Communication radio method and apparatus

• US 6,282,417 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David K. Ward
• Original Assignee: David K. Ward
• Inventors: Ward, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/306,931
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/431, 455/450, 455/455, 455/456, 455/457, 455/432, 455/186.1, 455/185.1, 455/437, 455/434, 455/436, 455/62, 455/66, 701/14, 701/15, 701/16, 701/200, 701/211, 701/201, 701/207, 701/214, 701/219, 731/78.R, 244/189, 244/192, 340/905, 340/928, 340/988-995, 342/357.05, 342/394
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking

Abstract

A radio frequency selecting system operable by a pilot within an aircraft (10). The aircraft (10) travels through successive zones of space (12-28) each having a separate, dedicated frequency (f1-f9) that is used for radio communication between an aircraft (10) in the zone and the controller that provides flight instructions to the pilot while the aircraft (10) is in that zone. The radio includes a display (42) of successive radio frequencies for successive zones, including the last frequency used in the last zone (LF), the current frequency in use in the current zone (CF), and the next frequency expected to be used in the next zone (NF). All of the displayed frequencies are derived from the vehicle present position and its relationship to the successive zones of space through which the vehicle will travel and their dedicated frequencies. A touch operated frequency selector (TOFS) is provided. It includes a cursor and a cursor control (44-46) for moving the cursor to select any of the displayed frequencies. The TOFS further includes a SELECT control (48) operable by touch to move the cursored frequency to the new CF position in the display and tune the radio to the new CF.

Claims

1. A radio frequency selecting system operable by an operator within a vehicle that will be traveling through successive zones of space, each having a different radio frequency, said system comprising:

a radio aboard the vehicle;

a navigational system (NAV) for detecting the position of the vehicle;

zone frequency logic (ZFL) associating each zone with the radio frequency for that zone;

next zone logic (NZL);

a CPU connected to receive and programmed to use information from the NAV, the ZFL, and the NZL for associating the vehicle position with the next zone into which the vehicle is expected to travel and the radio frequency for the next zone; and

a touch operated frequency selector (TOFS) connected to said CPU and said radio for changing radio frequency to the radio frequency for the next zone.

2. Th e system of claim 1, wherein the next zone logic (NZL) is a travel plan logic (TPL).

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a display and a touch operated control (TOC) for identifying on the display a new frequency to be selected by the touch operated frequency select or (TOFS).

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display shows a series of frequencies, and said system further comprising a cursor for identifying a new frequency to be selected.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio further includes a manual frequency selector (MFS) and a display associated with the MFS, showing the frequency that has been selected by use of the MFS.

7. A radio frequency selecting system operable by an operator within a vehicle that is traveling through successive zones of space, each having a different radio frequency, said system comprising:

a radio aboard the vehicle including a display of successive radio frequencies for successive zones, including the last frequency used in the last zone (LF), the current frequency in use in the current zone (CF), and the next frequency expected to be used in the next zone (NF);

a navigational system (NAV) for detecting the present position of the vehicle at a given point of time;

zone frequency logic associating each zone with the radio frequency for that zone;

next zone logic (NZL) establishing a travel plan for the vehicle by zones;

a CPU connected to receive and programed to use information from the navigation system, the ZFL and the NZL, for associating the current position of the vehicle with the zone it is in, with the radio frequency for that zone, with the next zone in which the vehicle is expected to travel, and with the frequency for the next zone; and

a touch operated frequency selector (TOFS) connected to said CPU and said radio for changing radio frequency, said TOFS being so adapted, and said CPU being so programed that substantially upon the vehicle entering a new zone, the operator can by touch display to a new LF, a new CF and a new NF, and tune the radio to the new CF.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising a cursor and a cursor control for selecting a new CF by moving the cursor to a frequency shown by the display.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the TOFS includes a SELECT button adapted to when touched move the cursored frequency to the CF position on the display and tune the radio to this frequency.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the TOFS is adapted to shift the other displayed frequencies in position when it moves the cursored frequency to the CF display.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the display of successive radio frequencies for successive zones is controlled by the TOFS and the radio further includes a manual frequency selector (CMFS) and a second display associated with the MFS, showing the frequency that has been selected by use of the MFS.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the TOFS includes a cursor and a cursor control for moving the cursor to any of the displayed frequencies, and wherein said TOFS further includes a SELECT control operable by touch to move the cursored frequency to the CF position in the display and tune the radio to the new CF.

14. The system of claim 7, comprising a START button, and wherein the CPU is programmed to in a response to a touch of the START button, select and display in the display of successive radio frequencies, the frequencies normally used on the ground and in initial flight, in sequence, at a particular airport.

15. The system of claim 14, comprising a cursor and a cursor control for identifying a new CF amongst the displayed frequencies by moving the cursor to a frequency shown by the display.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a SELECT button adapted to when touched move the cursored frequency to the CF position on the display and also tune the radio to this frequency.

17. A method of tuning a communication radio in a vehicle that in use travels through successive zones of space, each having a dedicated communication radio frequency to be used while the vehicle is in that zone, said method comprising:

using a navigation system (NAV) for determining the position of the vehicle;

providing zone frequency logic (ZFL) that associates each zone with the dedicated communication radio frequency for that zone;

providing a programmed CPU; and

tuning the communication radio to the dedicated communication frequency for a new zone substantially upon vehicle movement into the new zone, including by use of the CPU, the NAV position information and the ZFL.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising tuning the communication radio to the dedicated communication frequency for then new zone by use of the CPU, the NAV position information and the ZFL together and autotune logic.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a display of successive dedicated frequencies for successive zones, providing a cursor and a touch operated cursor control for identifying on the display the dedicated frequency for the next zone, providing a touch operated SELECT control, and touching the SELECT control to tune the communication radio to the cursored frequency.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the display includes a C line for displaying a current frequency CF, and at least one N line for displaying the next frequency NF in the sequence, and using the cursor control to identify the frequency at the N line of the display as being the frequency for the next zone, and using the SELECT control to move the cursored NF frequency up to the “

C”

line on the display in addition to tuning the communication radio to such new CF frequency.