Device for monitoring a complex system such as an aircraft

• US 5,838,261 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Inventors: Tatham, Lydie Lejarre, Lauta, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,989
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/525, 340/461, 340/463, 340/462, 340/519, 340/520, 340/521, 340/973, 340/825.5, 340/971, 345/117, 701/14, 701/15, 701/29, 701/16, 701/35, 701/33, 371/5.1
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A device for monitoring a complex system includes a central unit for transmitting monitoring information to a display unit, the display unit displaying messages concerning the information received. The central unit is loaded with a database containing additional information. At the time of transmitting monitoring information it indicates the existence of additional information. The display unit displays a signal indicating the existence of the additional information.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a complex system, for an aircraft, that includes a plurality of interconnected units, said monitoring device comprising:

a display device;

a central unit connected to at least some of said interconnected units of said complex system and adapted to transmit to said display device monitoring information including fault information relating to the complex system, either automatically or at the request of an operator of the complex system;

said display device being connected to said central unit and being adapted to display, each time monitoring information is received from said central unit, a message relating to said monitoring information,

wherein said central unit is loaded with a database that can be updated with additional information associated with at least some of said monitoring information,

wherein said central unit is adapted to verify if said database includes updated information before transmitting said monitoring information to said display device, and

wherein said central unit indicates to the operator the existence of said updated information at the time of transmitting said monitoring information to said display device.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said database includes all the data concerning said updated information and is adapted to be consulted directly by an operator of said complex system.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said database is updated manually.

4. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said database is updated by means of a loading unit.

5. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said display device is adapted to display a characteristic signal indicating the existence of said updated information.

6. The device claimed in claim 5 wherein said database includes all the data concerning said updated information and wherein said updated information is displayed on said display device in addition to said characteristic signal.