Communications: electrical – Aircraft alarm or indicating systems – Nonalarm flight indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-11-13
Swarthout, Brent A. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Aircraft alarm or indicating systems
Nonalarm flight indicator
C340S973000, C340S975000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317059
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical field
This invention relates to a method and a device for displaying flight guidance information of an aircraft, wherein a spatial display of the airspace, comprising at least one horizon and the precalculated flight path of the aircraft, is effected by means of an image reproduction device, and wherein the display of the precalculated flight path comprises the precalculated position and the precalculated attitude of the aircraft at different times.
2. Prior art
A method such as this has become known through the published German Patent Application No. DE 39 30 862 to which U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,582 corresponds. This constitutes an improvement on the process of communicating information by an image perceived through natural habits of observation, so that the mental load on the pilot is also reduced. Moreover, the symbolism used constitutes an integral item of information, which makes it possible to monitor the attitude and movement in space and to adhere to flight path specifications and short-term navigation. Due to the manner of display, the qualitative items of information appear in the foreground and are supplemented by the requisite quantitative indications. The task of the pilot is made easier by a summary of the individual items of information which are relevant to the flying phase in an overall image which is fashioned in an ergonomically favorable manner.
In addition, this known method makes it possible to control the aircraft with regard to future situations, wherein the consequences of a control input can be identified directly. Any unwanted developments—for example stalling on take-off—can be identified in good time and can be prevented before they actually occur.
In this known method, the precalculated (predicted) flight path is preferably formed by a plurality of symbols which are each in the form of a triangular plate of finite thickness. Symbols in this form enable the attitude and direction of the aircraft at the respective times to be identified in a particularly simple manner, but necessitate an arrangement of the symbols considerably below the eye level of the pilot in order to provide a favorable direction of view on to the symbols. Because of this, the view is firstly limited to the ground which is also displayed, and secondly, at low flying heights, the predicted flight path is displayed below the level of the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to further develop this known method so as to make possible the spatial identification of the symbols, while at the same time providing a view of the displayed ground which is as unobstructed as possible, and with a realistic impression of the altitude in the display of the flight path.
This object, as well as other objects which will become apparent in the discussion that follows, are achieved, in the method according to the present invention in that the display of the precalculated flight path is effected by at least one body on the left of the flight path and by at least one body on the right of the flight path, which bodies extend along the flight path.
In the method according to the invention, a spatial display can be either a perspective display on a flat image reproduction device (screen) or can be a stereoscopic display produced by methods known in the art. Statements of the shape and size of the displays refer to the proportions in reality, and in the case of directional data (left, right) are to be understood as being in the direction of flight.
The length of the bodies may correspond to that distance which the aircraft covers in a few seconds—for example in five seconds. The length of the bodies thus depends on the flying speed.
In advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, the spacing of the bodies from each other approximately corresponds to the wing span of the aircraft, and an upper edge of the body is situated approximately at the eye level of the pilot and a lower edge is situated approximately at the height of the bottom point of the extended landing gear.
In these embodiments, a reference to reality is firstly maintained, which makes it easier for the pilot to process the information from what he sees on the screen. Secondly, the displays which are effected according to these embodiments are still readily spatially identifiable as regards their location and size at the given distance of observation and at the resolution of the image reproduction device, without masking too much area of the ground.
To achieve a further improvement of the spatial impression, according to another advantageous embodiment provision can be made for a further body which extends along the flight path to be displayed above the bodies which are displayed on the left and right of the flight path in each case.
In an advantageous manner, it is possible to make a distinction from other objects displayed on the screen by providing the bodies with a cross-section in the shape of a right-angled triangle or with an L-shaped cross-section.
For better identification of the length of the displayed bodies, or of their depth as seen in the direction of view, provision can be made for the bodies to be subdivided in the longitudinal direction into a plurality of component bodies. These component bodies can be straight, for example, and can be aligned according to the portion of the precalculated flight path near which they are displayed.
This further development can be fashioned in such a way that the subdivision is visible due to the design of the component bodies or due to the color the component bodies, where the color of each component body is preferably continuous in the longitudinal direction.
When the bodies are subdivided into component bodies, different flying speeds can be communicated to the pilot by providing spacings between the component bodies which become larger with increasing flying speed, or by causing the length of the bodies and/or of the component bodies to increase as the flying speed increases.
One further development of the invention consists of calculating the position and location of the component bodies according to the precalculated flight path, with the first component bodies in each case being aligned according to the heading and the following component bodies being aligned according to the course over the ground.
To provide a visible indication of a warning, provision can be made in the method according to the invention for at least one color change of at least one body or component body to occur when the aircraft approaches a critical situation. A further color change can be made when the aircraft has reached a critical situation.
Suitable computers, image reproduction devices and sensors are available for carrying out the method, such as those which are described in the aforementioned German Patent Application No. 39 30 862 for example.
An advantageous device for displaying flight information of an aircraft, wherein a spatial display of the airspace comprising at least one horizon and the precalculated flight path of the aircraft is effected with the aid of an image reproduction device, and wherein the display of the precalculated flight path comprises the precalculated position and the precalculated location of the aircraft at various times, is characterized in that the display of the precalculated flight path is effected by at least one body on the left of the flight path and by at least one body on the right of the flight path, which bodies extend along the flight path.
In particular, the device according to the invention can be constructed so that a further body which extends along the flight path is displayed above the bodies which are displayed on the left and right of the flight path in each case.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3784969 (1974-01-01), Wilckens et al.
patent: 5289185 (1994-02-01), Ramier et al.
patent: 5420582 (1995-05-01), Kubbat et al.
patent: 5798713 (1998-08-01), Viebahn et al.
Purpus Matthias
von Viebahn Harro
Milde Hoffberg & Macklin, LLP
Swarthout Brent A.
VDO Luftfahrtgeraete Werk GmbH
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