METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT OF AN AIRCRAFT, AND AIRCRAFT DOOR EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SYSTEM

• US 20160090196A1
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Latecoere SA
• Original Assignee: Latecoere SA
• Inventors: BESETTES, Cyrille, GROUX, Laurent, PERRIER, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 10,207,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1407 Doors; surrounding frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1423 Passenger doors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/08 Ejecting or escaping means escape apertures B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The present invention relates to produce a display of the environment of the aircraft by combining live shooting by replacing a window with a camera lens and an illumination of this environment in suitable radiation ranges, connected with a display. According to the invention, a system for displaying the environment of an aircraft includes in a door (4, 4i, 10) provided with a locking and opening system (41, 42, 6), at least one illumination source (7) illuminating areas of the environment in at least one radiation range, at least one video camera (1a, 1b) provided with a lens capable of capturing the external environment illuminated by the source in order to provide a video signal, and at least one display screen (8) connected with the camera (1a, 1b) for receiving the video signal. The camera (1a, 1b), the illumination source (7) and the display screen (8) are linked to a calculation unit (5) capable of receiving information concerning the state of operation of the aircraft equipment and display parameters of the environment.

Claims

1. A method for displaying the external environment of an airplane (100), comprising the steps of:

replacing a window of the airplane by at least one opening (21) produced in at least one door (4) of the airplane, in mechanically coupling a lens (11) of a camera (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) for transmitting a video signal in this opening (21), such that the lens (11) directly picks up the light originating from said environment of the airplane (100), in previously illuminating this environment by zone (91) with a directional radiation in at least one radiation range chosen as a function of display parameters of this environment, and in transmitting the video signal supplied by the camera(s) (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) to at least one display screen (8) to provide comprehensive information from this signal, the comprehensive information relating to the state of operation of the equipment of the airplane (100) and to the display of safety zones (91;

Δ

A, Δ

B) surrounding the airplane (100) whose lighting is adjusted as a function of said parameters.

2. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which the lighting parameters are set, between the infrared or visible radiation range, as a function of the weather conditions of the environment and of the specific state of orientation of the airplane (100) as established by a piloting center with which the airplane (100) is equipped.

3. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which the radiation range is situated in the visible radiation spectrum when the solar radiation is above a determined threshold, particularly during the day, and the lighting is directed toward at least one passenger evacuation zone (91) to guide the passengers and/or a zone surrounding the door(s) in order to facilitate maintenance activities.

4. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which the radiation range is situated in the near IR (infrared) radiation in order to provide a usable display when the solar radiation is below a determined threshold, in particular at night.

5. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one double opening is produced in at least one door (4A to 4D) of the airplane (100), each opening (21) being mechanically coupled to a camera lens (1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) so as to perform at least one video processing in three dimensions (3D) or enhanced 2D.

6. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which the video signal can also be transmitted to a display screen installed in the piloting cockpit of the airplane (100) and/or to the screens of a video system with which the passenger cabin is equipped.

7. The display method as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen or screens (8) also displays/display information and/or alert messages linked to the state of operation of the equipment of the airplane (100), in particular the status of the door(s), the status of the escape slide (9) arming/disarming system, the manual or automatic control mode of the camera (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) and of the illumination (91), and the state of the equipment for maintenance.

8. A display system for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1, in which external environment of an airplane (100) comprising a passenger cabin, a cockpit, wings and passenger and service doors (4;

4A to 4D), characterized in that it comprises at least one source of illumination for zones (7) of said environment in at least one radiation range, at least one video camera (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) provided with a lens (11) suitable for picking up a set of light rays originating directly from the external environment illuminated by the source (7) to provide a video signal corresponding to said environment, and at least one display screen (8) linked with the camera (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) to receive the video signal, the camera (1;

1a, 1b;

1A, 1B), the illumination source (7) and the display screen (8) being linked to a computation unit (5) suitable for receiving information on the state of operation of the equipment of the airplane (100) and display parameters of said environment.

9. The display system as claimed in claim 8, in which at least one illumination zone (91) surrounds an impact zone (101) of the airplane escape slide (9) determined by the computation unit and is adjusted in position by the conditions of visibility of the environment and the state of orientation of the essential structures of the airplane (100) defined by a system of airplane environment sensors.

10. The display system as claimed in claim 8, in which the illumination source or illuminator (7) consists of light-emitting diodes or LEDs for lighting in the visible or infrared radiation range, arranged in a housing (71) to light a zone (91) that is sufficiently wide surrounding the impact zone (101) of an escape slide (9) of an airplane door (4, 4A to 4D).

11. The display system as claimed in claim 8, in which a 3D display is produced by a pair of cameras (1A, 1B) through a front door (4A, 4B) and a rear door (4C, 4D) of the airplane (100), to assess the position of the airplane (100) relative to its environment during maneuvers on the ground.

12. The display system as claimed in claim 8, in which the video signal is also transmitted to a display screen installed in the piloting cockpit of the airplane (100) and/or to the screens of a video system with which the passenger cabin is equipped.

13. An airplane door, passenger door or service door, comprising a locking system (41) and a door opening/closing system (4) by an articulation arm (42), characterized in that it is equipped with the display system as claimed in claim 8.

14. The airplane door as claimed in claim 13, in which the computation unit (5) of the display system is also intended to drive and coordinate the movements of the articulation arm (42) of the door (4) via an assisted mechanical drive or an electric drive motor (6).

15. The airplane door as claimed in claim 13, in which the illuminator (7) consists of an LED or laser lighting assembly arranged in proximity to the door, and the camera(s) (1a, 1b;

1A, 1B) and the display screen (8) are installed on the door (4, 4A to 4D).