Aircraft standby display device

• US 7,764,198 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Brehin, Didier, Dattler, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/573,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/973
• 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

An aircraft standby display device includes a set of data sources, a data processing unit, and a display. The display presents altitude control indicators representing speed, altitude, attitude, and a heading scale that includes a characteristic symbol indicating a next route point of an aircraft flight plan. The heading scale is independent of the altitude control indicators. The display also presents a quantitative value that: (1) indicates the remaining distance of flight of the aircraft to reach the next route point and (2) is associated with the characteristic symbol.

Claims

1. An aircraft standby display device comprising:

a set of information sources;

an information processing unit that processes information emanating from said set of information sources;

a display that presents, on at least one visualization screen, processed information emanating from said information processing unit and which is formed in such a way as to present on said visualization screen;

piloting indicators illustrating at least information concerning speed, altitude, and attitude of the aircraft;

a heading scale comprising a first characteristic sign illustrating the heading of at least one next route point of a flight plan of the aircraft, said heading scale being independent of said piloting indicators on said visualization screen; and

a quantitative value which illustrates the distance remaining to be traveled by the aircraft to reach said next route point and which is associated with said first characteristic sign; and

a determining device that determines a case where the next route point is situated outside the heading scale part which is presented on the visualization screen, wherein

said display presents said first characteristic sign in proximity to the end of said heading scale corresponding to the side of this heading scale where said next route point is to be found, when the latter is situated outside said heading scale such as presented on said visualization screen.

2. The aircraft standby display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said information processing unit provides the current heading of the aircraft, and

said display moreover presents on said heading scale a second characteristic sign illustrating said current heading of the aircraft.

3. An aircraft standby display device comprising:

a set of information sources;

an information processing unit that processes information emanating from said set of information sources;

a display that presents, on at least one visualization screen, processed information emanating from said information processing unit and which is formed in such a way as to present on said visualization screen;

piloting indicators illustrating at least information concerning speed, altitude, and attitude of the aircraft;

a heading scale comprising a first characteristic sign illustrating the heading of at least one next route point of a flight plan of the aircraft, said heading scale being independent of said piloting indicators on said visualization screen; and

a quantitative value which illustrates the distance remaining to be traveled by the aircraft to reach said next route point and which is associated with said first characteristic sign; and

a determining device that determines a case where the next route point is situated outside the heading scale part which is presented on the visualization screen, wherein

said display moreover presents, in proximity to said heading scale, a numerical value which indicates the heading of said next route point, when the latter is situated outside said heading scale such as presented on said visualization screen.

4. The aircraft standby display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said information processing unit provides the current heading of the aircraft, and

said display moreover presents on said heading scale a second characteristic sign illustrating said current heading of the aircraft.

5. An aircraft comprising an aircraft standby display device, said aircraft standby display device comprising:

a set of information sources;

an information processing unit that processes information emanating from said set of information sources;

a display that presents, on at least one visualization screen, processed information emanating from said information processing unit and which is formed in such a way as to present on said visualization screen;

piloting indicators illustrating at least information concerning speed, altitude, and attitude of the aircraft;

a heading scale comprising a first characteristic sign illustrating the heading of at least one next route point of a flight plan of the aircraft, said heading scale being independent of said piloting indicators on said visualization screen; and

a quantitative value which illustrates the distance remaining to be traveled by the aircraft to reach said next route point and which is associated with said first characteristic sign; and

a determining device that determines a case where the next route point is situated outside the heading scale part which is presented on the visualization screen, wherein

said display presents said first characteristic sign in proximity to the end of said heading scale corresponding to the side of this heading scale where said next route point is to be found, when the latter is situated outside said heading scale such as presented on said visualization screen.

6. An aircraft comprising an aircraft standby display device, said aircraft standby display device comprising:

a set of information sources;

an information processing unit that processes information emanating from said set of information sources;

a display that presents, on at least one visualization screen, processed information emanating from said information processing unit and which is formed in such a way as to present on said visualization screen;

piloting indicators illustrating at least information concerning speed, altitude, and attitude of the aircraft;

a heading scale comprising a first characteristic sign illustrating the heading of at least one next route point of a flight plan of the aircraft, said heading scale being independent of said piloting indicators on said visualization screen; and

a quantitative value which illustrates the distance remaining to be traveled by the aircraft to reach said next route point and which is associated with said first characteristic sign; and

a determining device that determines a case where the next route point is situated outside the heading scale part which is presented on the visualization screen, wherein

said display moreover presents, in proximity to said heading scale, a numerical value which indicates the heading of said next route point, when the latter is situated outside said heading scale such as presented on said visualization screen.