METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ASSIST PILOTS UNDER CONDITIONS IN WHICH SPATIAL DISORIENTATION MAY BE PRESENT
First Claim
1. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft that includes a cockpit and a windshield, the system comprising:
- a near-eye display having a transparent display panel, wherein the transparent display panel is adapted to be oriented in proximity to at least one eye of the pilot; and
a processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the near-eye display, wherein the processing subsystem is adapted to receive aircraft data that indicates an attitude of the aircraft, to determine whether the aircraft data indicates a potential spatial disorientation situation, and when the aircraft data indicates the potential spatial disorientation situation, to cause the near-eye display to display an exterior display indicator overlying at least a portion of the windshield, wherein the exterior display indicator includes a visual representation of an earth-based reference, and the exterior display indicator is oriented to indicate the attitude of the aircraft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments include systems and methods for assisting a pilot of an aircraft. The system includes a near-eye display and a processing subsystem. The near-eye display includes a transparent display panel that is adapted to be oriented in proximity to at least one eye of the pilot. The processing subsystem is adapted to receive aircraft data that indicates an attitude of the aircraft, and to determine whether the aircraft data indicates a potential spatial disorientation situation. When the aircraft data indicates the potential spatial disorientation situation, the processing system is adapted to cause the near-eye display to display an exterior display indicator overlying at least a portion of the windshield of the aircraft. The exterior display indicator includes a visual representation of an earth-based reference, and the exterior display indicator is oriented to indicate the attitude of the aircraft.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft that includes a cockpit and a windshield, the system comprising:
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a near-eye display having a transparent display panel, wherein the transparent display panel is adapted to be oriented in proximity to at least one eye of the pilot; and a processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the near-eye display, wherein the processing subsystem is adapted to receive aircraft data that indicates an attitude of the aircraft, to determine whether the aircraft data indicates a potential spatial disorientation situation, and when the aircraft data indicates the potential spatial disorientation situation, to cause the near-eye display to display an exterior display indicator overlying at least a portion of the windshield, wherein the exterior display indicator includes a visual representation of an earth-based reference, and the exterior display indicator is oriented to indicate the attitude of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft that includes a cockpit and a windshield, the system comprising:
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a near-eye display having a transparent display panel, wherein the transparent display panel is adapted to be oriented in proximity to at least one eye of the pilot; a head position sensing system adapted to generate head position data representing a head position and a head orientation of the pilot; and a processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the near-eye display and the head position sensing system, wherein the processing subsystem is adapted to receive aircraft data that indicates an attitude of the aircraft, to determine whether conditions indicated by the aircraft data or the head position data indicate a potential spatial disorientation situation, and when the conditions indicate the potential spatial disorientation situation, to cause the near-eye display to display an exterior display indicator overlying at least a portion of the windshield, wherein the exterior display indicator includes a visual representation of a static, earth-based reference, which is oriented to indicate the attitude of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for assisting a pilot of an aircraft that includes a cockpit and a windshield, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving aircraft data that indicates an attitude of the aircraft; determining whether the aircraft data indicates a potential spatial disorientation situation; and when the aircraft data indicates the potential spatial disorientation situation, causing a near-eye display to display an exterior display indicator on a transparent display panel to overly at least a portion of the windshield, wherein the exterior display indicator includes a visual representation of an earth-based reference, which is oriented to indicate the attitude of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification