Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Aeronautical vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2001-10-23
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Aeronautical vehicle
C244S175000, C340S979000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308116
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to aviation electronics, or avionics, and more particularly relates to global navigation, and even more particularly relates to a system and method for integrating LNAV and VNAV features of a global navigation system with an autopilot on an existing aircraft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, designers of avionics systems have endeavored to provide systems with improved reliability and improved functionality. One example of such improvements is the incorporation of global navigation capabilities using the global positioning system (GPS). The GPS system has gained widespread acceptance across various fields of endeavor, including aviation. Global Navigation and Landing Units, GNLUs are becoming very common on new commercial air transport aircraft. These GNLUs can be used to provide enhanced lateral navigation (LNAV) and vertical navigation (VNAV) capabilities. However, it often is difficult to integrate this equipment with the many other interrelated avionics equipment on a typical existing commercial air transport aircraft. One particular example of integration is with an autopilot system. Often, complex interconnect hardware is required to couple a GNLU system with an autopilot on an existing aircraft. While these complex interconnect schemes have been used extensively in the past, for example on DC 9 aircraft manufactured by McDonnel Douglas, they also have significant drawbacks.
First of all, the system often requires t e addition of new interconnect wiring with complex logic controlled switching circuitry between the GNLU and the autopilot.
Secondly, in the DC 9 applications, as well as others, it also required expensive and time consuming changes to be made to the autopilot system itself.
Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in systems and methods for retrofitting GNLU systems with autopilots on existing aircraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified interconnect system.
It is a feature of the present invention to use electronic flight instruments in the integration of a GNLU with an autopilot.
It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the undesired complexity of interconnect wiring dedicated for interconnecting a GNLU with an autopilot.
It is another advantage of the present invention to reduce the weight of the interconnect wiring dedicated to interconnecting a GNLU with an autopilot.
It is yet another advantage to reduce required modifications to the autopilot system while retrofitting an aircraft with a GNLU.
It is still another advantage of the present invention to increase the reliability of the GNLU by avoiding the use of often unreliable interconnect relays between the GNLU and the autopilot.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for retrofitting a GNLU with an autopilot, which are designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out with a “relay-less interconnect” in a sense that the complexity and weight of an interconnect relay system has been eliminated.
Accordingly, the present invention is system and method for retrofitting a GNLU with an autopilot which includes the use of electronic flight instruments to perform coupling of an LNAV and/or VNAV capabilities with an existing autopilot.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3862717 (1975-01-01), Lehfeldt
patent: 5023796 (1991-06-01), Kahler
patent: 5820080 (1998-10-01), Eschenbach
patent: 6112141 (2000-08-01), Briffe et al.
Barrance Geoffrey L.
LaForge Leo G.
Ricks Ralph D.
Smith Wayne A.
Eppele Kyle
Gibson Eric M.
Jensen Nathan O.
Rockwell Collins
Zanelli Michael J.
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