Device for monitoring a plurality of systems of an aircraft, in particular of a transport aircraft

• US 20020120375A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Draoullec, Christine Le, Mailhou, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 6,697,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements

Abstract

The monitoring device (1) includes at least one unit (2) for monitoring the systems and for detecting any failure of one of the systems, display means (4) which, upon detection of a failure and at least throughout the corresponding failure-handling procedure, display on a visual-display screen (6) at least one piece of information identifying the failure-handling procedure, a list of the actions already carried out relating to the said procedure and a list of the actions still having to be carried out, and an information means (8A) capable of being actuated by an operator and making it possible to inform the monitoring device (1) of the carrying-out of a particular action relating to the failure-handling procedure.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a plurality of systems of an aircraft, the said monitoring device (1) including at least:

a monitoring unit (2) for monitoring the said systems and for detecting any failure of one of the said systems; and

display means (4) linked to the said monitoring unit (2) and capable of presenting, on at least one visual-display screen (6), information relating to the monitoring of the said systems, and, upon detection of a failure of one of the said systems, information relating to the said failure, as well as at least one corresponding failure-handling procedure comprising at least a list of actions having to be carried out by at least one operator;

wherein the said display means (4), upon detection of a failure and at least throughout the corresponding failure-handling procedure, display, on the said visual-display screen (6), at least;

information (IF1) identifying the said failure-handling procedure;

if appropriate, a list (L1) of the actions already carried out relating to the said failure-handling procedure; and

if appropriate, a list (L2) of the actions still having to be carried out relating to the said failure-handling procedure, highlighting (12) the next action having to be carried out;

and wherein the said monitoring device (1) further includes an information means (8A) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to inform the said monitoring device (1), if appropriate, of the carrying-out of at least one particular action relating to the said failure-handling procedure.

2. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said display means (4) present, on the said visual-display screen (6), when a failure-processing procedure is terminated, at least one characteristic sign (13A) signaling the completion of this failure-handling procedure, and wherein the said monitoring device (1) further includes a deletion means (8B) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to delete from the said visual-display screen (6) all the information relating to a failure-handling procedure.

3. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said display means (4) continuously present, on the said visual-display screen (6) the new limitations to be complied with by reason of a failure, as soon as these new limitations are known.

4. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a selection means (8C) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter, in a conditional failure-handling procedure comprising a plurality of conditions, to select one of the said conditions, and wherein the said display means (4) present, on the said visual-display screen (6), the various possible conditions and highlight the actions to be carried out for a particular condition, on the said visual-display screen (6), after the selection of this condition by way of the said selection means (8C).

5. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, which further includes a cancellation means (8J) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter, if appropriate, to cancel the previous selection of a condition in a conditional failure-handling procedure.

6. The monitoring device according to claim 1, which further includes a deletion means (8B) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to delete information presented on the said visual-display screen (6), and wherein the said display means (4) highlight (13A, 13B, 13C, 13D), on the said visual-display screen (6), among the information which is presented there, the information (IF1, IF2, IF3, IF4) which is capable of being deleted by the said deletion means (8B).

7. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes an information means (8D) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to inform the said monitoring device (1) of the occurrence of a failure, and an interrogation means (8E) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to ask the said monitoring device (1) to have the display means (4) present, on the said visual-display screen (6), the failure-handling procedure relating to the said failure.

8. The monitoring device according to claim 1, which further includes an interrogation means (8G) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to request supplementary information relating to a failure, and wherein the said display means (4) present, on the said visual-display screen (6), supplementary information relating to a failure, in response to an actuation of the said interrogation means (8G) by the said operator.

9. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said display means (4) present, on the said visual-display screen (6), for a failure-handling procedure, if appropriate, deferred actions corresponding to actions having to be carried out subsequently, and the said monitoring device (1) further including a validation means (8H) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to validate these deferred actions so as to carry them out upon the said validation.

10. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a database (14) comprising lists of operations to be verified and means (15, 8I) making it possible to control the said display means (4) so that they present, on the said visual-display screen (6), at least one of the said lists of operations to be verified.

11. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 10, which further includes means (16) for automatically correcting the said lists of operations to be verified, upon a failure, so as to take into account effects generated by this failure on these lists of operations to be verified.

12. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a validation means (8F) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to validate information which he has supplied to the said monitoring device (1).

13. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a recall means (8K) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter:

by a first actuation, to recall to the visual-display screen (6), if appropriate, the last procedure deleted; and

by a second actuation, to recall to the visual-display screen (6), if appropriate, all the procedures deleted since the start of the flight of the aircraft.

14. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a recall means (8L) capable of being actuated by the said operator and allowing the latter to recall to the visual-display screen (6), if appropriate, all the deferred actions which have been deleted and which have not yet been carried out.

15. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said display means (4), while a plurality of fault-handling procedures exist, display all the said procedures on the visual-display screen (6) in an order of priority, and the said monitoring device (1) further including a means (11) for indicating, on the said visual-display screen (6), the procedure to be dealt with in priority.