing showed that the Honeywell display met the existing MIL-L- 85762A NVIS B radiance compatibility criteria required by contract. However, during a demonstration of the display, F-16 pilots with night vision goggle experience insisted that the display's visibility was marginal, reiterating their concerns on display legibility. this paper discusses the testing of the color multifunction display and potential factors that could be limiting the visibility of the display, in particular, the size of the characters displayed and the luminance levels specified in MIL-L-85762A.