Aircraft systems and methods for displaying visual segment information

• US 9,092,975 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Pepitone, Dave, Burgin, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASS, JEAN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/033,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A display system and method are provided for an aircraft. The system includes a processing unit configured to determine a visual segment for the aircraft and to generate display commands based on the visual segment; and a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and to display symbology representing the visual segment as a visual segment marker.

Claims

1. A display system for an aircraft, comprising:

a processing unit configured to determine a visual segment for the aircraft and to generate display commands based on the visual segment, wherein the visual segment is a two dimensional geographical area on the ground at a predetermined location and defined with a rectangular construction with a predetermined length and a predetermined width; and

a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and to display symbology representing the visual segment as a visual segment marker, wherein, during a landing situation at a runway, the processing unit is further configured to determine runway references associated with the runway that are within the visual segment, wherein the display commands are further based on the runway references, and wherein the display device is further configured to display symbology representing the runway references as runway reference markers,

wherein the visual segment marker is rendered as an outline on the display device with the generally rectangular construction according to the predetermined length and the predetermined width, and wherein the runway references are rendered within the outline of the visual segment marker,

wherein the processing unit is additionally configured to display runway references associated with the runway that are outside of the visual segment, wherein the display device is configured to highlight the runway references inside the outline of the visual segment relative to runway references outside the outline of the visual segment marker,

wherein the visual segment is defined according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation as a function of aircraft position, the visual segment marker having a forward boundary defined at a predetermined distance from the aircraft, and wherein the visual segment has a length of between about 60 meters and about 90 meters.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display an aircraft symbol with the runway reference markers and the visual segment marker to indicate the relative positions of the aircraft, the runway references, and the visual segment.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the runway reference markers and visual segment marker as a plan view.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the runway reference markers and visual segment marker as an elevation view.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the visual segment markers include at least one of approach light markers, runway threshold markers, and touchdown zone markers.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the visual segment based on nose geometry of the aircraft.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display commands are further based on a windshield configuration of the aircraft, and wherein the display device is configured to display symbology representing the windshield configuration, and wherein the display device is further configured to display symbology representing an arrow indicating a direction of the visual segment relative to the windshield configuration.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is a primary flight display.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device is a head down display.