Computer system for aircraft

• US 20060282597A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lufthansa Systems Group GmbH
• Original Assignee: Lufthansa Systems Group GmbH
• Inventors: Plogmann, Oliver
• Application Number:
  US11/149,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282597A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers

Abstract

Computer system to be used in the cockpit of an aircraft, comprising a fixed screen, a docking unit and a portable computer in order to display on the fixed screen in the cockpit information which is stored on the portable computer, wherein the docking unit comprises an embedded computer with a network connection for connecting an arbitrary portable computer to the computer system, a screen connection for connecting the fixed screen to the docking unit, a graphic processor, a power connection and an input connection for receiving signals from input means and a corresponding retrofitting set, a corresponding docking unit and a corresponding method.

Claims

1. A computer system to be used in the cockpit of an aircraft, comprising:

a fixed screen;

a docking unit and a portable computer cooperatively configured to display, on the fixed screen, information which is stored on the portable computer, wherein the docking unit comprises an embedded computer with a network connection for connecting an arbitrary portable computer to the computer system;

a screen connection for connecting the fixed screen to the docking unit;

a graphic processor;

a power connection; and

an input connection for receiving signals from input means.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system also comprises input means.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the input means are line select keys.

4. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the fixed screen and the input means are realized by a touch screen.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the docking unit also comprises at least one video connection for displaying video signals provided by an external device on the fixed screen.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the docking unit also comprises an aviation connection for connecting aviation devices in the cockpit of the aircraft to the portable computer.

7. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the docking unit comprises a power backup unit.

8. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the docking unit comprises a backup memory.

9. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the portable computer comprises a USB connection and the portable computer is connected to the docking unit via the USB connection, a USB/LAN adapter, a LAN cable and the network connection of the docking unit.

10. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the docking unit also comprises a further network connection for connecting a further portable computer to the portable computer of the computer system.

11. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system also comprises a holder for the portable computer.

12. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the holder comprises also a power supply unit for the portable computer.

13. A retrofitting set to be installed in the cockpit of an aircraft in order to achieve a computer system, comprising:

a fixed screen and a docking unit which are cooperatively configured to display, on the fixed screen, information which is stored on a portable computer connected to the docking unit, wherein the docking unit comprises an embedded computer with a network connection for connecting an arbitrary portable computer to the computer system;

a screen connection for connecting the fixed screen to the docking unit;

a graphic processor;

a power connection;

and an input connection for receiving signals from input means.

14. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the retrofitting set also comprises input means.

15. The retrofitting set according to claim 14, wherein the input means are line select keys.

16. The retrofitting set according to claim 14, wherein the fixed screen and the input means are realized by a touch screen.

17. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the docking unit also comprises at least one video connection for displaying video signals provided by an external device on the fixed screen.

18. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the docking unit also comprises an aviation connection for connecting aviation devices in the cockpit of the aircraft to the portable computer.

19. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the docking unit comprises a power backup unit.

20. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the docking unit comprises a backup memory.

21. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the docking unit also comprises a further network connection for connecting a further portable computer to the portable computer of the computer system.

22. The retrofitting set according to claim 13, wherein the retrofitting set also comprises a holder for the portable computer.

23. The retrofitting set according to claim 22, wherein the holder comprises also a power supply unit for the portable computer.

24. A docking unit for use with a computer system in a cockpit of an aircraft, the computer system including a fixed screen, the docking unit comprising;

an embedded computer with a network connection for connecting an arbitrary portable computer to the computer system;

a screen connection for connecting the fixed screen to the docking unit;

a graphic processor;

a power connection; and

an input connection for receiving signals from input means.

25. A method for providing a computer system in the cockpit of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing a fixed screen;

providing a docking unit;

configuring the docking unit with an embedded computer with a network connection for connecting an arbitrary portable computer to the computer system, a screen connection for connecting the fixed screen to the docking unit, a graphic processor, a power connection and an input connection for receiving signals from input means; and

connecting a portable computer to the docking unit via the network connection.