Avionics device, systems and methods of display

• US 9,285,217 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc. (The AIRO Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc. (The AIRO Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyons, Peter, Berlin, David, Brodegard, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US14/158,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/970, 340/977, 340/945, 340/963, 340/965, 701/4, 701/9, 701/14, 701/35, 701/431
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present general inventive concept relates to methods and systems to select and display information on an avionics display screen. The systems and methods allow for the selection and display of information using knobs to highlight and select the desired information for display, eliminating the need for a cursor function. The systems and methods also provide for multiple pages and/or multiple windows or “tiles” within these pages and/or windows simultaneously on a single screen of a display, with each window, page, and/or tile being fully controlled independently when selected. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to provide multiple cues on an electronic display system altitude tape to a pilot in advance and impending approach to a predefined altitude. The present general inventive concept also relates to systems and methods to employ variable resolution topographical data based on display range for an avionics navigation display.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information on an avionics device display, said method comprising:

receiving a target altitude as an input data into the device;

storing the input data in a database accessible by the device;

calculating an alert altitude based upon one or more predetermined deviations from said target altitude;

displaying on the device display one or more markers corresponding to said alert altitude receiving a measured altitude that is associated with an actual altitude; and

providing an indication when a measured altitude approaches said target altitude.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more markers are displayed on an electronic avionics device display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more markers are displayed corresponding to an electronic altitude tape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined deviations are stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying said predetermined deviations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined deviations are preset.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said predetermined deviations is preset at 500 feet above the target altitude.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said predetermined deviations is preset at 200 feet above the target altitude.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein one of said one or more markers extends along a range from 200 feet above the target altitude to 100 feet above target altitude.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying on the device display one or more markers corresponding to said alert altitude includes only one marker corresponding to only one alert altitude.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more markers extends along a range of altitude including the alert altitude.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more markers includes a gradient to become more apparent to a user as the target altitude draws nearer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more markers correspond to said target altitude.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more markers includes an audible alert.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more markers includes a visual alert.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more markers includes an audible alert and a visual alert.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication is provided when the measured altitude reaches said alert altitude.