PILOT CENTERED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DECLUTTERING AIRCRAFT DISPLAYS

• US 20150239574A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ball, Jerry, Burgin, Roger W., Letsu-Dake, Emmanuel, Pepitone, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 9,718,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• 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: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

A system and method are provided for decluttering an aircraft display. Chart data, flight data and user input data are obtained. User input data reflects pilot preferences. A modified combination of chart data and flight data is generated in response to user input data. Symbology that is graphically representative of the modified combination is displayed.

Claims

1. A pilot-centered method for decluttering an aircraft display, the method executable by a processor and comprising:

obtaining chart data from a chart data source;

obtaining flight data comprising a flight path from a flight data source;

obtaining user input data from a user interface;

generating, by the processor, in response to the user input data, blended chart data and flight data; and

displaying symbology on the aircraft display that is graphically representative of the blended chart data and flight data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating blended chart data and flight data comprises filtering chart data according to user input data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating blended chart data and flight data comprises generating a symbolic representation of a predetermined subset of chart data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining user input data comprises designating chart data with a desired priority.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the blended chart data and flight data further comprises filtering chart data in accordance with desired priority.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the desired priority comprises at least one of:

critical priority, priority one and priority two.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining a location of the aircraft; and

selectively displaying symbology based on the desired priority and the location of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining user input data further comprises recognizing a location and movement of a cursor with respect to the aircraft display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selectively displaying symbology in accordance with a location and movement of the cursor.

10. A pilot-centered system for decluttering an aircraft display, the system comprising:

a source of flight data comprising a flight path;

a source of chart data;

a graphics module coupled to the source of chart data and the source of flight data;

a user interface configured to obtain user input data;

a processor coupled to the graphics module and user interface, the processor configured to direct the graphics module to generate, according to user input data, blended flight data and chart data; and

a display device coupled to the graphics module, configured to render symbology that is graphically representative of the blended flight data and chart data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a keyboard, a touch screen display, a mouse and a stored data file.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a database coupled to the processor, the database configured to store user input data.

13. A pilot-centered method, executable by a processor, for decluttering an aircraft display, the method comprising:

obtaining chart data;

obtaining flight data comprising a flight path;

obtaining user input data;

obtaining aircraft location data;

generating, by the processor, in response to the user input data and the aircraft location data, blended chart data and flight data; and

displaying symbology that is graphically representative of the blended chart data and flight data.

14. The aircraft display method of claim 13, wherein obtaining user input data comprises obtaining user preference data, and further comprising filtering chart data based on user preference data.

15. The aircraft display method of claim 13, further comprising generating a symbolic representation of a predetermined subset of chart data.

16. The aircraft display method of claim 14, wherein obtaining user preference data further comprises assigning chart data elements with a desired priority.

17. The aircraft display method of claim 16, wherein the step of displaying comprises filtering chart data in accordance with desired priority.

18. The aircraft display method of claim 16, wherein the desired priority comprises at least one of:

critical priority, priority one and priority two.

19. The aircraft display method of claim 18, further comprising selectively displaying symbology based on the desired priority.

20. The aircraft display method of claim 15, wherein the step of obtaining user input data further comprises recognizing a location and movement of a cursor with respect to the aircraft display, and wherein the symbolic representation is displayed based on the location and movement of the cursor.