Modular display system for helicopters

• US 8,994,561 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Berger, Jean-Paul, Laluque, Laurent, Bonnet, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/857,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/971, 340/995.26, 340/691.1, 340/691.4, 340/691.7, 340/693.9, 340/815.83, 340/815.86, 340/815.87, 340/953, 340/954, 340/973, 340/974, 340/977, 340/979, 340/980, 434/35, 434/44, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 701/3, 359/630
• US Class Current: 340/971
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• 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

Abstract

The general field of the invention is that of helicopter cockpit display systems. The system according to the invention comprises at least a first mobile display screen. Depending on the mission and in order to optimize the vision of the external landscape, the mobile screen or screens are moved so that they are either in the field of vision of the pilot, or out of his field of vision. The symbologies displayed are adapted according to the mission and to the position of the screen.

Claims

1. A helicopter cockpit display system comprising at least a first flat display screen parallel with a first predetermined plane, wherein the display system comprises mechanical means arranged such that the first flat display screen is mobile in translation in a predetermined direction in the first predetermined plane over a first predetermined length, the movement of the first flat screen is provided manually or automatically by motorized means according to a pre-established program depending on a flight phase or on piloting or navigation conditions of the helicopter to modify a view of an exterior of the helicopter.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display system comprises a second flat display screen located in a second predetermined plane parallel with the first predetermined plane and in that the mechanical means are arranged such that the second flat display screen is mobile in translation in the same predetermined direction in the second predetermined plane over a second predetermined length, the movement of the second flat screen is provided manually or automatically by motorized means according to a pre-established program depending on the flight phase or on piloting or navigation conditions of the helicopter.

3. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the display system comprises a third flat display screen located in a third predetermined plane parallel with the first predetermined plane and in that the mechanical means are arranged such that the third flat display screen is mobile in translation in the same predetermined direction in the third predetermined plane over a third predetermined length, the movement of the third flat screen is provided manually or automatically by motorized means according to a pre-established program depending on the flight phase or on piloting or navigation conditions of the helicopter.

4. The display system according to claim 3, wherein there is at least one position of the third flat display screen where this third flat screen is masked by the first flat display screen.

5. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the display system comprises at least one fixed flat display screen disposed in the center of the display system.

6. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the system comprises electronic means arranged in such a way as to display on the flat display screen or screens a predetermined symbology at least dependent on the position of each screen.

7. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical means are slides upon which at least one of the display screens slides.

8. The display system according to claim 3, wherein:

when the helicopter is carrying out instrument flight rules (IFR) instrument flight, the three flat display screens are fully deployed;

when the helicopter is carrying out visual flight rules (VFR) visual flight, the first mobile display screen is disposed in front of a first crew ensuring the mission, the second display screen is partially or totally visible, the third screen is totally masked by the first two display screens;

when the helicopter is carrying out “

degraded VFR”

degraded visual flight, the first mobile display screen is disposed in front of a first crew ensuring the mission, the second display screen is disposed in the center of the three display screens, the third display screen is partially deployed in front of a second crew member providing the piloting.

9. The display system according to claim 2, wherein there is at least one position of the second flat display screen where this second flat screen is masked by the first flat display screen.