Intuitive wind velocity and direction presentation

• US 7,471,214 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Feyereisen, Thea L., Schmitt, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/249,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 340/968, 340/949, 340/945, 701/14, 702/3, 7317001-17003
• US Class Current: 340/949
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

A method for displaying the direction of an external force relative to a craft is provided. The method comprises obtaining direction data for an external force, obtaining craft directional data, calculating the force'"'"'s direction relative to the craft'"'"'s direction, and displaying a graphical representation of the force'"'"'s direction relative to the direction of the craft.

Claims

1. A method for displaying the direction of an external force relative to a plurality of craft, the method comprising:

obtaining direction data for the external force;

obtaining craft directional data for the plurality of craft being observed on a common display element;

calculating a force'"'"'s direction relative to the direction of each of the plurality of craft; and

displaying a plurality of graphical representations on the common display element, wherein each of the plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the force'"'"'s direction relative to the direction of a respective craft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining direction data for an external force comprises:

obtaining direction data for wind.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining craft directional data comprises:

obtaining heading data for a first craft of the plurality of craft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a plurality of graphical representations comprises:

displaying, for a first craft of the plurality of craft, a symbol whose location on the display forms an angle with the first craft'"'"'s direction representing the angle between the direction of the first craft and the direction of the force.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying a symbol includes:

changing the symbol'"'"'s color to indicate the force'"'"'s magnitude.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying a symbol includes:

scaling the symbol'"'"'s size to indicate the force'"'"'s magnitude.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying a symbol includes:

displaying a triangle pointing inward toward a center point, wherein the triangle rotates about the center point to indicate changes in the force'"'"'s direction, the center point representing the center point of the first craft.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

displaying a ring around the center point, the triangle rotating about the ring.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

orienting a display for displaying a graphical representation of the force direction relative to the direction of a first craft of the plurality of craft.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

orienting a display comprises aligning the direction of the first craft with the top of the display; and

calculating the force'"'"'s direction relative to the first craft'"'"'s direction comprises calculating an angle directly between the force'"'"'s direction and the first craft'"'"'s direction.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

orienting a display comprises aligning the top of the display with North and displaying a graphic of the first craft to indicate the first craft'"'"'s direction relative to North; and

calculating the force'"'"'s direction relative to the first craft'"'"'s direction comprises calculating a first angle between North and the first craft'"'"'s direction and a second angle between North and the force'"'"'s direction such that the first and second angles combine to form the angle representing the angle between the first craft'"'"'s direction and the direction of the force.

12. A graphical display system comprising:

one or more sensors which obtain craft directional data and data regarding magnitude and direction of an external force acting on a plurality of craft;

at least one processor for receiving and processing data from the one or more sensors, wherein the at least one processor calculates the direction of the external force relative to the direction of each of the plurality of craft; and

a display element for receiving signals from the at least one processor and displaying a plurality of graphical representations of the direction of the external force relative to each of the plurality of craft according to the signals from the at least one processor, wherein each of the plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the force'"'"'s direction relative to a respective craft.

13. The graphical display system of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one processor orients a display on the display element by aligning the direction of the craft with the top of the display.

14. The graphical display system of claim 12, wherein:

the display element displays a symbol for a first craft of the plurality of craft, the location of which forms an angle with the direction of the first craft representing the direction of the external force relative to the first craft'"'"'s direction, wherein the symbol rotates in a circular path about a center point to indicate changes in the force'"'"'s direction, the center point representing the center point of the first craft.

15. The graphical display system of claim 14, wherein:

the display element scales the symbol'"'"'s size, according to signals from the at least one processor, to indicate the magnitude of the external force.

16. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of displaying the direction of an external force relative to a plurality of craft, the method comprising:

obtaining directional data for an external force and for the plurality of craft being observed on a common display element;

calculating a force'"'"'s direction relative to the direction of each of the plurality of craft; and

displaying a plurality of symbols whose positions on the display element each forms an angle with a respective craft'"'"'s direction representing the external force'"'"'s direction relative to the respective craft'"'"'s direction.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein displaying a symbol includes:

scaling the symbol'"'"'s size to indicate the force'"'"'s magnitude.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

orienting a display.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein orienting a display comprises:

aligning the top of the display with a combination of the craft'"'"'s heading and track for a first craft of the plurality of craft.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

orienting a display comprises aligning the top of the display with North; and

displaying a symbol includes displaying a graphic of the first craft at a first angle between North and the first craft'"'"'s direction and displaying a different graphic at a second angle between North and the force'"'"'s direction such that the first and second angles combine to form an angle representing the angle between the first craft'"'"'s direction and the direction of the force.

21. A graphical display system comprising:

means for obtaining craft directional data for a plurality of craft being observed on a common display element;

means for obtaining data regarding the magnitude and direction of an external force acting on the said craft;

means for calculating the magnitude and direction of said external force acting on said craft relative to each craft'"'"'s direction; and

means for displaying a plurality of graphical representations on the common display element, wherein each of the plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the force'"'"'s direction relative to each craft'"'"'s direction.

22. The graphical display system of claim 21, wherein means for displaying include:

means for displaying a symbol which rotates in a circular path about a center point, the center point representing the center of a first craft of the plurality of craft and wherein the angle formed by the symbol and the first craft'"'"'s direction represents the angle between the direction of the external force and the first craft'"'"'s direction.