Interactive device for control of utility systems in an aircraft

• US 8,374,732 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Vial, Jean-Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/538,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/36, 701/11, 701 14- 18, 701/400, 701/408, 701/431, 340/945, 340/971, 244/1.R
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric

Abstract

A device for control of a plurality of support subsystems in an aircraft includes a filtering unit that determines at least one command associated with at least one support subsystem of the plurality of support subsystems according to at least one context parameter. The device also includes a display unit that displays at least one representation of the at least one determined command. The at least one representation of the at least one determined command includes an indication relating to a state of the at least one support subsystem controlled by the at least one determined command. The device further includes a selection unit that selects the at least one representation. In addition, the device includes an activation unit that transmits the at least one determined command to the at least one support subsystem in response to an activation of the at least one selected representation.

Claims

1. A device for control of a plurality of support subsystems in an aircraft, the device comprising:

a filtering unit configured to determine at least one command associated with at least one support subsystem of the plurality of support subsystems according to at least one context parameter, the at least one support subsystem relating to at least one of a generation and a distribution of an electrical capacity, a generation and a distribution of a hydraulic capacity, a generation of a pneumatic capacity, air conditioning and a pressurization, a fuel management and an auxiliary power engine;

a display unit that displays at least one representation of the at least one determined command, the at least one representation of the at least one determined command comprising an indication relating to a state of the at least one support subsystem controlled by the at least one determined command;

a selection unit that selects the at least one representation, wherein the selection unit employs a predetermined hierarchical structure to control the at least one support subsystem,

when the at least one representation is selected, a first command accesses a plurality of representations of commands of a lower level of the predetermined hierarchical structure, and

if the at least one representation is selected, a second command activates or deactivates all of the commands of the lower level of the predetermined hierarchical structure; and

an activation unit that transmits the at least one determined command to the at least one support subsystem in response to an activation of the at least one selected representation.

2. The device according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

a detection unit that detects at least one event associated with the aircraft, the at least one context parameter being determined according to the at least one detected event.

3. The device according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires at least one information item, the at least one context parameter being determined according to at least one acquired information item.

4. The device according to claim 1, according to which the display unit displays at least one block diagram at least one element of which corresponds to the at least one representation.

5. The device according to claim 1, according to which the activation unit transmits the at least one command to several support subsystems of the plurality of support subsystems in response to the activation of the at least one selected representation.

6. The device according to claim 1, according to which the display unit displays a plurality of tasks and/or of verifications to be made, at least one indicator being associated with each of the tasks and/or verifications to indicate if the task or the corresponding verification has been completed.

7. The device according to claim 6, according to which the display unit displays at least one link associated with at least one task,

the device additionally comprising:

an access unit that directly accesses a representation of at least one command associated with the at least one task according to the at least one link.

8. The device according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

a dedicated device capable of generating the at least one command.

9. An aircraft comprising the device according to any one of the preceding claims.