Cockpit instrument panel systems and methods with variable perspective flight display

• US 7,626,515 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Langner, Dale R., Straub, Philip I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/986,336
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/971, 340973-979, 434/35, 434/38, 434/49, 434/51, 701/14, 701/45
• US Class Current: 340/971
• 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: G01D 2207/10 Displays which are primarily used in aircraft or display aircraft-specific information

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for integrated control, access, and customizable presentation of navigation related, flight information data on a multifunction display (MFD) within a cockpit. The MFD includes a bezel having controls located thereon which are adapted for controlling display formats, communication devices, navigational devices, and equipment sensors. A display is located adjacent to the bezel. The display is adapted to include at least one display region having navigation related data. At least one of the controls is operable to variably select a display format for the at least one display region.

Claims

1. A cockpit instrument system, comprising:

a display including a primary display region and an inset overlaid on top of the primary display region, the display operable to-

present a full-screen cockpit perspective view filling the primary display region, and

present a top down navigational view within the inset simultaneously with the presentation of the cockpit perspective view within the primary display region; and

a control, coupled with the display, operable to switch the views on the display in response to operation by a user such that the top down navigational view is presented within the primary display region and the cockpit perspective view is presented within the inset.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a multifunction display (MFD) operable to simultaneously provide a plurality of navigation related views, wherein the display and the MFD are operable to dynamically interchange at least one of the views presented on each of the displays.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control is positioned on a bezel surrounding at least one of the displays.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control is positioned on an audio instrument panel positioned between the displays.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is further operable to present an instrument view or a birds-eye view within at least one of the primary display region and the inset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is further operable to selectively overlay flight information on the cockpit perspective view presented within the primary display region.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the flight information includes a partial compass rose or a full horizontal situation indicator.

8. A cockpit instrument system, comprising:

a primary flight display (PFD) including a primary display region and an inset, the PFD operable to-

present a cockpit perspective view within the primary display region,

present a top down navigational view within the inset simultaneously with the presentation of the cockpit perspective view within the primary display region, and

switch the views in response to a user input such that the top down navigational view is presented within the primary display region and the cockpit perspective view is presented within the inset; and

a multifunction display (MFD) operable to simultaneously provide a plurality of navigation related views,

wherein the PFD and MFD are operable to dynamically interchange at least one of the views presented on each of the displays.

9. The system of claim 8, further including a control operable to switch the views of the PFD in response to operation by a user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control is positioned on a bezel surrounding at least one of the displays.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the control is positioned on an audio instrument panel positioned between the displays.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the PFD is further operable to present an instrument view or a birds-eye view within at least one of the primary display region and the inset.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the PFD and MFD are each operable to present at least one dynamic image associated with a weather condition, a terrain condition, or a traffic condition.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the PFD is further operable to selectively overlay flight information on the cockpit perspective view presented within the primary display region.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the flight information includes a partial compass rose or a full horizontal situation indicator.

16. A cockpit instrument system, comprising:

a display including a primary display region and an inset overlaid on top of the primary display region, the display operable to-

present a full-screen cockpit perspective view filling the primary display region, the cockpit perspective view including an airspeed indicator and an altitude indicator, and

present a two-dimensional map view within the inset simultaneously with the presentation of the cockpit perspective view within the primary display region, the inset being overlaid on the primary display region such that the airspeed and altitude indicators are not obstructed by the two-dimensional map view inset; and

a control, coupled with the display, operable to cause removal of the inset from the display in response to operation by a user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cockpit perspective view includes a full-screen attitude indicator substantially filling the primary display region.

18. The system of claim 16, where the control is further operable to change the content of the inset in response to operation by the user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein, in response to operation by the user, the control is operable to overlay weather information on the two-dimensional map.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein, in response to operation by the user, the control is operable to overlay air traffic information on the two-dimensional map.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the inset comprises less than twenty-five percent of the primary display region.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein, in response to operation by the user, the control is further operable to remove at least one of the airspeed indicator and the altitude indicator from the primary display region.