Methods and apparatus for displaying information

• US 7,030,892 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gyde, Mike G., Snyder, Mark I.
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/680,776
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 315/792, 315/800, 315/815, 315/793, 315/1.1, 715/771, 701/14, 340/971, 340/963, 340/945, 340/973, 340/984
• US Class Current: 345/635
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• 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

Abstract

A display system according to various aspects of the present invention provides systems and methods for an integrated graphical user interface which facilitates the interactive and dynamic display aircraft data. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a user (e.g., a pilot) provides input to a processor and receives visual feedback via a display produced by one or more monitors. The display includes various graphical elements according to the operator'"'"'s commands and a predetermined set of rules. By adjusting the information on the display, the user may view the desired information according to the operator'"'"'s current needs and interests.

Claims

1. An avionics display comprising a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the panels is selectively configurable to have a size corresponding to one of a limited set of non-user-defined sizes, wherein the limited set of sizes is ⅙

, ⅓

, ½

, ⅔

, and 3/3 of the display, wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to display a display content, the display content pre-assigned to a subset of sizes of the limited set of sizes based on a pre-determined flight condition priority, and wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to be located on the avionics display based on the pre-determined flight condition priority.

2. A display according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the panels presents a first selected display content of a plurality of display contents, and further comprising a modification interface for changing at least one of the selected display content and the size of the panel.

3. A display according to claim 2, wherein the modification interface comprises at least one of a menu and a plurality of tabs.

4. A display according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the panels presents a selected display content of a plurality of display contents, and wherein the limited set of sizes corresponds to the selected display content.

5. A cockpit display system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of monitors configured to display a plurality of sets of information; and

(b) a processor communicating with the plurality of monitors, wherein the processor is configured to provide a plurality of displays to the plurality of monitors, wherein each of the displays comprises a plurality of panels, wherein at least one of the panels is selectively configurable to have a size corresponding to one of a limited set of non-user-defined sizes, and wherein the limited set of sizes is ⅙

, ⅓

, ½

, ⅔

, and 3/3 of the display, wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to display a display content, the display content pre-assigned to a subset of sizes of the limited set of sizes based on a pre-determined flight condition priority, and wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to be located on the display based on the pre-determined flight condition priority.

6. A cockpit display system according to claim 5, wherein the processor provides a first set of information to a first monitor and a second set of information to a second monitor, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the second set of information to the fist monitor if the second monitor fails.

7. A cockpit display system according to claim 6, wherein the processor displays the first set of information in a first panel on the first monitor and reduces the size of the first panel if the second monitor fails and displays the second set of information in a second panel on the first monitor if the second monitor fails.

8. A cockpit display system according to claim 6, wherein the first set of information corresponds to a first priority and the second set of information corresponds to a second priority, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the second set of information to the first monitor if the second monitor fails only if the second priority is higher than the first priority.

9. A cockpit display system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the panels presents a first selected display content of a plurality of display contents, and further comprising a modification interface for changing at least one of the selected display content and the size of the panel.

10. A cockpit display system according to claim 9, wherein the modification interface comprises at least one of a menu and a plurality of tabs.

11. A cockpit display system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the panels presents a selected display content of a plurality of display contents, and wherein the limited set of sizes corresponds to the selected display content.

12. A cockpit display system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of monitors configured to display a plurality of sets of information, wherein each of the plurality of monitors is configured to display the information on a plurality of panels, at least one of the plurality of panels is selectively configurable to have a size selected from a limited set of non-user defined sizes, wherein the limited set of sizes is ⅙

, ⅓

, ½

, ⅔

, and 3/3 of wherein each of the sets of information is pre-assigned to a subset of sizes of the limited set of sizes based on a pre-determined flight condition priority, and wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to be located on the monitor based on the pre-determined flight condition priority; and

(b) a processor communicating with the plurality of monitors, wherein the processor provides a first set of information to a first monitor and a second set of information to a second monitor, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the second set of information to the first monitor if the second monitor fails.

13. A cockpit display system according to claim 12 further comprising a modification interface for changing at least one of the information displayed on and the size of the panel.

14. A cockpit display system according to claim 13, wherein the modification interface comprises at least one of a menu and a plurality of tabs.

15. A cockpit display system according to claim 12, wherein the monitors display the information on a plurality of panels having a limited selection of sizes, and wherein the limited selection of sizes corresponds to the information displayed on the panel.

16. A cockpit display system according to claim 12, wherein the processor displays the first set of information in a first panel on the first monitor and reduces the size of the first panel if the second monitor fails and displays the second set of information in a second panel on the first monitor if the second monitor fails.

17. A cockpit display system according to claim 12, wherein the first set of information corresponds to a first priority and the second set of information corresponds to a second priority, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the second set of information to the first monitor if the second monitor fails only if the second priority is higher than the first priority.