Method and apparatus for aircraft systems management

• US 6,346,892 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Victor A., DeMers, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/307,641
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 340/973, 340/995, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 244/1.R
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter

Abstract

Aircraft and other systems employing various condition settable parameters are controlled utilizing a command language, display, and input device for entering certain desired parameters with a parser programmed to interpret various alternate expressions which have been entered into a predetermined format recognizable by a computer which is operable to display the parsed command and upon approval to input the computer for controlling the desired parameter.

Claims

1. A monitor including a computer for use in controlling parameters for a number of variable controllable conditions comprising:

a display for showing a selected condition;

input means under control of an operator to provide signals indicative of a desired change in a parameter of a selected condition in a syntax chosen by the operator;

a parser connected to receive the signals and to place them into syntax recognizable by the computer;

means connecting the parser to the display to show the parsed syntax; and

means under the control of the operator to send the parsed signals to the computer for changing of the condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conditions relate to the operation of a plurality of utility systems on an aircraft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditions include at least several of air, communications, electrical, fire, flight controls, fuel, hydraulics, instruments, recorders, landing gear, brakes, navigation, oxygen, APU, engines, and warnings.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the parser is programmed to recognize various words associated with selected conditions as expressed by the operator and to revise them, when necessary, into a language consisting of predetermined words, syntax and semantic rules so to form sentence structures recognizable to both the operator and the computer and upon which the computer can operate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the language includes action words, systems words and target words and the action words include a plurality of the following:

open, close, display, inhibit, reset, call, disconnect, extend, test, arm, extinguish, erase, start, stop, hide, clear, cancel, retract, transmit, raise, lower, and deploy.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the language includes action words, systems words and target words and the systems words include a plurality of the following:

AIR SYSTEMS WORDS

pack flow, cockpit temp, fwd cabin temp, aft cabin temp, engine bleed, ram air inlet, APU bleed, cross bleed, cargo isolation valve, cargo hot air pressure regulator, cargo temp, cabin pressure, and landing elevation,

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS WORDS

3rd occupant mikes, VHF, HF, transmit, receive, VHF volume, HF volume, INT volume, VORI volume, MKR volume, ILS volume, MLS volume, ADF volume, boom/mask mikes, VOR nav signals, ADF nav signals, audio controls, VOR receiver, ILS receiver, ADF receiver, VOR frequency, ILS frequency, MLS frequency, ADF frequency, standby frequency, BFO, cockpit loudspeaker, PA volume, attendant, forward attendant, aft attendant, mechanic, and all attendant emergency,

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WORDS

galley electrical, galley battery, APU generator, IDG, bus, external power, AC essential feed, emergency generator, generator, and ram air turbine,

FIRE SYSTEMS WORDS

engine, APU, and cargo,

FLIGHT CONTROLS SYSTEMS WORDS

ELAC, SEC, FAC, rudder trim, flaps/slats, speed brakes, pitch trim, autopilot, radio, and avionics,

FUEL SYSTEMS WORDS

center pump, right pump, left pump, and cross feed,

HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS

electric pump, engine pump, pump override, leak measurement valves, RAT, engine anti-ice, window heat, probe heat, L/R wiper, rain repellent, and wing anti-ice,

INSTRUMENTS/RECORDERS SYSTEMS WORDS

CVR, DFDR, chronograph, chronograph month, chronograph year, chronograph day, chronograph hours, chronograph minutes, elapsed time counter, baro reference, flight director, ILS symbols, nav display, ADF pointer, VOR pointer CSTR data, waypoint data, VOR.D data, airport data, PFD (ND), weather radar, PFD and ND, upper/lower MFD, engine page, APU page, bleed page, air-conditioning page, pressure page, door/oxygen page, electrical page, hydraulic page, electrical page, breaking page, hydraulic page, flight controls page, fuel page, all systems page, caution/warning message, emergency aural warning, caution, T.O.configuration, EIS DMC, and MFD/ND XFR,

LANDING GEAR/BREAKS SYSTEMS WORDS

parking brake, auto brake, landing gear, pedal steering, anti-skid, and nose wheel steering,

LIGHTING SYSTEMS WORDS

overhead lights, standby compass light, dome lights, annunciator lights, main panel flood lights, integral lights, pedestal flood lights, glareshield integral lights, FCU integral lights, console floor lights, reading light, avionics compartment light, strobe lights, beacon lights, nav and logo lights, wing lights, runway turnoff lights, left landing light, right landing light, nose lights, seat belt sign, no smoking sign, and emergency exit lights,

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS WORDS

air data display, IR, present position, present magnetic heading, ADR, ATT HDG, air data, ATC, altitude reporting, ident, ATC transponder code, weather radar, weather radar gain, and weather radar antenna,

OXYGEN SYSTEMS WORDS

passenger O2 masks, crew O2 masks, passenger O2 announcement, and passenger O2 timer,

ENGINES SYSTEMS WORDS

engine, engine mode, engine manual start, and engine FADEC

WARNING SYSTEMS WORDS

GPWS, G/S mode 5 warning, GPWS mode 4 warning, and mode 4 flap 3 warning.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the language includes action words, systems words and target words and the target words include a plurality of the following:

low, normal, high, degrees F, degrees C, on, off, opened, closed, auto, manual, ditch, #ft., captain, first officer, display, AM mode, VHF, HF, cabin attendants, internal, VOR, MKR, ILS, MLS, ADF, cabin, higher (up), lower (down), neutral, radio, reset, flight management guidance sys, FMGS, active, softer, louder, max, PA, connected, disconnected, alternate, extend, armed, extinguish, test, left, right, position, retract, erase, set event, start, stop, run, hecto pascals, inches of mercury, standard setting, ILS rose, VOR rose, NAV rose, arc, plan, range 10, range 20, range 40, range 80, range 160, range 320, brighter, dimmer, interchange, clear, CAPT, F/O, low mode, medium mode, max mode, T/O, taxi, TK/GS, PPOS, wind, HDG,STS, system 1, system 2, system 3, lat, long, degrees, standby, transmit, normal mode, turbulence mode, map mode, deployed, crank, and ignition/start.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input means includes a device on which the operator can type a desired change in the display.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the device is positioned around the periphery of the display.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the utility system is air temperature, the display shows the present air temperature, and the operator can input a change of air temperature utilizing the input means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the operator can input a word combination including at least one word indicative of the desired condition change and the parser will recognize the word and interpret that as a desire to change the condition so as to produce an input word combination which the computer recognizes as a command to change the condition.

12. A system according to claim 2 wherein utility system commands can be combined with flight management commands and states.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the parser controls both the syntax of the desired change in a parameter of a selected condition and the semantics of the a desired change in a parameter of a selected condition to assure that desired changes are within the normal limits of the selected condition.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the parser provides a display to the operator warning that a desired change in a parameter of a selected condition is outside the normal limits of the selected condition.

15. A system for controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin functions comprising:

a display;

an I/O device for entering desired commands;

means connecting the I/O device to the display to show the desired commands;

a parser for receiving command from the I/O device and placing it in a predetermined syntax for use by a computer; and

a computer connected to receive the predetermined syntax and upon receiving an execution command to activate the desired control for accomplishment of the desired command.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the parser includes a syntax function and a semantic function which assures that a desired command is within predetermined desired limits.

17. The method of controlling variable system functions comprising the steps of:

1) entering a desired command on an I/O device;

2) supplying the entered command to a parser programmed to place received commands into proper format for use by a computer;

3) displaying the format of the parser;

4) supplying a “

go”

command when the received command is properly formatted and is determined to be properly addressing the desired command; and

5) energizing a control device to perform the desired command upon receipt of the “

go”

signal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the proper formatting of step 2 includes both proper syntax and proper semantics.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein step 3) includes displaying a warning when a received command is outside the limits of variation of the function.