Emily C Howard

52677087, Dec 7, 1993

Sep 28, 1992

7/951960

Conrad B. Monson - Yorba Linda CA
Emily L. Howard - San Pedro CA
Steven L. Hecq - Norwalk CA
Curtis E. Thompson - Laguna Hills CA
William J. Adams - Torrance CA

Rockwell International Corp. - Seal Beach CA

B64D 1106

244122AG

A head support apparatus for protecting the head of a subject positioned in a vehicle against the detrimental effects of acceleration. Generally, the invention comprises a beam housing attachable to a support device for supporting a subject's upper body while positioned in the vehicle. The beam housing has a side opening on each side thereof and a channel formed in the interior of the housing, extending from one side opening to the opposite side opening. Beam housing support is provided for rigidly supporting the beam housing to the support device within a y-z plane defined by the intersection of a y-axis and a z-axis, but allowing rotation about an x-axis. The x, y and z axes define an orthogonal coordinate system wherein the x-axis extends through the subject's face to the back of the head, the y-axis extends laterally from ear-to-ear, and the z-axis extends vertically from the top of the head through the subject's chin. A substantially U-shaped rigid beam having a non-circular cross section is mountable through side openings and within the channel. Bearings are secured to the housing along the channel for rigidly supporting the beam within the x-y plane but allowing rotation of the beam about the x-axis within the channel.

55858139, Dec 17, 1996

Sep 18, 1995

8/529466

Emily L. Howard - San Pedro CA

Rockwell International Corporation - Seal Beach CA

G09G 500

345 8

A method and apparatus for real-time analysis and display of information to provide information which will enable a user to be continuously apprised of all objects within a predetermined radius from the user's location (a "sphere of interest") while at the same time establishing the user's position relative to a fixed reference system. The invention involves determining the location and orientation of the user relative to a fixed reference system (such as the earth), as well as the location and orientation of objects in the sphere of interest about the user. Display of this information is on a display format, which may be embodied on an optical medium such as a helmet visor, a heads-up display media, a projection surface or a user's eye.