Obstacle avoidance situation display generator

• US 7,948,404 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tran, My
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/672,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/961, 340/963, 701/14, 701/120, 701/301, 342/29, 342/32, 342/65
• US Class Current: 340/961
• 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933

Abstract

A display generator for providing obstacle avoidance guidance to a pilot is described. The display generator receives data from an obstacle avoidance dispatcher and resolver module, a hybrid ground collision avoidance module, a hybrid air collision avoidance module, a display control panel, and a navigation management module. The display generator generates obstacle avoidance display image video data, which includes symbology that represents a location of one of a predicted ground collision, a predicted air collision, and an induced collision. The display generator provides the obstacle avoidance display image video data to an image rendering device, which a pilot can use to avoid both air and ground obstacles.

Claims

1. A display generator comprising:

an air collision data component configured to receive air collision avoidance data;

a ground collision data component configured to receive ground collision avoidance data, wherein at least one of the air collision data component or the ground collision data component is configured to receive a proposed flight path calculated to avoid a predicted air collision or a predicted ground collision that, if followed, would cause a separate collision;

a navigation data component configured to receive navigation data; and

a processor configured to receive a control signal indicating what information to present on a display and generate image video data based on the air collision avoidance data, the ground collision avoidance data, the navigation data, and the control signal, wherein the image video data includes symbology representing an induced collision situation based on the proposed flight path, wherein the processor is further configured to present the image video data on the display.

2. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the air collision data component receives the air collision avoidance data from a hybrid air collision avoidance module.

3. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the ground collision data component receives the ground collision avoidance data from a hybrid ground collision avoidance module.

4. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the air collision data component receives the air collision avoidance data from an obstacle avoidance dispatcher and resolver module and the ground collision data component receives the ground collision avoidance data from the obstacle avoidance dispatcher and resolver module.

5. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the navigation data component receives the navigation data from a navigation management module.

6. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the display component receives the control signal from a display control panel.

7. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the control signal indicates whether to display information in an obstacle avoidance display mode, a hybrid air collision display mode, or a hybrid ground collision display mode.

8. The display generator of claim 7, wherein each of the obstacle avoidance display mode, the hybrid air collision display mode, and the hybrid ground collision display mode includes a sub-display mode, wherein relatively less data is presented on the display in each of the sub-display modes than in each of the display modes.

9. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the symbology includes at least one of a solid circle that represents a location of the predicted ground collision, a dotted circle that represents a location of the predicted air collision, or a circle within a circle symbol that represents the induced collision situation.

10. The display generator of claim 1, wherein the symbology includes a guidance ladder symbol identifying a pathway for an aircraft to follow to avoid an obstacle collision situation.

11. A method for generating a display depicting an induced collision situation, the method comprising:

receiving air and ground collision avoidance data, navigation data, and a control signal indicating selected information to present on a display;

receiving a proposed flight path calculated to avoid a predicted air collision or a predicted ground collision that, if followed, would cause a separate collision;

generating image video data based on the air and ground collision avoidance data, the navigation data, and the control signal, wherein the display image video data includes symbology representing an induced collision situation based on the proposed flight path; and

displaying the image video data on the display.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting a display mode based on the control signal, wherein the display mode comprises an obstacle avoidance display mode, a hybrid air collision display mode, or a hybrid ground collision display mode.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising computing time and rate to a predicted collision condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predicted collision condition comprises a predicted air collision condition or a predicted ground collision condition.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the symbology further comprises symbology representing a predicted ground collision or a predicted air collision.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the obstacle avoidance display mode, the hybrid air collision display mode, and the hybrid ground collision display mode includes a sub-display mode, wherein relatively less data is presented on the display in each of the sub-display modes than in each of the display modes.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the symbology includes a guidance ladder symbol identifying a pathway for an aircraft to follow to avoid an obstacle collision situation.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the symbology further includes at least one of a solid circle that represents a location of the predicted ground collision, a dotted circle that represents a location of the predicted air collision, or a circle within a circle symbol that represents the induced collision situation.