Display systems and methods for providing displays having an integrated autopilot functionality

• US 9,126,694 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chandrashekarappa, Mohan Gowda, Shambulingappa, Babitha Jajur
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US13/942,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• 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 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/106 Change initiated in response to external conditions, e.g. avoidance of elevated terrain or of no-fly zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management

Abstract

A method for providing a display to a flight crew of an aircraft includes providing a horizontal navigation display that includes data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a horizontal direction and an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the horizontal direction. The method further includes providing a vertical navigation display that includes data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a vertical direction and an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the vertical direction. The horizontal and vertical navigation displays are disposed adjacent to one another on a single display device. The method further includes receiving a first input to the display device indicating a selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, and, in response to the selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, engaging a horizontal navigation control feature of an autopilot system of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for providing a display to a flight crew of an aircraft comprising the steps of:

providing a horizontal navigation display comprising;

data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a horizontal direction;

a virtual compass comprising an aircraft heading indicator indicating a current heading of the aircraft and an autopilot heading selector; and

an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the horizontal direction;

providing a vertical navigation display comprising;

data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a vertical direction;

an altitude target indicator line; and

an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the vertical direction, wherein the horizontal and vertical navigation displays are disposed adjacent to one another on a single display device;

receiving a first input to the display device indicating a selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon;

in response to the selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, engaging a horizontal navigation control feature of an autopilot system of the aircraft;

receiving a second input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon;

in response to the selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, engaging a vertical navigation control feature of the autopilot system of the aircraft;

receiving a third input to the display device indicating a selection of the autopilot heading selector, the third input comprising a movement of the autopilot heading selector along the virtual compass to a desired heading;

in response to the movement of the autopilot heading selector, actuating a flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired heading;

receiving a fourth input to the display device indicating a selection of the altitude target indicator line, the fourth input comprising a movement of the altitude target indicator line in either an up or a down vertical direction to indicate a desired altitude; and

in response to the movement of the altitude target indicator line, actuating an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired altitude;

receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a movement of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon in either a forward or reverse horizontal direction to indicate a desired airspeed; and

in response to the movement of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, actuating an autothrottle control system of the autopilot system of the aircraft to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired airspeed, wherein receiving one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth inputs comprises moving a cursor control device to overlay a respective one or more of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the autopilot heading selector, and the altitude target indicator line.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the aircraft heading indicator, and, in response to the selection of the aircraft heading indicator, moving the autopilot heading selector along the virtual compass to overlay the aircraft heading indicator, thereby actuating the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature to cause to aircraft to maintain flight along the current heading of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon in either an up or a down vertical direction to indicate a desired vertical speed, and, in response to the movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, actuating an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired vertical speed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a rotational movement of an arrow associated with the vertical navigation display aircraft icon in either an up or a down vertical direction, or a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, to indicate a desired flight path angle, and, in response to the rotational movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, actuating an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired flight path angle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of an approach localizer icon for a desired runway approach, and, in response to the selection of the approach localizer icon, actuating the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature and the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly along the desired runway approach.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of a back course approach localizer icon for a desired runway approach, and, in response to the selection of the back course approach localizer icon, actuating the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature and the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly along the desired runway approach.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving a selection of one or more of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the autopilot heading selector, and the altitude target indicator line, changing a color or a brightness of the respective one or more of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the autopilot heading selector, and the altitude target indicator line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the horizontal navigation display further comprises one or more flight path waypoints.

9. A display system configured to provide a display to a flight crew of an aircraft comprising:

an image display device;

a cursor control device in operable electronic communication with the image display device a data storage device that stores navigation information and runway information; and

a computer processor device in operable electronic communication with the image display device and the data storage device, wherein the computer processor device is configured to;

provide a horizontal navigation display comprising;

data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a horizontal direction;

a virtual compass comprising an aircraft heading indicator indicating a current heading of the aircraft and an autopilot heading selector; and

an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the horizontal direction;

provide a vertical navigation display comprising;

data regarding the movement of the aircraft in a vertical direction;

an altitude target indicator line; and

an aircraft icon indicating a position of the aircraft in the vertical direction, wherein the horizontal and vertical navigation displays are disposed adjacent to one another on a single display device;

receive a first input to the display device indicating a selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon;

in response to the selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, engage a horizontal navigation control feature of an autopilot system of the aircraft;

receive a second input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon;

in response to the selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, engage a vertical navigation control feature of the autopilot system of the aircraft;

receive a third input to the display device indicating a selection of the autopilot heading selector, the third input comprising a movement of the autopilot heading selector along the virtual compass to a desired heading;

in response to the movement of the autopilot heading selector, actuate a flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired heading;

receive a fourth input to the display device indicating a selection of the altitude target indicator line, the fourth input comprising a movement of the altitude target indicator line in either an up or a down vertical direction to indicate a desired altitude; and

in response to the movement of the altitude target indicator line, actuate an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired altitude;

receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a movement of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon in either a forward or reverse horizontal direction to indicate a desired airspeed; and

in response to the movement of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, actuate an autothrottle control system of the autopilot system of the aircraft to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired airspeed, wherein the computer processor device being configured to receive one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth inputs comprises the computer processor device being configured to receive a movement of the cursor control device to overlay a respective one or more of the horizontal navigation display aircraft icon, vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the autopilot heading selector, and the altitude target indicator line.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor device is further configured to receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the aircraft heading indicator, and, in response to the selection of the aircraft heading indicator, move the autopilot heading selector along the virtual compass to overlay the aircraft heading indicator, thereby actuating the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature to cause to aircraft to maintain flight along the current heading of the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor device is further configured to receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon in either an up or a down vertical direction to indicate a desired vertical speed, and, in response to the movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, actuate an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired vertical speed.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor device is further configured to receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, the fifth input comprising a rotational movement of an arrow associated with the vertical navigation display aircraft icon in either an up or a down vertical direction, or a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, to indicate a desired flight path angle, and, in response to the rotational movement of the vertical navigation display aircraft icon, actuate an altitude control system of the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly at the desired flight path angle.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor device is further configured to receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of an approach localizer icon for a desired runway approach, and, in response to the selection of the approach localizer icon, actuate the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature and the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly along the desired runway approach.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer processor device is further configured to receive a fifth input to the display device indicating a selection of a back course approach localizer icon for a desired runway approach, and, in response to the selection of the back course approach localizer icon, actuate the flight heading control system of the horizontal navigation control feature and the vertical navigation control feature to cause the aircraft to fly along the desired runway approach.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the system excludes both a mode control panel and a guidance panel.