VEHICLE OPERATOR DISPLAY AND ASSISTIVE MECHANISMS

• US 20130184904A1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (The Zodiac Group)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (The Zodiac Group)
• Inventors: GADZINSKI, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1703 for aircrafts
• 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: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

Detailed are assistive mechanisms for vehicle operators designed to reduce risks associated with degraded landing and other situations. Some mechanisms may include a display with a visual indicator located within the peripheral field of view of an operator. Aural alerts may also be employed. Information suggesting degradation of, for example, ground deceleration performance may alert the operator to perform unusual or abnormal actions to mitigate hazards produced by the performance degradation.

Claims

1. A method of displaying, to an operator of a vehicle having at least one generally forward-facing window, information relevant to hazards existing or expected in connection with ground deceleration of the vehicle, the method comprising:

a. electronically processing information relating to vehicle-performance hazards existing or expected in connection with ground deceleration of a vehicle; and

b. displaying the processed information in the normal forward-looking field of vision of the operator through the window.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the information relevant to hazards existing or expected in connection with ground deceleration of a vehicle comprises one or more of the following types of information:

(a) a difference between commanded and delivered wheel brake forces as the result of the actions of a vehicle anti-skid system, (b) the failure of a vehicle spoiler system to apply downward forces to a wheel brake system, (c) degraded or absence of vehicle thrust reverser forces, (d) a vehicle braking performance significantly different than selected by an automatic braking system, (e) a failure of a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, (f) the failure of a vehicle hydraulic braking force delivery system, or (g) a tire to ground interaction for which an anti-skid system of a vehicle significantly reduces delivered braking forces.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising revising the electronic processing to account for information relating to vehicle conditions already known to the operator.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the act of displaying the processed information comprises illuminating at least one red or amber light source of a display comprising multiple red and amber light sources.

5. A method according to claim 4 in which the act of displaying the processed information comprises illuminating multiple red or amber light sources of the display.

6. A method according to claim 4 in which the act of displaying the processed information comprises causing at least one red or amber light source of the display to flash.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the act of displaying the processed information comprises causing at least one red and at least one amber light source to flash alternately.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the act of displaying the processed information comprising illuminating a display positioned above a main glare shield of a cockpit of an aircraft.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the vehicle providing the information that is electronically processed is operated by the operator.

10. A method according to claim 1 in which the operator operates a vehicle other than the one providing the information that is electronically processed.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising generating an aural signal based on the processed information.

12. An alerting device for a vehicle, comprising:

a. a display configured to provide (1) flashing amber pixels, (2) flashing red pixels, (3) alternating flashing amber or red pixels or both amber and red pixels, (4) steady illumination of amber pixels, and (5) steady illumination of red pixels; and

b. means for positioning the display in a field of vision of an operator of a vehicle.

13. An alerting device according to claim 12 in which the display is configured also to provide illumination of pixels so as to present one or more letters, words, or symbols.

14. An aircraft configured for operation by an operator and comprising:

a. a cockpit; and

b. an alerting device comprising means for displaying, in the normal forward-looking field of vision of the operator, information relevant to hazards existing or expected in connection with ground deceleration of the vehicle as it travels along a runway.

15. An aircraft according to claim 14 in which the displaying means is configured to provide (a) flashing amber pixels, (b) flashing red pixels, (c) alternating flashing amber or red pixels or both amber and red pixels, (d) steady illumination of amber pixels, and (e) steady illumination of red pixels.

16. An aircraft according to claim 15 in which the display is configured also to provide illumination of pixels so as to present one or more letters, words, or symbols.