DEVICE FOR ASSISTING GROUND NAVIGATION OF AN AIRCRAFT ON AN AIRPORT

• US 20100121568A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Fetzmann, Fabien, Coldefy, Pierre, Malaval, Thierry, Collins, Stéphane
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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

The invention concerns a device (1) comprising means (2) for determining the current position of the aircraft, a mapping database (3), a navigation system (4), means (9) for determining the current heading of the aircraft, and a display system (6) for displaying on a viewing screen (8), a map at least partial of the airport and, thereon, an aircraft symbol which is positioned at said current position and which is oriented in accordance with the current heading.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A device for assisting ground navigation of an aircraft on an airport, said device (1) comprising:

first means (2) for determining the current position of said aircraft located on the ground, said first means (2) comprising positioning equipment (11) associated with a satellite positioning system;

second means (9) for determining the current heading of the aircraft;

a database (3) comprising cartographic data relating to the airport;

a navigation system (4) which receives said current position, said heading and said cartographic data, and which brings these data into conformity; and

a display system (6) which receives information from said navigation system (4) and which presents on at least one display screen (8) a map, at least partial, of the airport and, upon the latter, an aircraft symbol which is positioned at said current position and oriented according to said current heading,

wherein said first means (2) comprise;

said positioning equipment (11), which comprises at least one antenna (12) which is mounted on the aircraft, as well as a first receiver (13) which is linked with said antenna (12);

a second receiver (14) which is also linked with said antenna (12) and which is able to determine the current position of the aircraft from signals received and by the intermediary of said antenna (12);

an antenna coupler (15);

which is provided with an input connected to said antenna (12) and with two outputs connected to said first and second receivers (13, 14) respectively; and

which is produced in such a way as to double the signal received from the antenna (12) and to transmit one of the signals obtained by this doubling to said first receiver (13) and the other signal to said second receiver (14).

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver (14) is integrated in said navigation system (4).

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver (14) has metric precision and a refresh rate which is greater than or equal to 20 Hz.

10. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver (14) can be parameterized.

11. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second means (9) comprise an inertial system of the aircraft.

12. An aircraft, wherein it comprises a device (1) as claimed in claim 7.