Navigational system with a graphical scratchpad filler

• US 20060195234A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Chen, Sherwin S., Wiedemann, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

A navigation system takes a graphical input and translates it into an alpha-numeric entry generally including latitude and longitude information. The system interprets the graphical entry, determines if a waypoint already exists or is depicted at the geographical location identified by the graphical entry and creates a new waypoint if no waypoint already exists or is depicted at the geographical location.

Claims

1. An aircraft navigation system comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to an electronic display that graphically displays flight plan information;

a flight management computer, the flight management computer including a central display unit for alpha-numerically displaying flight plan information;

a memory accessible by the processor and adapted to store a software program and a database; and

a cursor control device for controlling a cursor on the electronic display,

wherein the software program is adapted to interpret a selection on the electronic display made by a user with the cursor control device and to fill a scratchpad area on the central display unit with the interpretation of the selection.

2. The aircraft navigation system of claim 1, wherein the selection on the electronic display is converted to latitude and longitude coordinates.

3. The aircraft navigation system of claim 1, wherein the processor is part of a flight management system.

4. The aircraft navigation system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is one of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, and a projection display.

5. The aircraft navigation system of claim 4, wherein the electronic display incorporates touch-screen technology and wherein the cursor is controlled by a user touching the display.

6. The aircraft navigation system of claim 1, wherein the processor checks the electronic display for displayed navigational points which are located within a predefined distance of the cursor location.

7. The aircraft navigation system of claim 6, wherein the processor determines the selection to be the same as the navigational point if the selection falls within a predetermined distance of the navigational point.

8. The aircraft navigation system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined distance is 0.25 inches.

9. A method of filling a scratchpad area on a central display unit of a navigation system comprising:

selecting a location on an electronic display with a cursor control device;

converting the selected location to latitude and longitude coordinates;

comparing the latitude and longitude to a set of displayed points on the electronic display;

sending data representing either the latitude and longitude or one of the points displayed on the electronic display to the scratchpad area on the central display unit.

10. The method of claim 9 further including displaying a temporary waypoint symbol at the selected location on the electronic display.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein latitude and longitude information for the selected location is displayed on the electronic display proximate the temporary waypoint symbol.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein identification information for the selected location is displayed on the electronic display proximate the temporary waypoint symbol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected location is converted to latitude and longitude coordinates by using the Sodano Equation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic display is one of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, and a projection display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic display includes touch screen technology and the user controls the cursor by at least one of touching the electronic display and manipulating the cursor control device.