METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING SPEED INFORMATION ON AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20130238171A1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: MULLER, Jean, Poujol, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,193,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/02 Initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/04 actuated personally
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/02 for indicating aircraft speed or stalling conditions
• 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

The display device (1) comprises means (3) for correcting an acceleration value used for displaying on a screen (7) a speed trend of the airplane, making it possible to zero a speed trend symbol (11) when the Mach number of the airplane does not vary.

Claims

1. A method of displaying speed information on an airplane, according to which method, in an automatic manner, in real time:

a current air speed of the airplane is received;

a current acceleration value is calculated with the aid of said current air speed; and

at least one speed trend symbol which is representative of an acceleration value received and which indicates the speed of the airplane at the end of a predetermined duration, is displayed on a speed scale represented on a viewing screen,

wherein, moreover, in an automatic manner and in real time;

a monitoring is carried out so as to be able to identify each of the following situations;

the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant speed and the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant Mach number;

a corrected value of the acceleration value is calculated, which is such that the corresponding speed trend symbol becomes zero when the Mach number of the airplane does not vary; and

the following are transmitted to said viewing screen for display thereof in the form of a speed trend symbol;

said current acceleration value, when the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant speed; and

said corrected value, when the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant Mach number.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, to calculate said corrected value:

a corrective value is calculated which is proportional to the vertical speed of the airplane and which is dependent on the altitude and on the Mach number of the airplane; and

this corrective value is added to said current acceleration value to obtain said corrected value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, to implement said monitoring, at least the selection, which is carried out by a pilot on a control panel relating to an automatic piloting system, between a control for a flight according to a constant speed and a control for a flight according to a constant Mach number, is monitored.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, to implement said monitoring, at least one information item, which is transmitted automatically by a flight management system, is monitored so as to control a flight according to a constant speed or a flight according to a constant Mach number.

5. A device for displaying attitude information on an airplane, said device comprising:

means for receiving a current air speed;

means for calculating a current acceleration value with the aid of said current air speed; and

a viewing screen which displays, in real time, on a speed scale, at least one speed trend symbol which is representative of an acceleration value received and which indicates the speed of the airplane at the end of a predetermined duration,

which comprises, moreover;

monitoring means making it possible to identify each of the following situations;

the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant speed and the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant Mach number;

calculation means for calculating a corrected value of the acceleration value, which is such that the corresponding speed trend symbol becomes zero when the Mach number of the airplane does not vary; and

means for transmitting to said viewing screen for display thereof in the form of a speed trend symbol;

said current acceleration value, when the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant speed; and

said corrected value, when the airplane is controlled so as to fly according to a constant Mach number.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5,

wherein said calculation means comprise:

means for calculating a corrective value which is proportional to the vertical speed of the airplane and which is dependent on the altitude and on the Mach number of the airplane; and

means for adding this corrective value to said current acceleration value to obtain said corrected value.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5,

wherein said monitoring means comprise means for monitoring at least the selection which is carried out by a pilot on a control panel relating to an automatic piloting system, between a control for a flight according to a constant speed and a control for a flight according to a constant Mach number.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5,

wherein said monitoring means comprise means for monitoring at least one information item, which is transmitted automatically by a flight management system, so as to control a flight according to a constant speed or a flight according to a constant Mach number.

9. The device as claimed in claim 5,

which comprises, moreover, means for providing the data used in the calculations implemented by said device.

10. An airplane,

which comprises a device for displaying speed information such as that specified under claim 5.