Altimeter setting display and storage system and method

• US 20080195263A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shehi, Christopher J., Engels, Jary E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for storing altimeter setting values on an aircraft display includes simultaneously rendering an altimeter and an active altimeter setting field, and selectively rendering a standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field. An active altimeter setting value is rendered in the active altimeter setting field, and a stored altimeter setting value may be rendered in the standby altimeter setting field. Preferably, the stored altimeter setting value is selectively rendered in the standby altimeter setting field when the standby altimeter setting field is simultaneously rendered with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field.

Claims

1. An aircraft display system, comprising:

a display device; and

a processor in operable communication with the display device, the processor configured to command the display device to;

(i) simultaneously render an altimeter and an active altimeter setting field, and

(ii) at least selectively render a standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive a standby field activation signal and is further configured to command the display device, in response to receipt of the standby field activation signal, to render the standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to cease rendering the standby altimeter setting field after a predetermined time period.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a user interface in operable communication with the processor, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the input stimuli, to supply the standby field activation signal.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is adapted to receive a standby field deactivation signal and is further configured to command the display device, in response to receipt of the standby field deactivation signal, to cease rendering the standby altimeter setting field.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a user interface in operable communication with the processor, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the input stimuli, to supply the standby field deactivation signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to receive an altimeter setting signal representative of an altimeter setting value and is further configured to command the display device, in response to receipt of the altimeter setting signal, to selectively render the altimeter setting value as either (i) an active altimeter setting value in the active altimeter setting field or (ii) as a stored altimeter setting value in the standby altimeter setting field.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a user interface in operable communication with the processor, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the input stimuli, to supply the altimeter setting signal to the processor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to render aircraft altitude on the altimeter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to command the display device to (i) selectively render the active altimeter setting value as a numeric value or a textual value and (ii) render the stored altimeter setting value as a numeric value.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further adapted to receive an altimeter setting value toggle signal and is further operable, in response thereto, to selectively command the display device to render the stored altimeter setting value in the active altimeter setting field.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a user interface in operable communication with the processor, the user interface configured to receive input stimuli from a user and, in response to the input stimuli, to supply the altimeter setting value toggle signal to the processor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to be responsive to the altimeter setting toggle signal to command the display device to render the standby altimeter setting field without the stored altimeter setting value.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable configured to be responsive to the altimeter setting value toggle signal, to:

determine if a stored altimeter setting value is rendered in the standby altimeter setting field; and

command the display device to render the stored altimeter setting value in the active altimeter setting field only if a stored altimeter setting value is rendered in the standby altimeter field.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine when aircraft altitude transitions from above a predetermined transition altitude to below the predetermined transition altitude; and

automatically command the display device to render the stored altimeter setting value in the active altimeter setting field when the aircraft altitude transitions below the predetermined transition altitude.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is adapted to receive an aircraft altitude signal and is further operable, in response thereto, to determine when the aircraft altitude transitions below the predetermined transition altitude.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to simultaneously render the active altimeter setting field and the standby altimeter setting field with different visual attributes.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the different visual attributes provide visual feedback as to whether the processor, in response to receipt of the altimeter setting signal, will command the display device to render the altimeter setting value as the active altimeter setting in the active altimeter setting field or the stored altimeter setting in the standby altimeter setting field.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the different visual attributes include a first visual attribute and a second visual attribute;

if the active altimeter setting field is displayed with the first visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field is displayed with the second visual attribute, the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to display the active altimeter setting field with the second visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field with the first visual attribute after a predetermined time period; and

if the active altimeter setting field is displayed with the second visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field is displayed with the first visual attribute, the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to display the active altimeter setting field with the first visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field with the second visual attribute after a predetermined time period.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a user interface in operable communication with the processor and configured to receive input stimuli from a user,

wherein;

if the active altimeter setting field is displayed with the first visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field is displayed with the second visual attribute, the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to display the active altimeter setting field with the second visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field with the first visual attribute in response to input stimuli being supplied to the user interface, and

if the active altimeter setting field is displayed with the second visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field is displayed with the first visual attribute, the processor is further configured to selectively command the display device to display the active altimeter setting field with the first visual attribute and the standby altimeter setting field with the second visual attribute in response to input stimuli being supplied to the user interface.

21. A method of storing altimeter setting values on an aircraft display, comprising the steps of:

simultaneously rendering an altimeter and an active altimeter setting field;

selectively rendering a standby altimeter setting field simultaneously with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field; and

rendering an active altimeter setting value in the active altimeter setting field; and

when the standby altimeter setting field is simultaneously rendered with the altimeter and the active altimeter setting field, selectively rendering a stored altimeter setting value in the standby altimeter setting field.