Data viewing system for an aircraft

• US 8,373,614 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Bigot, Jean-Louis, Hauty, Pierre, Tribut, Hlne, Pouzolz, Franois
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US11/969,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,864 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 6, 345 73-107, 345204-215, 345690-699, 701 3- 18
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/08 Fault-tolerant or redundant circuits, or circuits in which repair of defects is prepared
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel

Abstract

A data viewing system for an aircraft includes a concentration unit including a first element for acquiring all of the compound images generated by a plurality of image sources, a second element for processing the acquired compound images, and a third element for managing the display of the processed compound images implemented on a plurality of viewing screens.

Claims

1. A data viewing system for an aircraft, said data viewing system comprising:

a plurality of image sources for generating compound images corresponding to at least one of data of video type and data of image type;

a first unit for determining current values of parameters of the aircraft;

a plurality of viewing screens configured to display the compound images;

a second unit for detecting an anomaly of at least one of said viewing screens;

a single concentration unit connected to each of said plurality of image sources, said plurality of viewing screens, said first unit, and said second unit;

wherein said single concentration unit comprises;

a) a first element configured to acquire each of the compound images generated by said plurality of image sources;

b) a second element configured to process each of the acquired compound images for compatibility with display formats of said plurality of viewing screens;

c) a third element configured to manage the display of the compound images of said plurality of viewing screens processed by said second element; and

d) a selection element configured to select at least one of said compound images generated by one of said image sources, and to select an associated viewing screen on which to display the selected at least one compound image, as a function of an integrated display logic, said current values of parameters of the aircraft determined by said first unit, and the anomaly detected by said second unit, with the integrated display logic being defined as routing to the plurality of screens based on aircraft system information, airport information and external aircraft image information;

wherein the signal concentration unit is further configured to;

transform and shape diverse protocols and formats for compatibility with said viewing screens; and

integrate said current values of parameters of the aircraft into the integrated display logic; and

wherein a control unit is connected to said single concentration unit and said plurality of viewing screens for controlling the data viewing system.

2. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said data viewing system further comprises a third unit configured to detect a selection cue according to an anomaly of a sensor; and

said selection element of said concentration unit is further configured to carry out the selection of said at least one compound image and the associated viewing screen on which to display the at least one compound image, as soon as said selection cue is detected by said third unit.

3. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said concentration unit further comprises an integrated element configured to control the display, on the associated viewing screen, of the at least one compound image selected by said selection element as soon as the at least one compound image is selected.

4. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said control unit comprises an actuation unit configured for actuation by an operator; and

said concentration unit is further configured to display the at least one compound image selected by said selection element on the associated viewing screen, as soon as said actuation unit is actuated by the operator according to a preselection mode.

5. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a manual selection unit configured for an operator to select and control, in a manual mode, the display of at least one compound image on a particular viewing screen of the plurality of viewing screens.

6. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data viewing system is further configured to return to an automatic selection mode as soon as the manual mode is exited.

7. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said manual selection unit comprises:

a first actuatable element configured to select a first image source of the image sources; and

a second actuatable element configured to select a second image source of the image sources, said second image source comprising a plurality of image generators.

8. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first actuatable element comprises a first rotactor and said second element comprises a second rotactor and wherein said first rotactor and said second rotactor are mounted in a co-axial manner and are configured for individual actuation, and said first rotactor and said second rotactor cooperate with at least one interactive zone provided on at least one of said viewing screens.

9. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data viewing system further comprises a display reconfiguring unit for reconfiguring the display of said viewing screens.

10. The data viewing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data viewing system further comprises an anti-piracy device.

11. An aircraft, which comprises a data viewing system such as that specified under claim 1.

12. A data viewing system for an aircraft, said data viewing system comprising:

a plurality of image sources for generating compound images corresponding to at least one of data of video type and data of image type;

a first unit for determining current values of parameters of the aircraft;

a plurality of viewing screens configured to display the compound images;

a second unit for detecting an anomaly of at least one of said viewing screens;

a single concentration unit connected to each of said plurality of image sources, said plurality of viewing screens, said first unit, and said second unit;

wherein said single concentration unit comprises;

a) a first element configured to acquire each of the compound images generated by said plurality of image sources;

b) a second element configured to process each of the acquired compound images for compatibility with display formats of said plurality of viewing screens;

c) a third element configured to manage the display of the compound images of said plurality of viewing screens processed by said second element; and

d) a selection element configured to select at least one of said compound images generated by one of said image sources, and to select an associated viewing screen on which to display the selected at least one compound image, as a function of an integrated display logic, said current values of parameters of the aircraft determined by said first unit, and the anomaly detected by said second unit, with the integrated display logic being defined as routing to the plurality of screens based on aircraft system information, airport information and external aircraft image information;

wherein the data viewing system further comprises a manual selection unit configured for an operator to select and control, in a manual mode, the display of at least one compound image on a particular viewing screen of the plurality of viewing screens;

wherein said manual selection unit comprises;

a first actuatable element configured to select a first image source of the image sources; and

a second actuatable element configured to select a second image source of the image sources, said second image source comprising a plurality of image generators;

wherein said first actuatable element comprises a first rotactor and said second element comprises a second rotactor;

wherein said first rotactor and said second rotactor are mounted in a co-axial manner and are configured for individual actuation, and said first rotactor and said second rotactor cooperate with at least one interactive zone provided on at least one of said viewing screens.