GRAPHICAL DISPLAY FOR MUNITION RELEASE ENVELOPE

• US 20110169666A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Boria, Greg, Lammers, Richard H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,686,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/977
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/002 for guiding a craft to a correct firing position for bombing control F41G9/02
• 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: G01D 2207/10 Displays which are primarily used in aircraft or display aircraft-specific information

Abstract

A method and module for displaying a munition release envelope.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a munition release envelope comprising:

displaying a geometric munition release area with respect to an altitude scale and an airspeed scale; and

displaying a current aircraft state indicator relative the geometric munition release area.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area in response to a particular weapon system.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area based on a particular aircraft flight mode.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area in response to a forward flight mode.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area as a triangular symbol.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area in response to a hover mode.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising;

defining the geometric munition release area as a rectilinear symbol.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

color coding the geometric munition release area in response to a launch inhibit condition.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

color coding the altitude scale and an airspeed scale in response to a launch inhibit condition.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

displaying the current aircraft state indicator relative the geometric munition release area.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising;

displaying the current aircraft state indicator as a diamond symbol.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

displaying the current aircraft state indicator with respect to the altitude scale and the airspeed scale.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

determining the current aircraft state position with respect to the altitude scale and the airspeed scale through communication with a flight control computer.

14. A system for displaying a munition release envelope, comprising:

a display system; and

a module for munition release in communication with said display system to display a geometric munition release area with respect to an altitude scale and an airspeed scale and to display a current aircraft state indicator relative to said geometric munition release area.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said module for munition release is in communication with a flight computer to determine said current aircraft state.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said module for munition release is a module of a flight computer.

17. A flight display for an aircraft, comprising:

a geometric munition release area with respect to an altitude scale and an airspeed scale; and

a current aircraft state indicator positioned relative to said geometric munition release area.

18. The flight display as recited in claim 17, wherein said geometric munition release area is generally triangular.

19. The flight display as recited in claim 17, wherein said geometric munition release area is generally rectangular.