The Rockwell Collins Head-Up Display Video Camera (HVC) is a digital video camera mounted on the F/A-18A/B Head Up Display (HUD) and views the outside world and HUD symbology from the pilot's point of view. The HVC is a repackaged and slightly modified Commercially available Off-The-Shelf Camera. The selected COTS Camera electronics is a small, light weight, color camera with an electronic shutter used in the commercial world as a highly dependable, high resolution unit for a variety of applications (including military jet fighter environment). The camera uses a 1/2" Charge Coupled Device (CCD) solid state sensor, which has 648(H) x 484(V) picture elements to ensure a high resolution image. The camera’s output is a Digital, LMDS format, Bus.

The HVC is a VGA (640 H X 480 V) resolution progressive scan color camera. The HVC utilizes an interline transfer CCD imager, in combination with the Bayer Color Filter Array (CFA), to provide excellent resolution and color fidelity. This technique provides a full frame of image resolution per shutter or integration that is augmented by the low light (f2.8) lens with the additional element of a photo-grey cover lens for increased ambient light range.

The actual implementation requires the addition of the new circuitry defined by Rockwell Collins. The interface circuitry will be designed by the supplier to accommodate the +28V dc input power instead of the standard +12V dc of the COTS design. Additionally, the COTS camera electronics will be changed for packaging into the housing and for appropriate connector interface.

The Camera Electronics are installed into a Rockwell Collins designed housing that accurately meets the mechanical mounting interface of the previously designed Rockwell Collins Head Up Display (HUD). The housing will include a Rockwell Collins designed lens that is optimized for the range of expected ambient scene illumination and the HUD Field of View. Additionally, the HVC has a designed Cockpit Control Panel that provides additional cockpit controls for customer defined functions and routes the signals through the HVC and HUD to aircraft destinations.

Product Information Material is available at no charge and can be obtained by contacting:

2701 Orchard Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: (408)-532-4841
Fax: (408) 954-1042
E-mail: <displaysystems@rockwellcollins.com>