DEVICE FOR MONITORING AIRCRAFT CONTROL INFORMATION

• US 20070299568A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Rouquette, Patrice, Huynh, Jean-Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls

Abstract

The device (1) comprises a computer (9) for computing the difference between at least two items of control information that are generated by at least two different flight management systems of the aircraft, and a system (12) for generating a warning signal if this difference is greater than a threshold value.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring aircraft control information, control information that is generated by at least two different flight management systems (2A, 2B) onboard the aircraft, which comprises:

at least one computer (9) external to said flight management systems (2A, 2B) and comprising a comparison means (10) that includes a first element for computing the differences, in twos, between control information originating from each of said flight management systems (2A, 2B) and a second element for comparing each of these differences with at least one predetermined threshold value; and

a warning system (12) that is connected to said computer (9), that generates a warning signal when at least one of said differences is greater than said threshold value, and that comprises at least one primary flight display (18) generating a warning signal in the form of a change of bars relative to a flight director system, that are displayed on this primary flight display (18).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said warning system (12) also comprises a means (14) making it possible to generate a warning signal capable of rendering passive a guidance function of an automatic pilot means (7).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said warning system (12) also comprises a display screen (16) that displays a warning message illustrating said warning signal.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said warning system (12) also comprises at least one warning means (17).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary flight display (18) is formed so as to display, in addition to said bars relative to the flight director system corresponding to the side of the aircraft where said primary flight display (18) is located, information relating to the flight director system corresponding to the opposite side.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said device (1) also comprises;

first means (19) for generating at least two different current values of at least one flight parameter, originating from different sources; and

second means (20) for verifying the consistency between said current values; and

said warning system (12) is formed so as to take account of the processes applied by said second means (20).

7. An aircraft guidance system comprising:

an assembly (5) of sources of information;

a flight management assembly (3) that is connected to said assembly (5) of sources of information and that includes at least two flight management systems (2A, 2B) capable of generating control information; and

an automatic pilot means (7) using data obtained from said control information in order to automatically guide the aircraft,

which also comprises a device (1) for monitoring control information, as specified in claim 1.

8. An aircraft

which comprises a guidance system (4) such as that specified in claim 7.