Illuminated sidestick controller, such as an illuminated sidestick controller for use in aircraft

• US 9,586,695 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Voros, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Application Number:
  US14/631,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20150175274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/815.45, 340/815.73, 340/907, 340/973, 340/974, 340/979
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0421 control sticks for primary flight controls
• 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: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

A system and method for illuminating one or more sidestick controllers within a cockpit of an aircraft is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a sidestick controller having lighting components that display lighting behaviors representing the movement and/or control of an aircraft. In some embodiments, the system illuminates various different lighting components on a sidestick controller based on information received from aircraft control systems, cockpit lighting systems, and other systems associated with an aircraft.

Claims

1. A sidestick controller for use in an aircraft, comprising:

a control module, wherein the control module is configured to control operation of the aircraft;

an illumination module, wherein the illumination module is configured to display one or more lighted signals in response to a flight control operation of the control module; and

an information component configured to determine if the sidestick controller has been given priority, wherein the illumination module is configured to illuminate the one or more lighted signals with a pattern of light indicative of priority.

2. The sidestick controller of claim 1, wherein the illumination module is located on the sidestick controller.

3. The sidestick controller of claim 1, wherein the illumination module is configured to display the one or more lighted signals in response to a warning or cue signal.

4. The sidestick controller of claim 1, wherein the illumination module displays the one or more lighted signals in a sequence configured to progress directionally, thereby indicating a corresponding aircraft direction in response to auto-flight operation.

5. A system for indicating information associated with control of an aircraft, the system comprising:

an information component, wherein the information component is configured to determine a state of flight control based on information received from a flight control operation of the aircraft; and

an illumination component located on a sidestick controller,

wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate one or more indicators associated with the sidestick controller of the aircraft in response to the determined state of flight control,

wherein the information component is configured to determine if the sidestick controller has been given priority, and

wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the one or more indicators with a pattern of light indicative of priority.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information component is configured to determine if a warning or cue is to be given;

and wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the one or more indicators to comprise the pattern of light, the pattern of light being indicative of the warning or cue.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the information component is configured to determine whether the aircraft is being commanded to perform a roll or pitch operation;

and wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the indicators in a sequence that progresses directionally, thereby indicating a corresponding aircraft direction in response to the roll or pitch operation.

8. A method for displaying lighted information associated with a sidestick controller of an aircraft, the method comprising:

identifying whether a sidestick controller is assigned priority; and

when the sidestick controller is not assigned priority;

receiving pitch control input information from an auto-flight operation within the aircraft;

illuminating pitch lights of an illumination module based on the received pitch control input information;

receiving roll control input information from an auto-flight operation within the aircraft; and

illuminating roll lights of the illumination module based on the received roll control input information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving warning or cue input information; and

illuminating one or more indicators of the illumination module based on the received warning or cue input information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving pitch control information includes receiving pitch control information from a sidestick controller within the aircraft.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving roll control information includes receiving roll control information from a sidestick controller within the aircraft.

12. A system for indicating a flight control status of an aircraft, comprising:

an information component, wherein the information component is configured to determine the flight control status of the aircraft,

wherein the information component is configured to determine if a warning or cue is to be given, and

wherein the information component is configured to determine if a sidestick controller has been given priority; and

an illumination component,

wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate one or more indicators in the aircraft cockpit, thereby indicating the flight control status of the aircraft,

wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the one or more indicators with a first pattern of light indicating the warning or cue, and

wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the one or more indicators with a second pattern of light indicating priority.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the illumination component is configured to display the one or more lighted signals in response to operation of a sidestick controller of the aircraft.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the illumination component is configured to display a first color when the sidestick controller is a priority stick for actively controlling the aircraft, and a second color when the sidestick controller is not the priority stick.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the information component is configured to determine whether the aircraft is being commanded to perform a roll or pitch operation based on information received from another sidestick controller of the aircraft;

and wherein the illumination component is configured to illuminate the one or more indicators with a third pattern of light indicating the roll or pitch operation.

16. The system of claim 15, the third pattern of light comprising a sequence of illuminating lights configured to progress directionally, thereby indicating a corresponding aircraft direction in response to the roll or pitch operation.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second patterns of light are formed using a plurality of individual lights.

18. A system for indicating a flight control status of an aircraft, comprising:

an information component, wherein the information component is configured to determine the flight control status of the aircraft;

an illumination component configured to display one or more lighted signals in response to activation of a flight control system of the aircraft,

wherein the illumination component is configured to display a first identifiable state when a sidestick controller is a priority stick for actively controlling the aircraft, and a second identifiable state when the sidestick controller is not the priority stick.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first identifiable state is a first color, and the second identifiable state is a second color.