SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING TERRAIN ELEVATION AWARENESS

• US 20100161158A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang, Feyereisen, Thea L., Gannon, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US12/338,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/4
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

A display system for an aircraft is provided. The display includes a processing unit configured to receive terrain data and navigation data and to supply display commands with symbology based on the terrain data and navigation data; and a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render a three-dimensional view with the symbology. The symbology includes terrain, a zero pitch line, and elevation symbology indicating a relative elevation between the zero pitch line and a position in the view.

Claims

1. A display system for an aircraft, comprising:

a processing unit configured to receive terrain data and navigation data and to supply display commands with symbology based on the terrain data and navigation data; and

a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render a three-dimensional view with the symbology, the symbology comprising terrain, a zero pitch line, and elevation symbology indicating a relative elevation between the zero pitch line and a position in the view.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the position in the view is on the terrain.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the symbology further includes a range ring, and wherein the elevation symbology includes a label indicating the relative elevation at the range ring.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the elevation symbology includes a drop line between the zero pitch line and the position, the position being in the terrain.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the position is a high point within the terrain above the zero pitch reference line.

6. The display system of claim 4, wherein the position is a high point within the terrain below the zero pitch reference line.

7. The display system of claim 4, wherein the position is a low point within the terrain.

8. The display system of claim 4, wherein the terrain includes a landing area, and wherein the position is at the landing area.

9. The display system of claim 4, wherein the position is a target or landing area.

10. The display system of claim 4, wherein the symbology includes a plurality of the zero pitch lines, and wherein at least one of the zero pitch lines is displayed in a number of regions defining the view.

11. The display system of claim 4, wherein the elevation symbology includes a numerical elevation indication associated with the drop line.

12. The display system of claim 4, wherein the drop line includes a graphical segmentation to indicate altitudes.

13. The display system of claim 4, wherein the drop line is displayed along a flight path.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein the elevation symbology includes a plurality of drop lines from the zero pitch line to respective positions in the terrain, a first position including a high point within the terrain above the zero pitch reference line, a second position including a high point within the terrain below the zero pitch reference line, and a third position includes a low point within the terrain.

15. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is a Primary Flight Display (PFD).

16. A method for displaying symbology on a Primary Flight Display (PFD) of an aircraft, comprising:

displaying a synthetic 3D view of terrain that includes a zero pitch reference line, wherein the terrain includes a first position with an elevation; and

displaying symbology in the view indicating the elevation at the first position relative to the zero pitch reference line.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a range ring in the view, and wherein the displaying symbology further includes displaying the elevation at the range ring.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the displaying symbology step includes displaying a first drop line between the first position and the zero pitch reference line.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first position is a high point within the terrain above the zero pitch reference line.

20. A Primary Flight Display system for an aircraft, comprising:

a processing unit configured to receive terrain data and navigation data and to supply display commands with symbology based on the terrain data and navigation data; and

a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render a three-dimensional view with the symbology, the symbology comprising terrain, a zero pitch line, and elevation symbology including a plurality of drop lines, wherein the drop lines include a first drop line to a high point within the terrain above the zero pitch reference line, a second drop line a high point within the terrain below the zero pitch reference line, a third drop line to a low point within the terrain, and a fourth drop line to a landing area.