Display system for airplane cockpit or other vehicle

• US 6,972,695 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nighthawk Flight Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sandel Avionics Inc.
• Inventors: Block, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/760,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/963, 340/995.18, 701/35
• US Class Current: 340/963
• 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

A display system for an airplane or other vehicle is disclosed. A rear projection LCD is used to allow for a maximum amount of screen area to be used in displaying operator pertinent data.

Claims

1. A method of updating an avionics display system database with data having a predetermined effective date, comprising:

(a) providing an onboard computer having a storage media for storing the database;

(b) dividing the storage media into at least two sections including a main data portion and a continuation portion;

(c) storing initial database data in the main area;

(d) during updates, interfacing a maintenance computer with the storage media;

(e) using the maintenance computer to compare the new data to be updated with previously stored data in the storage media and determine the differences;

(f) only writing the differences into the continuation portion of the storage media, with an associated effective date wherein the on board computer in operation searches both the main and continuation data and uses the continuation data in lieu of the main data if the effective date has passed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes data concerning airport locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes data concerning runway data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database includes data concerning magnetic north information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the database includes data concerning airport locations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the database includes data concerning runway data.