Instrument reference flight display system for horizon representation of direction to next waypoint

• US 6,907,324 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Cundiff, Chad L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/976,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/7, 701 9- 10, 701 14- 18, 701/3, 701/4, 701/120, 701/122, 340/953, 340945-949, 340963-980, 340/961, 348 11-117, 348/123, 345/7, 345/9, 345/419, 345/156, 345/23, 345/618, 244/75.R, 244180-183, 244/1.R, 244/175, 244/3.16, 342/121, 342/176
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

The invention provides a primary flight display instrument in which a symbol—such as a small star or triangle—indicates the bearing to the current waypoint in the flight navigation plan. The display may also show a bearing indication symbol showing a follow-on waypoint in the flight plan. These symbols are preferably located on the horizon line of the primary flight display (or the attitude indicator) providing bearing to the current waypoint in the flight plan and/or to the following waypoint. An image processing unit generates the display, including earth ground and horizon, in a view substantially conformal with a VMC view from the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing TMC flight aboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

collecting navigation, airspeed, altitude, direction of flight, and attitude data from the aircraft;

generating a flight display, the primary flight display being located on an instrument panel and configured to simultaneously indicate the altitude, attitude, and direction of flight, and as a function of the data to show a perspective view of earth ground and horizon that are substantially conformal with a VMC view from the aircraft; and

generating at least one of a current or next waypoint symbol on the display at the horizon.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating at least one of a current or next waypoint comprises the step of generating a first symbol at the horizon to indicate the current waypoint.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating at least one of a current or next waypoint comprises the step of generating a second symbol at the horizon to indicate the next current waypoint.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a desired current waypoint;

wherein the steps of generating comprise altering the perspective view to match the selected waypoint.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting comprises electronically moving the symbol on the display.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting comprises adjusting navigation settings aboard the aircraft to alter the data.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more situation awareness symbols on the display.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating one or more situation awareness symbols comprises generating one or more of the following:

an attitude symbol reflecting aircraft speed;

an attitude symbol reflecting aircraft altitude;

an attitude symbol reflecting aircraft pitch; and

a compass symbol reflecting heading.

9. A method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating one or more situation awareness symbols comprises generating one or more landmarks.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating one or more landmarks comprises generating an airstrip conformal with the earth ground perspective view.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting navigation and attitude data from the aircraft comprises acquiring aircraft speed and altitude from air and attitude instruments of the aircraft.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the step of collecting at least one of navigation and attitude data from the aircraft comprises acquiring one or more of the following from navigation instruments of the aircraft:

direction to next waypoint, last waypoint information, and left/right deviation.

13. A display system for IMC, comprising:

an information collation unit for acquiring data from navigation, airspeed, altitude, direction of flight, and attitude instruments of an aircraft; and

an image processing unit for (a) generating a primary flight display, the primary flight display being located on an instrument panel and configured to simultaneously indicate the altitude, attitude, and direction of flight, and as a function of the data to show a perspective view of earth ground and horizon that are substantially conformal with a VMC view from the aircraft and (b) generating at least one of a current or next waypoint symbol on the display at the horizon.

14. A display system of claim 13, the information collation unit acquiring aircraft speed and altitude from the air and attitude instruments of the aircraft.

15. A display system of claim 13, the information collation unit acquiring information including direction to next waypoint and last waypoint direction from the navigation instruments of the aircraft.

16. A display system of claim 13, further comprising a monitor for showing the display within the aircraft.

17. A display system of claim 13, the image processing unit generating the current waypoint collocated with the horizon.

18. A display system of claim 13, the image processing unit generating the next waypoint collocated with the horizon.

19. In an IMC navigation system within an aircraft, the improvement comprising an image processing unit for (a) collating navigation, airspeed, altitude, direction of flight, and attitude data from the system, (b) generating a primary flight display, the primary flight display being located on an instrument panel and configured to simultaneously indicate the altitude, attitude, and direction of flight, and as a function of the data to show a perspective view of earth ground and horizon that are substantially conformal with a VMC view from the aircraft, and (c) generating at least one of a current or next waypoint symbol on the display at the horizon.

20. In an IMC navigation system of claim 19, the further improvement wherein the image processing unit responds to one of user inputs or navigation controls to alter the symbol and view on the display.