Display Device for Aircraft Cockpit and Method for Managing a Video Data Network

• US 20100289963A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Chabot, Philippe, LaMargue, Fabrice, Sontag, Yves, LeFort, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/682,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289963A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/659
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2017 where memory access, memory control or I/O control functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005; redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/08 Fault-tolerant or redundant circuits, or circuits in which repair of defects is prepared
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat screen device (L2) comprising a multi-channel graphic generation (UGGL2) and a video data switch (50). It also relates to a method for managing a data network making it possible to improve the reliability of a network of several displays by improved management of all the graphic generations. The preferred field of application is that of display devices forming the cockpit of aircraft.

Claims

1. A network of a plurality of display devices (HL, HR, L1, L2, R1, R2, C) comprising a graphic generation unit UGG comprising at least two channels, a screen, electronic means for controlling the screen and graphic data bus inputs and outputs BGG, characterized in that each display device comprises:

a network of graphic data,

a switch (50),

a means for detecting a failure and a means for controlling the switch;

the switch directing to the graphic data network, according to the detected failures, the graphic data of the UGG and those originating from the BGG inputs either to the screen or to the BGG outputs, and in that the network of display devices allows a first display device (L1) to be used as a relay and to transmit an image originating from a second display device (C) to a third display device (L2) of the network (FIG. 9).

2. The network as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the network is assembled so that each of the graphic data inputs and outputs (L1I1) of a first display device (L1) is connected to a second display device (C) distinct from those (HL, L2, R2) connected to the other graphic data inputs and outputs (L1I2, L1O1, L1O2) of the first display device (FIGS. 3 to 10).

3. The network as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises display devices without UGG (HL, HR), the images of their screen then being generated via a channel of the UGG from a display device of the network (L1, R1).

4. The network as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that it comprises video sensors and in that the display devices (C, L1, L2, R1, R2) comprise mixers (61-64) that are used to modify the size and to mix together the images originating from the external video sensors and to mix them with the images originating from the UGGs.

5. The network as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that it forms the display means of an aircraft instrument panel.

6. A method for managing a network of display devices as claimed in one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the switch of the display devices is configured in at least four operating positions depending on the units that are operating or faulty:

In a first position, the UGG and the screen are operational, the switch being controlled by its UGG, the BGG graphic data are directed so as to connect a channel of the UGG to the screen, at least one channel of the UGG to the BGG outputs and the data originating from the BGG inputs to the BGG outputs.

In a second position, the UGG has failed and the screen is operational, the switch being controlled by a UGG of an external display device, the BGG graphic data are directed so as to connect the data originating from a first BGG input to the screen and the data originating from the other BGG inputs to the BGG outputs.

In a third position, the UGG is operational and the screen has failed, the switch being controlled by its UGG, the BGG graphic data are directed so as to connect a portion or all of the channels of the UGG to the BGG outputs and the data originating from the BGG inputs to the BGG outputs.

In a fourth position, the UGG and the screen have failed, the switch being controlled by a UGG of an external display device, the BGG data are directed so as to connect the data originating from the BGG inputs to the BGG outputs.

7. The method for managing a network of display devices as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, when the UGG of one or more display devices of the network is faulty, the network of the BGG data bus switches is driven so that:

if a BGG input of the faulty display device is connected to a second display device one of the channels of which is available, the available channel of the UGG of this second display device generates the image of the faulty UGG and supplies it to the screen of the faulty display device.

if all the inputs of the faulty display device are connected to display devices, of which all the channels are used or of which the UGG is faulty, a display device of which one channel is available generates the image of the faulty display device and transmits it thereto via at least one display device being used as a relay.