System for aurally monitoring aeronautical information while in flight

• US 20030016144A1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ram Pattisapu
• Original Assignee: Ram Pattisapu
• Inventors: Pattisapu, Ram
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• 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: G01D 7/12 Audible indication of meter readings, e.g. for the blind

Abstract

A system and a method for providing a continuous, semi-continuous and/or repetitive aural signal to an aircraft pilot indicative of a difference between a set value and an actual value for one or more flight characteristics of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for providing an audible signal to a pilot indicative of at least one flight characteristic of an aircraft, the method comprising:

a) monitoring at least one flight characteristic of the aircraft;

b) setting a selected value for the at least one flight characteristic; and

,

c) generating a continuous, semi-continuous or repetitive audible signal when a deviation from the selected value occurs, the audible signal being indicative of the deviation and extent of the deviation and audible to the pilot.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of flight characteristics are monitored and wherein values are selected for a plurality of flight characteristics and wherein an audible signal is generated indicative of deviations and the extent of such deviations from selected values for at least two flight characteristics.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one flight characteristic is selected from altitude, heading, air speed, glide path and interception of radials.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the audible signal is substantially continuous during a selected time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the audible signal varies in response to a deviation from the selected value to indicate the extent of the deviation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the audible signal is a pulsating signal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the frequency and tone of the audible signal are variable to indicate deviations from selected values for two selected flight characteristics.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the audible signal is communicated to the pilot via a headset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a substantially continuous audible signal is provided during a selected time, the audible signal being variable to a pulsating signal of variable frequency to indicate the occurrence and extent of a deviation from a first flight characteristic and variable to different tonal pitches to indicate the occurrence and extent of a deviation from a second flight characteristic.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first flight characteristic is heading and wherein the second flight characteristic is altitude.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the selected time is during an instrument landing system approach to a landing.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the flight characteristic is selected from altitude, heading, air speed, glide path and interception of radials.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the system further comprises at least two instruments each of the instruments being adapted to monitor at least one of at least two flight characteristics of the aircraft.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the system further includes means for communicating the audible signal to the pilot.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein means for communicating the audible signal to the pilot includes a headset adapted to receive an audible signal indicative of the difference or to generate from the signal indicative of the difference an audible signal indicative of the difference.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein at least two instruments are used to monitor the altitude and heading of the aircraft.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a pulsating audible signal is generated at a variable frequency indicative of the difference between a selected value and the current value for the heading.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tone of the pulsating signal is variable and indicative of any deviation from the selected altitude.

12. A system for providing an audible signal to a pilot during a selected time indicative of at least one flight characteristic of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a) at least one instrument adapted to monitor at lest one flight characteristic of the aircraft;

b) a comparator adapted to receive a signal indicative of the at least one flight characteristic and compare the signal to a selected value for the flight characteristic and generate a signal indicative of any difference in the selected value and a current value from the instrument adapted to monitor for the at least one flight characteristics; and

,

c) an audible signal generator adapted to receive the signal indicative of any difference and generate an audible signal to the pilot indicative of the difference.