Aeronautical chart display apparatus and method

• US 7,417,641 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Barber, Sarah, Seah, Kirschen A., Hardin, Deborah, Dunbar, Lyndon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caschera; Antonio A
• Application Number:
  US10/272,563
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 345/601, 345/589, 340/995.14, 340/995.27, 340165-167
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/026 Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables

Abstract

A method and apparatus for converting electronic display aeronautical chart data to aeronautical chart data that is tailored for an avionics display is disclosed. The method and apparatus received by a data processing unit, electronic display aeronautical chart data. The color palette of the electronic display aeronautical chart data is then remapped to improve viewability on the avionics quality display. Finally, signals representative of the remapped colors are sent to the avionics quality display.

Claims

1. A method of converting electronic display aeronautical chart data to aeronautical chart data tailored for an avionics display, comprising:

receiving by a data processing unit, electronic display aeronautical chart data, wherein a background color of the electronic display aeronautical chart data is white;

remapping the color palette of the electronic display aeronautical chart data, to improve viewability on the avionics display, including a remapping of the background color from white to green;

sending signals representative of the remapped colors to the avionics display;

defining chromaticity coordinates based on the remapped colors;

sending signals representative of the chromaticity coordinates to the avionics display; and

redefining line widths read from the aeronautical chart file to be displayed on the avionics display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

redefining fonts read from the aeronautical chart file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the remapped background color provides contrast with an aeronautical chart data palette.

4. A method of converting an aeronautical chart file to an avionics display file, comprising:

remapping a white background color of an aeronautical chart file to a green display background color having subdued background luminance;

redefining the chromaticity coordinates of the background color based on the remapping;

using the combined remapped background color and the redefined chromaticity coordinates in the avionics display file; and

redefining line widths read from the aeronautical chart file to be displayed on the avionics display.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

redefining fonts read from the aeronautical chart file.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the display background color provides contrast with an aeronautical chart file data palette.

7. A computer readable medium having a program stored thereon, the program comprising:

a first set of instructions to remap a white background color of an aeronautical chart file to a green display background color having subdued background luminance;

a second set of instructions to store data representative of the green display background color in an avionics display file; and

a third set of instructions to cause changes in intensity of individual colored pixel elements on an avionics display based on the output of the first and second set of instructions.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth set of instructions to redefine line widths read from the aeronautical chart file.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth set of instructions to redefine fonts read from the aeronautical chart file.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the display background color provides contrast with an aeronautical chart file data palette.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computer readable medium is included in an avionics subsystem.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computer readable medium is included in an electronics subsystem used to drive an avionics display.