Solid state attitude director indicator

• US 4,583,094 A
• Filed: 04/28/1983
• Issued: 04/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Mosier, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US06/489,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 340/784, 340/967, 340/974, 340/975, 340/753, 340/758, 340/765, 340/766, 340/773, 340/771, 340/727, 340/754, 340/973, 340/976, 340/977, 340/978, 340/979, 340/971, 350/330, 73/178 R, 73/178 H, 73/178 T, 434/35, 434/38, 434/43, 434/47, 434/49, 434/51, 33/328
• US Class Current: 340/975
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

A solid state attitude and director indicator (ADI) is disclosed utilizing liquid crystal display technology to represent attitude of a vehicle in two axes. A visual representation of attitude changes is provided on the liquid crystal display as well as numeric data, in a preferred embodiment. Additionally, glideslope, localizer, and approach speed may be displayed as well as heading and command bar information.

Claims

1. A solid state indicator for displaying relative movement in at least one axis of motion comprising:

a. a liquid crystal display having a first plurality of selectively activated segments formed in a first segmented circle; and

b. a second plurality of segments formed in a concentric configuration relative to said first segmented circle to form a second circle circumjacent the first, wherein a contiguous portion of said first plurality of segments, selectively activated, defines an arc on said first segmented circle, the inactive segments in said first plurality corresponding substantially to activated segments of said second plurality, such that a complete circle is cooperatively defined.

2. An indicator as in claim 1 wherein said first plurality of segments is formed having a first color, and said second plurality of segments is formed having a second color.

3. An indicator as in claim 2 wherein said first color is substantially blue in appearance.

4. An indicator as in claim 2 wherein said second color is substantially brown in appearance.

5. An indicator as in claim 1 further comprising a horizontal reference indicator segment.

6. An indicator as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of segments for indicating attitude correction commands.

7. An indicator as in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of segmented vertical bars for selective activation as a function of pitch angle, thereby displaying attitude in said at least one axis of motion.

8. An indicator as in claim 7 further comprising additional segments for relating numeric pitch data.

9. An indicator as in claim 5 wherein the relationship of said defined arc to said horizontal reference indicator segment is related to roll angle, thereby displaying attitude in said at least one axis of motion.

10. An indicator as in claim 9 further comprising additional segments for relating numeric roll data.

11. For a vehicle having a specified normal attitude directly related to a specified normal movement axis of said vehicle, an attitude indicator comprising:

a. a liquid crystal display having two concentric multisegmented circles, a first circumjacent the second, and a horizontal reference segment;

b. means for operating said liquid crystal display such that when a defined arc on said second circle of segments is activated, the inactive segments of said second circle correspond substantially to the activated segments of said first circle, such that a complete circle is cooperatively defined;

c. a plurality of segmented vertical bars for selective activation as a function of attitude of said vehicle around a lateral axis horizontal to the earth and perpendicular to said normal movement axis; and

d. the relationship of said defined arc to said horizontal reference segment is a function of attitude of said vehicle around said normal movement axis.

12. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising additional segments for displaying numeric data.

13. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising a glideslope height information display.

14. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising a localizer deviation display.

15. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising an approach speed display.

16. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising a heading bearing display.

17. An indicator as in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of segments for indicating attitude correction commands.

18. An indicator as in claim 11 wherein said first multisegmented circle is formed having a first color, and said second multisegmented circle is formed having a second color.

19. An indicator as in claim 12 wherein said first multisegmented circle is formed having a first color, said second multisegmented circle is formed having a second color, and said segments for displaying numeric data are formed having a third color.