Airport display device

• US 7,345,693 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Fetzmann, Fabien, Lemoult, Frederic, Coldefy, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHMJOO, MANUCHER
• Application Number:
  US10/717,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 345/661, 345/662, 345/668, 345/670, 345/671, 345/629
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

An airport display device including a display including at least one window, a database including data related to an airport, a selector configured to select a degree of zoom for the airport to be displayed from a plurality of different degrees of zoom, a control unit connected to the display, the database and the selector and configured to control the display to display in the at least one window the airport according to a scale value representative of the degree of zoom selected by the selector, and a changing unit configured to change the scale value representative of the degree of zoom.

Claims

1. An airport display device, comprising:

a display including at least one window;

a database including data related to an airport;

a selector configured to select from a plurality of different degrees of zoom a degree of zoom for an airport image to be displayed, the airport image corresponding to the airport, the selector comprising

a plurality of zoom buttons configured to display the airport image in the window according to a plurality of predefined zoom degrees, and

a selection mechanism configured to center the view of the airport on a different one of plural predetermined portions of the airport each time the selection mechanism is activated;

a control unit connected to the display, the database, and the selector, the control unit being configured to control the display to display in the at least one window the airport image according to a scale value representative of the degree of zoom selected by the selector; and

a changing unit configured to change the scale value representative of the degree of zoom,

wherein the selection mechanism is further configured to cyclically select the different one of the plural predefined portions of the airport on which the view of the airport is centered each time the selection mechanism is activated.

2. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the selector includes at least one zoom button configured to zoom in and zoom out between a maximum zoom value and a minimum zoom value so as to display different detailed views of the airport.

3. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein the selector includes:

a first button configured to display the airport image in the window according to a first predefined zoom degree corresponding to general navigation, the airport image corresponding to the first predefined zoom degree including a full display of the airport;

a second button configured to display the airport image in the window according to a second predefined zoom degree corresponding to proximity navigation, the airport image corresponding to the second predefined zoom degree including a plurality of details of the airport; and

a third button configured to display the airport image in the window according to a third predefined zoom degree corresponding to airport details, the airport image corresponding to the third predefined zoom degree including details of the airport required for precision taxiing.

4. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the display system is installed in a moving airport vehicle; and

the selector includes a centering button configured to automatically reconfigure the display such that the moving vehicle is displayed in a center of the window.

5. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the selector includes a toggle button configured to automatically display in the airport image the entire airport on the window upon selection of the toggle button and to redisplay in the airport image a portion of the airport image being displayed prior to selection of the toggle button upon another selection of the toggle button.

6. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the selector includes a selection mechanism configured to select a portion of the airport such that the portion of the airport is displayed in the airport image on the window.

7. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the control unit is configured to display two different degrees of zoom in a continuous manner such that a change from the first degree of zoom to the second degree of zoom appears continuous to an operator viewing the display.

8. The airport display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an updating mechanism configured to dynamically update in real-time the database according to traffic of airport vehicles including aircrafts or technical vehicles.

9. The airport display device according to claim 8, wherein:

the airport vehicles are displayed on the airport image and identified by a sign, a code, or a number.

10. The airport display device according to claim 8, wherein:

the airport display device is arranged in an aircraft; and

the updating mechanism is configured to update the database using digital transmission links between the aircraft and a station located on a ground of the airport.

11. The airport display device according to claim 1, wherein:

the airport display device is integrated in a portable computer; and

the portable computer is installed in a piloting position in an aircraft.

12. The airport display device of claim 1, further comprising a displacement button configured to displace a view of the airport being displayed in the airport image on the window in horizontal and vertical directions so as to display other portions of the airport.

13. The airport display device of claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism is configured to center the view of the airport on the predetermined portion of the airport regardless of a location of an airplane.

14. An airport display system, comprising:

a display including at least one window;

means for storing data related to an airport;

means for selecting from a plurality of different degrees of zoom a degree of zoom for an airport image to be displayed, the airport image corresponding to the airport, the means for selecting comprising a plurality of zoom buttons configured to display the airport image in the window according to a plurality of predefined zoom degrees;

means for centering a different one of plural predetermined portions of the airport in the window upon each activation of the means for centering;

means for controlling the display to display in the at least one window the airport image according to a scale value representative of the degree of zoom selected by the means for selecting, said controlling means being connected to the display, the storing means, the centering means, and the selecting means; and

means for changing the scale value representative of the degree of zoom,

wherein the centering means includes a means for cyclically selecting the different one of the plural predefined portions of the airport on which the view of the airport is centered each time the centering means is activated.

15. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the selecting means includes at least one means for zooming in and zooming out between a maximum zoom value and a minimum zoom value so as to display different detailed views of the airport.

16. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein the selecting means includes:

a first means for displaying the airport image in the window according to a first predefined zoom degree corresponding to general navigation, the airport image corresponding to the first predefined zoom degree including a full display of the airport;

a second means for displaying the airport image in the window according to a second predefined zoom degree corresponding to proximity navigation, the airport image corresponding to the second predefined zoom degree including a plurality of details of the airport; and

a third means for displaying the airport image in the window according to a third predefined zoom degree corresponding to airport details, the airport image corresponding to the third predefined zoom degree including details of the airport required for precision taxiing.

17. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the display system is installed in a moving airport moving vehicle; and

the selecting means includes a means for automatically reconfiguring the display such that the moving vehicle is displayed in a center of the window.

18. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the selecting means includes a means for automatically displaying in the airport image the entire airport on the window upon selection of the automatically displaying means and for redisplaying in the airport image a portion of the airport image being displayed prior to selection of the automatically displaying means upon another selection of the automatically displaying means.

19. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the selecting means includes a portion means for selecting a portion of the airport such that the portion of the airport is displayed in the airport image on the window.

20. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the controlling means displays two different degrees of zoom in a continuous manner such that a change from the first degree of zoom to the second degree of zoom appears continuous to an operator viewing the display.

21. The airport display system according to claim 14, further comprising:

an updating means configured to dynamically update in real-time the means for storing data according to traffic of airport vehicles including aircrafts or technical vehicles.

22. The airport display system according to claim 21, wherein:

the airport vehicles are displayed on the airport image and identified by a sign, a code, or a number.

23. The airport display system according to claim 21, wherein:

the airport display device is arranged in an aircraft; and

the updating means is configured to update the means for storing data using digital transmission links between the aircraft and a station located on a ground of the airport.

24. The airport display system according to claim 14, wherein:

the airport display device is integrated in a portable computing means; and

the portable computing means is installed in a piloting position in an aircraft.

25. The airport display system of claim 14, further comprising a displacement button configured to displace a view of the airport being displayed in the airport image on the window in horizontal and vertical directions so as to display other portions of the airport.

26. The airport display system of claim 14, wherein the selection mechanism is configured to center the view of the airport on the predetermined portion of the airport regardless of a location of an airplane.