Enhanced video system control and yoke integration

• US 10,289,218 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Young, Bruce H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Gordon G
• Application Number:
  US15/252,334
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 345589
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/066 for control of contrast
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/36 characterised by the display of a graphic pattern, e.g. using an all-points-addressable [APA] memory

Abstract

A display control system with a thumb wheel input device affixed to a yoke gives a pilot access to video from various sensors. Up and down inputs of the thumb wheel control the brightness of an image on the display while an inward click or depression click of the thumb wheel acts as the yoke clear switch. A directional click left or right may toggle image contrast inversion, cycle input sources, or execute other functionality associated with specific image sources.

Claims

1. A computer apparatus comprising:

a display;

an input device;

at least one processor coupled to the display, the input device, and a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to;

render a signal from one or more image sources on the display;

receive an input from the input device;

determine an input type from a list of input types comprising rotate up;

rotate down;

first directional click;

second directional click; and

depression click;

increase an image brightness level of an image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a rotate up input;

decrease the image brightness level of the image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a rotate down input;

cycle through an ordered list of available image sources to define a current image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a first directional click;

identify a plurality of display altering functions associated with the current image source;

cycle through the plurality of display altering functions when the input is a second directional click;

remove the current image source from a composite image; and

render the composite image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of display altering functions comprise a contrast inversion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:

identify an adjustable parameter associated with the plurality of display altering functions;

increase a magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the input is a rotate up input; and

decrease the magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the input is a rotate down input.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to cycle through an ordered list of available image sources to define a current image source when the processor determines that the input is a second directional click.

5. An aircraft display system comprising:

a head-up display (HUD);

an input device affixed to an aircraft yoke;

at least one processor coupled to the HUD, the input device, and a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to;

receive an input from the input device;

determine an input type from a list of input types comprising rotate up;

rotate down;

first directional click;

second directional click; and

depression click;

cycle the HUD between a displayed state and a non-displayed state when the at least one processor determines that the input is a depression click;

cycle through an ordered list of available image sources, the available image sources providing portions of a composite image, to define a current image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a first directional click;

identify a plurality of display altering functions associated with the current image source;

cycle through the plurality of display altering functions when the input is a second directional click;

render a signal from the current image source on the HUD;

remove the current image source from the composite image; and

render the composite image.

6. The aircraft display system of claim 5, wherein the memory further stores processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:

increase an image brightness level of an image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a rotate up input; and

decrease the image brightness level of the image source when the at least one processor determines that the input is a rotate down input.

7. The aircraft display system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of display altering functions comprise an infrared capability.

8. The aircraft display system of claim 5, wherein the memory further stores processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:

identify an adjustable parameter associated with the plurality of display altering functions;

increase a magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the input is a rotate up input; and

decrease the magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the input is a rotate down input.

9. A method for adjusting features of a head-up display comprising:

receiving, with a processor, an input from a thumb wheel input device configured to produce a rotate up input, a rotate down input, a first directional click;

a second directional click; and

a depression click;

determining, with the processor, an input type from a list of input types comprising rotate up;

rotate down;

first directional click;

second directional click; and

depression click;

cycling a head-up display (HUD) between a displayed state and a non-displayed state when the processor determines that the input is a depression click;

rendering a signal from one or more image sources on the HUD;

increasing an image brightness level of an image source when the processor determines that the input is a rotate up input;

decreasing the image brightness level of the image source when the processor determines that the input is a rotate down input;

cycling through an ordered list of available image sources to define a current image source when the processor determines that the input is a first directional click;

identifying a plurality of display altering functions associated with the current image source;

identifying an adjustable parameter associated with the plurality of display altering functions;

cycling through the plurality of display altering functions when the input is a second directional click;

increasing a magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the processor determines that the input is a rotate up input; and

decreasing the magnitude of the adjustable parameter when the processor determines that the input is a rotate down input.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying an ordered list of display altering functions associated with the current image source.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of display altering functions comprises a contrast inversion and infrared capability.