Method and system for meteorological monitoring aboard an aircraft

• US 8,395,534 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Christophe, Laure, Raynaud, Garance
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/575,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 340/970, 340/977, 701/4, 701/9
• US Class Current: 340/970
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology

Abstract

A system configured for viewing meteorological data and generating said alerts in an aircraft. The system includes a navigation screen configured to display meteorological data in a monitoring plane at a determined altitude (Zs), and an altitude determination unit configured to determine the current altitude (Zp) of the aircraft. A processor is configured to determine the difference in altitude (Dz) between the aircraft'"'"'s current altitude (Zp) and the altitude of the monitoring plane (Zs). The determined altitude difference (Dz) is compared with a first predetermined deviation threshold (S1), and a first alert (A1) is emitted under conditions in which the altitude difference (Dz) attains or exceeds the first predetermined deviation threshold (S1) and the altitude difference (Dz) diverges.

Claims

1. A method for generating alerts by a system configured for viewing meteorological data and generating said alerts in an aircraft,

wherein said system comprises:

a navigation screen configured to display meteorological data in a monitoring plane at a determined altitude (Zs), and

an altitude determination unit configured to determine the current altitude (Zp) of the aircraft, said method comprising the steps of;

adjusting said monitoring plane to an automatic mode to match the determined altitude (Zs) with the current altitude (Zp) of said aircraft or to a manual mode to view the meteorological data at said determined altitude, with said determined altitude (Zs) being different from the current altitude (Zp), wherein, when said displayed monitoring plane is adjusted to manual mode, the altitude difference (Dz) between said current altitude (Zp) and said altitude of the monitoring plane (Zs) is determined by a processor;

comparing, by said processor, said determined altitude difference (Dz) with a first predetermined deviation threshold (S1); and

emitting, by an alert generating unit, a first alert (A1) under conditions in which;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) attains or exceeds said first predetermined deviation threshold (S1) and

ii. said altitude difference (Dz) diverges.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

emitting a second alert (A2) to indicate;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) attains or exceeds said deviation threshold (S1) and

ii. said altitude difference (Dz) converges.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) and determining that said attitude difference (Dz) diverges under conditions in which;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) is positive and

ii. said vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) is positive.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) and determining that said altitude difference (Dz) diverges under conditions in which;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) is negative and

ii. said vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) is negative.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) and disabling emitting said first alert (A1) under conditions in which said vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) is, in absolute value, below a second predetermined speed threshold (S2).

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

measuring the vertical speed of the aircraft (Vp) and emitting a third alert (A3) under conditions in which;

i. said vertical speed (Vp) is, in absolute value, above said speed threshold (52),

ii. said altitude difference (Dz) diverges and

iii. said altitude difference (Dz) is below said first predetermined deviation threshold (S1).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

emitting the first alert (A1) under conditions in which;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) attains or exceeds said first predetermined deviation threshold (S1) for a duration equal to or greater than a third predetermined deviation threshold (S3) and

ii. said altitude difference (Dz) converges.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an alert message on the navigation screen upon emitting an alert.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a flashing alert message on the navigation screen upon emitting the first alert.

10. A system for viewing meteorological data in an aircraft, comprising:

navigation screen configured to display meteorological data in a monitoring plane at a determined altitude (Zs);

altitude determination unit configured to determine the current altitude (Zp) of the aircraft,

processor configured to;

i. determine the altitude difference (Dz) between said current altitude (Zp) and said altitude of the monitoring plane (Zs);

ii. compare said altitude difference (Dz) with a first deviation threshold (S1) and

iii. detect a divergence of said altitude difference (Dz); and

alert generating unit configured to emit a first alert (A1) for the pilot under conditions in which;

i. said altitude difference (Dz) attains or exceeds the first deviation threshold (S1) and

ii. the altitude difference (Dz) diverges.