Method and device for displaying forecasts on a navigation plan

• US 8,106,794 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Pinheiro, Jean-Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Small, Naomi
• Application Number:
  US12/257,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 340/971, 340/945
• 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: 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 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

The invention applies particularly to the method and device for displaying forecasts on the flight plan of an aircraft. The method includes representing the craft by a first symbol in its current position and by a second symbol in its future position, modifying the position of the second symbol on the navigation plan in order to change it to a future position, displaying on the viewing screen the first symbol and at the same time the second symbol representing the craft on the navigation plan in a future position and displaying on the viewing screen the navigation data at the instant of the future position of the craft.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a navigation plan for a craft by a display device comprising a display system, at least one viewing screen, means for calculating the navigation plan of the craft, at least one navigation data forecasting computer and pointing means engaging and deactivating a selection function, the display system representing on the viewing screen the craft on the navigation plan and the navigation data at an instant of the future position of the craft, the system uses the navigation plan as a time scale by enabling the craft to move on the navigation plan to display the forecast data from the computers and handles the following functions:

when a user selects the symbol representing the craft on the navigation plan at its current position and keeps the selection function active, the system initially creates a second symbol representing the craft, this symbol sliding along the navigation plan by means of a pointer, and

when the user modifies the position of the second symbol on the navigation plan in order to change it to a future position, the system displays on the viewing screen the first symbol, the second symbol representing the craft on the navigation plan in the future position and the navigation data at the instant of the future position of the craft.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation plan and the first symbol are displayed permanently, this first symbol being fixed on the display screen.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the position of the second symbol changes according to the navigation plan, this second symbol being displayed only when it is selected.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second symbol is superimposed on the first symbol when it is positioned on the current position and is different from the first symbol.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second symbol is a form of framed aeroplane, the whole in broken lines.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the display system can represent the navigation plan and the navigation data according to two perspectives:

a top view and a lateral view.

13. An aircraft comprising the device that implements the method according to claim 1.

15. An air traffic control station comprising the device which implements the method according to claim 1.

7. A device for displaying a navigation plan of a craft comprising:

a display system;

at least one viewing screen;

means for calculating the navigation plan of the craft;

at least one navigation data forecasting computer; and

pointing means engaging and deactivating a selection function, the pointing means is means for modifying a current position of the craft on the navigation plan,

wherein

said display system represents on the viewing screen the craft on the navigation plan by a first symbol in the current position and by a second symbol in a future position;

said second symbol is initially created by the system when said first symbol is selected and the selection function is kept active;

said second symbol is slidable along the navigation plan by said pointing means;

said means for calculating the navigation plan supplies data concerning a temporal position of the craft represented by the second symbol on the navigation plan to at least one forecasting computer;

said display system presents on the viewing screen the future navigation data corresponding to an instant position of the craft represented by the second symbol on the navigation plan.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a forecasting computer is a weather forecasting computer.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein a forecasting computer is an aircraft flight path computer.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means of calculating the navigation plan is a flight plan aid system of an aircraft.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein a forecasting computer is a navigation management system of the craft.

12. An aircraft, comprising a device according to claim 7.

14. An air traffic control station, comprising a device according to claim 7.