AVIATION YOKE HSI INTERFACE AND FLIGHT DECK CONTROL INDICATOR AND SELECTOR SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20110213514A1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Baxter
• Original Assignee: Stephen Baxter
• Inventors: Baxter, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• 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

An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system enhances flight safety. The system incorporates a multi-controlled HSI with a yoke heading adjustment control, a yoke radial/course selector, and a yoke heading centering control positioned on a yoke, stick, or collective. The system may also incorporate a first officer multi-controlled HSI with a first officer yoke heading adjustment control, a first officer yoke radial/course selector, and a first officer yoke heading and course centering control. An autopilot mode indicator visually indicates whether an autopilot is flying according to a desired heading or according to a navigational aid signal, such as a VOR radial signal. A side selector-indicator control permits selection of which side controls the flight of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) for allowing a pilot to sit in a seat (12) on a flight deck (10) of an aircraft, to grip a captain yoke (14), to observe an instrument panel (20), and to conveniently and safely modify a desired heading while gripping the captain yoke (14), comprising:

(A) a multi-controlled HSI (200), having;

(i) at least a portion of a compass (210) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of a compass (210) has at least a portion of a compass perimeter (212) and a plurality of radial measurement indicia (214) that are located along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the at least a portion of a compass (210) rotates in response to a change in an actual heading of the aircraft;

(ii) a heading indicator (220) that visually indicates a fixed reference on the multi-controlled HSI (200), wherein the heading indicator (220) is located in readable relationship with the radial measurement indicia (214), whereby the actual heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the radial measurement indicia (214) with the heading indicator (220);

(iii) an adjustable heading bug (230) that visually indicates the desired heading of the aircraft, wherein the adjustable heading bug (230) is selectively positioned along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) such that the adjustable heading bug (230) rotates with the at least a portion of the compass (210), whereby the desired heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the adjustable heading bug (230) with the radial measurement indicia (214); and

(B) a yoke heading adjustment control (300) that controls the position of the adjustable heading bug (230), wherein the yoke heading adjustment control (300) is on the captain yoke (14), and operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) moves the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212).

2. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 1, further including a yoke heading centering control (320) that controls the position of the adjustable heading bug (230), wherein the yoke heading centering control (320) is on the captain yoke (14), and operation of the yoke heading centering control (320) moves the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) to align with the radial measurement indicia (214) currently aligned with the heading indicator (220).

3. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 1, further including:

(A) a first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), having;

(i) at least a portion of a first officer compass (410) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410) has at least a portion of a first officer compass perimeter (412) and a plurality of first officer radial measurement indicia (414) that are located along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412), whereby the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410) rotates in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft;

(ii) a first officer heading indicator (420) that visually indicates a fixed reference on the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), wherein the first officer heading indicator (420) is located in readable relationship with the first officer radial measurement indicia (414), whereby the actual heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the first officer radial measurement indicia (414) with the first officer heading indicator (420);

(iii) a first officer adjustable heading bug (430) that visually indicates the desired heading of the aircraft, wherein the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) is selectively positioned along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412) such that the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) rotates with the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410), whereby the desired heading of the aircraft is determined by assessing the relationship of the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) with the first officer radial measurement indicia (414); and

(B) a first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) that controls the position of the first officer adjustable heading bug (430), wherein the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) is on a first officer yoke (18), and operation of the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) moves the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412).

4. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 3, further including a first officer yoke heading centering control (520) that controls the position of the first officer adjustable heading bug (430), wherein the first officer yoke heading centering control (520) is on the first officer yoke (18), and operation of the first officer yoke heading centering control (520) moves the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412) to align with the first officer radial measurement indicia (414) currently aligned with the first officer heading indicator (420).

5. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 3, further including a side control selector (800) having a captain side selector (810) and a first officer side selector (820), wherein the side control selector (800) is in electrical communication with the multi-controlled HSI (200), the yoke heading adjustment control (300), the yoke heading centering control (320), the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500), and the first officer yoke heading centering control (520), whereby

(i) operation of the captain side selector (810) facilitates operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) to move the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212);

(ii) operation of the first officer side selector (820) facilitates operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) to move the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412); and

(iii) operation of the captain side selector (810) and the first officer side selector (820) facilitates operation of the yoke heading adjustment control (300) to move the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) and the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412).

6. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 5, wherein the side control selector (800) is positioned on the captain yoke (14).

7. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 5, further including a first officer side control selector (900) having a first officer captain side selector (910) and a first officer copilot side selector (920), wherein the first officer side control selector (900) is in electrical communication with the multi-controlled HSI (200), the yoke heading adjustment control (300), the yoke heading centering control (320), the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500), and the first officer yoke heading centering control (520), whereby

(i) operation of the first officer copilot side selector (920) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) to move the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412);

(ii) operation of the first officer captain side selector (910) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) to move the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212); and

(iii) operation of the first officer captain side selector (910) and the first officer copilot side selector (920) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500) to move the adjustable heading bug (230) along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) and the first officer adjustable heading bug (430) along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412).

8. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 7, wherein the first officer side control selector (900) is positioned on the captain yoke (14).

9. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 7, further including a first control unit (1000) in electrical communication with:

(i) the multi-controlled HSI (200) and the yoke heading adjustment control (300); and

(ii) the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500), wherein the first control unit (1000) facilitates operation between;

(a) the multi-controlled HSI (200) and the yoke heading adjustment control (300); and

(b) the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500).

10. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 7, further including a first control unit (1000) and a second control unit (1010), wherein

(A) the first control unit (1000) is in electrical communication with the multi-controlled HSI (200), the yoke heading adjustment control (300), and the second control unit (1010), wherein the first control unit (1000) facilitates operation between the multi-controlled HSI (200) and the yoke heading adjustment control (300);

and

(B) the second control unit (1010) is in electrical communication with the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500), wherein the second control unit (1010) facilitates operation between the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke heading adjustment control (500).

11. An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) for allowing a pilot to sit in a seat (12) on a flight deck (10) of an aircraft, to grip a captain yoke (14), to observe an instrument panel (20), and to conveniently and safely select a radial/course while gripping the captain yoke (14), comprising:

(A) a multi-controlled HSI (200), having;

(i) at least a portion of a compass (210) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of the compass (210) has at least a portion of a compass perimeter (212) and a plurality of radial measurement indicia (214) that are located along the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the at least a portion of the compass (210) rotates in response to a change in an actual heading of the aircraft;

(ii) a navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) that visually indicates a representation of the radial/course, wherein the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) is positioned within the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212), whereby the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) rotates with the at least a portion of the compass (210) in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft, and the navigational aid radial/course indictor (250) translates within the at least a portion of the compass perimeter (212) as the aircraft flies along the actual heading; and

(B) a yoke radial/course selector (310) that controls selection of the radial/course indicated by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250), wherein the yoke radial/course selector (310) is on the captain yoke (14), and operation of the yoke radial/course selector (310) selects the radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250).

12. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 11, further including:

(A) a first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), having;

(i) at least a portion of a first officer compass (410) that visually indicates an orientation of the earth'"'"'s magnetic field, wherein the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410) has at least a portion of a first officer compass perimeter (412) and a plurality of first officer radial measurement indicia (414) that are located along the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412), whereby the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410) rotates in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft;

(ii) a first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450) that visually indicates a representation of the radial/course, wherein the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450) is positioned within the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412), whereby the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450) rotates with the at least a portion of the first officer compass (410) in response to a change in the actual heading of the aircraft, and the first officer navigational aid radial/course indictor (450) translates within the at least a portion of the first officer compass perimeter (412) as the aircraft flies along the actual heading; and

(B) a first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) that controls selection of the radial/course indicated by the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450), wherein the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) is on the first officer yoke (18), and operation of the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) selects the radial/course displayed by the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450).

13. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 12, further including a side control selector (800) having a captain side selector (810) and a first officer side selector (820), wherein the side control selector (800) is in electrical communication with the multi-controlled HSI (200), the yoke radial/course selector (310), the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), and the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510), whereby

(i) operation of the captain side selector (810) facilitates operation of the yoke radial/course selector (310) to select the navigational aid radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250);

(ii) operation of the first officer side selector (820) facilitates operation of the yoke radial/course selector (310) to select the radial/course displayed by the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450); and

(iii) operation of the captain side selector (810) and the first officer side selector (820) facilitates operation of the yoke radial/course selector (310) to select the radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) and the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450).

14. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 13, further including a first officer side control selector (900) having a first officer captain side selector (910) and a first officer copilot side selector (920), wherein the first officer side control selector (900) is in electrical communication with the multi-controlled HSI (200), the yoke radial/course selector (310), the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400), and the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510), whereby

(i) operation of the first officer copilot side selector (920) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) to select the radial/course displayed by the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450);

(ii) operation of the first officer captain side selector (910) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) to select the radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250); and

(iii) operation of the first officer captain side selector (910) and the first officer copilot side selector (920) facilitates operation of the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510) to select the radial/course displayed by the navigational aid radial/course indicator (250) and the first officer navigational aid radial/course indicator (450).

15. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 14, further including a first control unit (1000) in electrical communication with:

(i) the multi-controlled HSI (200) and the yoke radial/course selector (310); and

(ii) the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510), wherein the first control unit (1000) facilitates operation between;

(a) the multi-controlled HSI (200) and the yoke radial/course selector (310); and

(b) the first officer multi-controlled HSI (400) and the first officer yoke radial/course selector (510).

16. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 11, wherein the radial/course selected by the yoke radial/course selector (310) is a VOR radial signal from a VOR station.

17. The aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system (100) of claim 11, wherein the radial/course selected by the yoke radial/course selector (310) is a course selected from a GPS-based navigational.