User interface for an aircraft

• US 10,042,456 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Kneuper, Jeremy Joseph, Decker, Jason Michael, Stanfield, Isaac Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/643,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• 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 23/00 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: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for controlling an aircraft. The systems and methods utilize a touch screen instrument panel to display information to pilots or other users, and to receive input from the user for controlling the aircraft and its components. The systems and methods include synoptic user interface panels that provide graphical or symbolic representations of the aircraft, its components, and subsystems, and display information regarding their configuration, condition, and status. The users may interact with the synoptic user interface panels through the touch screen instrument panel to control the various components of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an aircraft having a touch screen instrument panel and an onboard computer connected to the touch screen instrument panel, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one synoptic user interface panel graphically depicting at least a portion of the aircraft on a portion of the touch screen instrument panel;

overlaying the at least one synoptic user interface panel on a panoramic real-time image displayed on the touch screen instrument panel, wherein the real-time image is captured by a forward-facing camera mounted to the aircraft;

moving the at least one synoptic user interface panel to a desired location on the touch screen instrument panel;

fixing the at least one synoptic user interface panel to remain in the desired location on the touch screen instrument panel while receiving touch input;

providing information via at least one display element associated with a graphically depicted portion of the aircraft from the onboard computer via the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

receiving control input via the graphically depicted portion of the aircraft to the onboard computer through the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

modifying a state of a component of the aircraft in response to the control input; and

updating the at least one display element associated with the graphically depicted portion to match the state of the component following the step of modifying the state of the component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the panel symbolically depicts all or a portion of an aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one display element depicts a component of the aircraft in relation to the graphical depiction of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing information comprises displaying values on the at least one synoptic user interface panel from the onboard computer corresponding to a component of the aircraft in relation to the display element depicting the component.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a first panel selected from the at least one synoptic user interface panel partially overlays a second panel selected from the at least one synoptic user interface panel.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of automatically updating the values from the onboard computer displayed on the display element to represent the state of the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the display elements are automatically modified by altering the color, text or numerical value, shape, or configuration of the display element to represent the state of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of receiving control input comprises the steps of:

sensing a touch input on the portion of the touch screen instrument panel on which the at least one synoptic user interface panel is displayed; and

determining the display element associated with the touch input.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises the steps of:

determining the component of the aircraft depicted by the display element associated with the touch input; and

modifying the state of the component of the aircraft in response to the touch input.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of receiving control input comprises sensing a touch input on the at least one display element.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one display element depicts a control surface of the aircraft;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises repositioning the control surface.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one display element depicts an internal or external light;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises turning the internal or external light on or off.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one display element depicts an electrical component;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises actuating the electrical component.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical component is selected from the group consisting of a power generator, a relay, and an electrical bus.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one display element depicts a hydraulic valve, a pneumatic valve, or a fuel valve;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises opening or closing the valve.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one synoptic user interface panel is selected from the group consisting of an anti-icing systems panel, an environmental control systems panel, an electrical systems panel, a flight control panel, an hydraulic systems panel, an exterior light panel, an oxygen systems panel, a cabin pressurization panel, a propulsion systems panel, an internal light panel, and a cabin window shade panel.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dragging the at least one synoptic user interface panel to any desired location on the touch screen instrument panel.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one display element is an icon associated with the depiction of all or a portion of an aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of receiving control input comprises sensing a touch input on the icon.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the icon is associated with an anti-icing system;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises turning the anti-icing system on or off.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the icon is associated with the temperature of a portion of the aircraft, and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises increasing or decreasing the temperature settings for the portion of the aircraft;

and, the step of updating the at least one display element comprises displaying the updated temperature.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the icon is associated with the position of a control surface for the aircraft, and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises repositioning the control surface;

and, the step of updating the at least one display element comprises displaying the updated position of the control surface.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the control surface for the aircraft comprises a flap, and the graphically depicted portion of the aircraft displays a graphical image of the flap position;

and, the display element shows a numerical value of the flap angle such that the at least one synoptic user interface panel replaces a flap handle lever of the aircraft.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the icon is associated with an aircraft system selected from a hydraulic system, a lighting system, an oxygen system, a climate control system, a fuel system, and a cabin control system;

and the step of modifying the state of the aircraft comprises modifying a component in the aircraft system.

25. A method for controlling an aircraft having a touch screen instrument panel and an onboard computer connected to the touch screen instrument panel, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one synoptic user interface panel on a portion the touch screen instrument panel;

providing information about the aircraft from the onboard computer via the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

receiving control input to the onboard computer through the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

modifying the state of the aircraft in response to the control input;

dragging the at least one synoptic user interface panel to a desired location on the touch screen instrument panel;

actuating an icon displayed in the at least one synoptic user interface panel to pin the at least one user interface panel in the desired location preventing the at least one synoptic user interface panel from being moved from the desired location;

touching the touch screen instrument panel in the area depicting the at least one synoptic user interface panel to manipulate the information provided on the at least one synoptic user interface panel; and

actuating the icon to unpin the at least one user interface panel allowing the panel to be moved from the desired location.

26. A method for controlling an aircraft having a touch screen instrument panel and an onboard computer connected to the touch screen instrument panel, comprising the steps of:

displaying at least one synoptic user interface panel on a portion the touch screen instrument panel;

providing information about the aircraft from the onboard computer via the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

receiving control input to the onboard computer through the at least one synoptic user interface panel;

actuating an icon displayed in the at least one synoptic user interface panel to pin the at least one user interface panel in a desired location preventing the at least one synoptic user interface panel from being moved from the desired location;

touching the touch screen instrument panel in the area depicting the at least one synoptic user interface panel to manipulate the information provided on the at least one synoptic user interface panel; and

actuating the icon to unpin the at least one user interface panel allowing the panel to be moved from the desired location.