Optoelectronic taxi-assistance safety device for aircraft

• US 7,844,392 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Dubourg, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/590,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701 14- 16, 340960-978, 340/980
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• 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

The field of the invention is that of optoelectronic taxi-assistance devices for aircraft, including a head-up display providing for the presentation of information in the pilot'"'"'s field of vision. The invention applies in particular to large civil aircraft of the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 type. The object of the invention is to propose the displaying of safety-related symbologies in the head-up display, providing for substantially improving aircraft safety and maneuverability during the taxiing phase. These symbologies relate substantially to the position of the aircraft on the taxiway and to the turning and stop maneuvers to be performed by the pilot. Said symbologies are particularly useful in poor visibility conditions.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic taxi-assistance device for an aircraft in an airport, said device comprising:

a head-up display and a computer dedicated to said head-up display, said computer including means for displaying on the head-up display safety symbols concerning either the position of the aircraft on the airport taxiways or the maneuver to be performed by the aircraft on said taxiways, and if the aircraft makes a turn, the safety symbols include an arrow of variable size, the length of the arrow is maximum when entering the turn and zero when coming out of the turn.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety symbols also include, on both sides of the arrow, a first indication relating to the taxiway on which the aircraft is located before the turn and a second indication relating to the taxiway located on coming out of the turn.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety symbols include a first symbol representing the width of the taxiway and a second symbol representing the width of the main landing gear, the widths of the first symbol and of the second symbol being represented with the same scale, the position of the second symbol relative to the first symbol being representative of the real position of the landing gear on the taxiway.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first symbol is a rectangle including a central bar symbolizing the axis of the taxiway and the second symbol is composed of two oblong shapes.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the safety symbols also include, on both sides of the first symbol, two alarm symbols which flash when the landing gear is very close to the edge of the taxiway.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second safety symbol flashes when the landing gear is very close to the edge of the taxiway.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety symbols include an arresting barrier, said arresting barrier occupying a precise and constant virtual position on an airport taxiway.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the arresting barrier includes at least one stand surmounted by a grille composed of inclined and parallel bars between two horizontal bars.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the safety symbols also include at least a first stop indicator and an indication of the distance separating the aircraft from the virtual position of the arresting barrier.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stop indicators are the word STOP.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stop indicators are displayed in reverse video.

12. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the safety symbols also include at least a first and a second stop indicator flashing when the distance separating the aircraft from the virtual position of the arresting barrier is less than a set value.