Method and device for inputting and controlling flight data

• US 6,236,913 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Grand-Perret, Sylvie, Bomans, Muriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Application Number:
  US09/147,212
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/14, 701/15, 701/16, 701/11, 701/120, 340/945, 340/961, 340/972, 340/990, 340/995, 340/971, 340/973, 340/980, 345/326, 345/440, 345/356, 345/112, 345/113, 345/115, 345/117, 345/329, 702/121, 714/3, 714/31, 244/75.R, 244/76.R, 244/180, 244/183, 244/220, 244/221
• US Class Current: 701/3
• 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 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

Process and device using a flight management system (FMS) for aiding aerial navigation. To facilitate the task of the pilot, the FMS carries out a dialogue with the pilot via a data display and input console (MCDU), which displays a list of tasks to be executed in the form of a succession of selectable and activatable main zones. Each zone corresponds to a task, executed via the console, and when the task has been executed (validation key actuated by the pilot), the list of tasks is redisplayed, with the zones for which tasks have been executed and validated appearing in a different color from other zones. The zones preferably appear in duplicate when there is a co-pilot, so that it is easy to see which tasks have been performed and by which pilot, and which tasks remain to be performed.

Claims

1. Process for aiding aerial navigation using a flight management system coupled to first and second consoles each configured to allow selection of predetermined zones of respective first and second screens so as to execute operations corresponding to the various zones, comprising:

simultaneously displaying on each screen a first series of main zones which follow one another from a top to a bottom of the screen, each main zone corresponding to a step of a navigation procedure and a second series of main zones corresponding to the same procedural steps associated with the first series of main zones, one of the first and second series of main zones being displayed on a right side of each screen and the other series of main zones being displayed on a left side of each screen,

in the event that a user selects a main zone corresponding to a specified procedural step, displaying on each screen elements of information necessary for executing the specified procedural step; and

in the event that a validation of the specified procedural step corresponding to the selected main zone is input into one of said consoles, once again displaying the first and second series of main zones on each screen, the main zones for which a procedural step has been validated appearing, at least in part, in a different color from the main zones for which a procedural step has not been validated,

wherein, when a procedural validation is performed from a left one of said consoles, the main zone appearing in a different color is displayed within the series of main zones on the left side of each screen, and when a procedural validation is performed from a right one of said consoles, the main zone appearing in a different color is displayed within the series of main zones on the right side of each screen.

2. Device for aiding aerial navigation using a flight management system which carries out a dialogue with the pilot and copilot by means of several interfaces which include first and second consoles having first and second screens respectively, comprising:

means for simultaneously displaying on each screen a first series of main zones which follow one another from a top to a bottom of the screen, each main zone corresponding to a step of a navigation procedure and a second series of main zones corresponding to the same procedural steps associated with the first series of main zones, one of the first and second series of main zones being displayed on a right side of each screen and the other series of main zones being displayed on a left side of each screen;

means for selecting a specified main zone corresponding to a specified procedural step;

means for displaying, on each screen, elements of information necessary for executing the specified procedural step corresponding to the selected main zone,

means for inputting a validation of the specified procedural step corresponding to the selected main zone;

means for, when said validation is input to one of said consoles, displaying said first and second series of main zones on each screen, the main zones for which a procedural step has been validated appearing, at least in part, in a different color from the main zones for which a procedural step has not been validated,

wherein when a procedural validation is performed from a left one of said consoles, the main zone appearing in a different color is displayed within the series of main zones on the left side of each screen, and when a procedural validation is performed from a right one of said consoles, the main zone appearing in a different color is displayed within the series of main zones on the right side of each screen.