Cockpit instrument panel systems and methods with redundant flight data display

• US 6,832,138 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NYCE Payments Network LLC (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated), Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Langner, Dale R., Straub, Philip I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US10/086,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/14, 244/1.R, 244/75.R, 340/945, 340/971
• 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: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for integrated control, access, and presentation of flight information within the cockpit. Cockpit instrument systems and methods are provided which include a first cockpit instrument panel which has a first display proximately located to a first bezel. The first display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including airspeed, attitude, and altitude. The systems and methods further include a second cockpit instrument panel located adjacent to the first cockpit instrument panel. The second cockpit instrument panel has a second display proximately located to a second bezel. The second display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including detailed engine parameters. When either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel fails, the remaining functional, first or second display, is adapted to provide all of the important flight information data, including airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameters.

Claims

1. A cockpit instrument system, comprising:

a first cockpit instrument panel, including a reversionary first display enclosed within a first bezel, wherein the first bezel includes navigational controls, communication controls, and wherein the first display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including airspeed, attitude, and altitude;

a second cockpit instrument panel located adjacent to the first cockpit instrument panel, the second cockpit instrument panel including a second reversionary display enclosed within a second bezel, wherein the second bezel includes navigational controls, communication controls, and wherein the second display is operable to present navigational data, communication data, and flight information data including detailed engine parameters; and

wherein either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel is adapted to graphically display all of the important flight information data, including airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameters, in a substantially similar format size, location and perspective when one of the first or the second cockpit instrument panels fail, in a backup mode.

2. The cockpit instrument of claim 1, wherein the backup mode is provided upon the activation of a button located on either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel.

3. The cockpit instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second cockpit instrument panels are adapted to simultaneously display all of the flight information data, including airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameters in a substantially similar format size, location and perspective upon the activation of a button located on either the first or the second cockpit instrument panel.

4. The cockpit instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first cockpit instrument panel and the second cockpit instrument panel include a multifunction display.

5. The cockpit instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first cockpit is a primary flight display (PFD) and the second cockpit instrument panel is a navigation display (NAV display).

6. The cockpit instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first cockpit instrument panel and the second instrument panel are positioned side by side, and wherein the system further includes an audio instrument panel located between the first cockpit instrument panel and the second instrument panel.

7. The cockpit instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first bezel and the second bezel further include at least one of transponder controls, GPS controls, autopilot controls, and messaging controls affixed thereon.

8. A cockpit instrument system, comprising:

a primary flight display (PFD) on a cockpit instrument panel;

a secondary flight display (MFD) on the cockpit instrument panel; and

wherein both the PFD and the MFD are adapted to graphically display full flight information data, originally provided between the PFD and MFD, in an identical format and size, automatically if either the PFD or MFD is inoperable.

9. The cockpit instrument system of claim 8, wherein both the PFD and the MFD are adapted to display full flight information data in an identical format and size upon the activation of a button located on either the PFD or the MFD in order to provide full redundancy of the flight information data on either the PFD or MFD.

10. The cockpit instrument system of claim 8, wherein the full flight information data includes airspeed, attitude, altitude and detailed engine parameters.

11. The cockpit instrument system of claim 10, wherein the detailed engine parameters are configurable in at least three different formats.

12. The cockpit instrument system of claim 10, wherein the detailed engine parameters are dependent upon an aircraft type.

13. The cockpit instrument system of claim 8, wherein the PFD and the MFD are positioned side by side having an audio instrument panel located therebetween, and wherein both the PFD and the MFD are adapted to display full flight information data in an identical format and size upon the activation of a button located on the audio instrument panel.

14. A method for providing redundant flight information, comprising:

providing a set of flight information data on more than one multifunction displays; and

automatically replacing a graphical content of one of the multifunction displays with the set of flight information data, including communication, navigation, and equipment sensor functions, which were previously, collectively displayed using the more than one multifunction displays upon the failure of one or more of the multifunction displays.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the set of important flight information data on one or more multifunction displays includes providing the set of flight information data between a primary flight display (PFD) and a secondary flight display (NAV display).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the set of important flight information data on one or more multifunction displays includes providing the set of flight information data on a pair of adjacent multifunction displays.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the set of important flight information data on one or more multifunction displays includes providing a set of important flight information data selected form the group of airspeed, attitude, altitude, and detailed engine parameter data.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the set of important flight information data on one or more multifunction displays includes providing a set of flight information data which is dependent on an aircraft type.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein replacing a content of a functional multifunction display with the set of important flight information data upon the failure of one or more primary instrument displays includes presenting the set of flight information data on the multifunction display in a substantially similar size, format, location and perspective as the important flight information data was presented on the one or more primary instrument displays.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein replacing a content of a functional multifunction display with the set of important flight information data upon the failure of one or more primary instrument displays includes presenting the set of important flight information data in a dynamically configurable format.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein replacing a content of a functional multifunction display with the set of important flight information data upon the failure of one or more primary instrument displays includes actuating a button to in order to replace the content of the functional multifunction display.

22. A redundant flight information system comprising:

a primary flight display (PFD) having at least navigation and communication information data graphically displayed thereon;

a multifunction display (MFD) having at least engine data graphically displayed thereon; and

wherein both the PFD and the MFD are adapted to graphically display full flight information data, originally provided between the PFD and MFD, in an identical format and size in a reversionary mode, automatically if either the PFD or MFD is inoperable.