Visual aid generating system, device, and method

• US 9,174,746 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Bell, Douglas A., Barber, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/315,525
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 701 3- 5, 701/10, 701/16, 340/945, 340971-974, 340/980, 244/75.1, 244/183
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• 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

Present novel and non-trivial system, device and method for generating visual aid image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, an image generator receives navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest (e.g., runway of intended landing) and aircraft position; retrieves navigation reference data representative of surface information; creates zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest; receives first image data from a first source; and generates second image data as a function of the first image data and the zone data, thereby generating a visual aid to increase situational awareness of a pilot by enhancing his or her ability to detect or recognize the runway environment as presented by an enhanced image. In an additional embodiment, the image generator receives and includes third image data in the function for generating the second data.

Claims

1. A system for generating visual aid image data, such system comprising:

a source of navigation data;

a source of navigation reference data;

a source of first image data; and

an image generator configured to

receive navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest and at least aircraft position data,

receive navigation reference data for each surface of interest,

create zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest unless the navigation reference data is comprised of zone data,

receive first image data, and

generate second image data as a function of the first image data and the zone data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the source of navigation data and the source of navigation reference data are comprised of the same source,

the source of first image data is comprised of a synthetic vision system, or both.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

each lighting awareness zone corresponds to

at least one approach lighting system,

at least one runway lighting system, or

both.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second image data is comprised of first image data falling outside of at least one lighting awareness zone.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display system configured to

receive the second image data, and

present the image represented in the second image data to at least one viewer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display system is comprised of the image generator.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of third image data, such that

the image generator is further configured to

receive the third image data, where

the function for generating the second image data includes the third image data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein

the second image data is comprised of

first image data falling outside of each lighting awareness zone, and

third image data falling within each lighting awareness zone.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the source of third image data is comprised of an enhanced vision system.

10. A device for generating visual aid image data, such device comprising:

an image generator configured to

receive navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest and at least aircraft position data;

receive navigation reference data for each surface of interest;

create zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest unless the navigation reference data is comprised of zone data;

receive first image data; and

generate second image data as a function of the first image data and the zone data.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein

each lighting awareness zone corresponds to

at least one approach lighting system,

at least one runway lighting system, or

both.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the second image data is comprised of first image data falling outside of at least one lighting awareness zone.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein

the image generator is further configured to

provide the second image data to a display system, such that

the display system is configured to present the image represented in the second image data to at least one viewer.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein

the image generator is further configured to

receive the third image data, where

the function for generating the second image data includes the third image data.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein

the second image data is comprised of

first image data falling outside of each lighting awareness zone, and

third image data falling within each lighting awareness zone.

16. A method for generating visual aid image data, such method comprising:

receiving navigation data representative of at least one surface of interest and at least aircraft position data;

receiving navigation reference data for each surface of interest;

creating zone data representative of a lighting awareness zone for each surface of interest unless the navigation reference data is comprised of zone data;

receiving first image data; and

generating second image data as a function of the first image data and the zone data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second image data is comprised of first image data falling outside of at least one lighting awareness zone.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing the second image data to a display system, such that

the display system presents the image represented in the second image data to at least one viewer.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving third image data, where

the function for generating the second image data includes the third image data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein

the second image data is comprised of

first image data falling outside of each lighting awareness zone, and

third image data falling within each lighting awareness zone.