Steer-by-wire tiller with position feel system
First Claim
1. A system for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the system comprising:
- a tiller module configured to receive a tiller, the tiller module including;
a moveable tiller base configured to moveably respond to a steering signal; and
a tiller coupling configured to couple the tiller with the moveable tiller base and further configured to generate a tiller differential signal indicative of a steering force applied to the tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base; and
a tiller controller configured to receive the tiller differential signal and a steering mechanism position signal, the tiller controller being further configured to generate the steering signal to direct a steering mechanism to conform with the steering force and to direct the moveable tiller base to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism and an aircraft using the system are disclosed. A tiller module includes a moveable tiller base configured to moveably respond to a steering signal. The tiller module also includes a tiller coupling configured to couple the tiller with the moveable tiller base and further configured to generate a tiller differential signal indicative of a steering force applied to the tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base. A tiller controller is configured to receive the tiller differential signal and a steering mechanism position signal. The tiller controller is further configured to generate the steering signal to direct a steering mechanism to conform with the steering force and to direct the moveable tiller base of each tiller module to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism.
32 Citations
84 Claims
-
1. A system for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the system comprising:
-
a tiller module configured to receive a tiller, the tiller module including;
a moveable tiller base configured to moveably respond to a steering signal; and
a tiller coupling configured to couple the tiller with the moveable tiller base and further configured to generate a tiller differential signal indicative of a steering force applied to the tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base; and
a tiller controller configured to receive the tiller differential signal and a steering mechanism position signal, the tiller controller being further configured to generate the steering signal to direct a steering mechanism to conform with the steering force and to direct the moveable tiller base to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a first tiller module having a first moveable tiller base configured to receive a first tiller that is configured to receive a first steering force; and
a second tiller module having a second moveable tiller base configured to receive a second tiller that is configured to receive a second steering force.
-
-
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first tiller module generates a first tiller differential signal and the second tiller module generates a second tiller differential signal, the tiller controller summing the first tiller differential signal and the second tiller differential signal such that the steering signal is generated to direct the steering mechanism to conform with a composite of the first steering force and the second steering force.
-
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the steering signal causes both the first moveable tiller base and the second moveable tiller base to the feedback position representative of the current position of the steering mechanism.
-
19. A system for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of tiller modules, each of the tiller modules including;
a moveable tiller base configured to moveably respond to a steering signal; and
a tiller coupling configured to receive a tiller and couple the tiller with the moveable tiller base and further configured to generate a tiller differential signal reflecting a steering force applied to the tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base; and
a composite tiller controller including;
a receiver configured to receive each of the tiller differential signals and a steering mechanism position signal;
a summing device configured to sum the tiller differential signals to generate a composite tiller differential signal to represent a composite steering force of a plurality of steering forces; and
a signal generator configured to generate the steering signal to direct the steering mechanism to conform with the composite steering force and direct each of the moveable tiller bases to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. An aircraft comprising:
-
a fuselage;
at least one engine;
at least one wing;
a plurality of control surfaces;
main landing gear;
nose gear; and
a system for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the system comprising;
a tiller module configured to receive a tiller, the tiller module including;
a moveable tiller base configured to moveably respond to a steering signal; and
a tiller coupling configured to couple the tiller with the moveable tiller base and further configured to generate a tiller differential signal indicative of a steering force applied to the tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base; and
a tiller controller configured to receive the tiller differential signal and a steering mechanism position signal, the tiller controller being further configured to generate the steering signal to direct a steering mechanism to conform with the steering force and to direct the moveable tiller base to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
a first tiller module having a first moveable tiller base configured to receive a first tiller that is configured to receive a first steering force; and
a second tiller module having a second moveable tiller base configured to receive a second tiller that is configured to receive a second steering force.
-
-
50. The aircraft of claim 49, wherein the first tiller module generates a first tiller differential signal and the second tiller module generates a second tiller differential signal, the tiller controller summing the first tiller differential signal and the second tiller differential signal such that the steering signal is generated to direct the steering mechanism to conform with a composite of the first steering force and the second steering force.
-
51. The aircraft of claim 50, wherein the steering signal causes both the first moveable tiller base and the second moveable tiller base to the feedback position representative of the current position of the steering mechanism.
-
52. A method for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the method comprising:
-
moving a moveable tiller base in response to a steering signal;
generating a tiller differential signal reflecting a steering force applied to a tiller relative to a position of the moveable tiller base; and
generating the steering signal by comparing the tiller differential signal with a steering mechanism position signal, directing the steering mechanism to conform with the steering force, and directing the moveable tiller base to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
-
-
70. A method for generating a signal to control a steering mechanism, the method comprising:
-
moving a plurality of moveable tiller bases in response to a plurality of steering signals;
generating a plurality of tiller differential signals reflecting a plurality of steering forces applied to a plurality of tillers relative to positions of the plurality of respective moveable tiller bases; and
generating the plurality of steering signals by summing the plurality of tiller differential signals to generate a composite tiller differential signal;
comparing the composite tiller differential signal and a steering mechanism position signal;
directing the steering mechanism to conform with a composite steering force of the plurality of steering forces; and
directing the plurality of moveable tiller bases to a feedback position representative of a current position of the steering mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
-
Specification