AIRCRAFT DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20080282201A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: CABARET, Remi, ROUX, Nicolas, JEAN, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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

Abstract

The display system (1) comprises means (2) for managing the states of two cursors which are situated on one and the same interactive window (F1A, F1B) of a screen (E1), as a function of the last actions carried out by the crew.

Claims

1. A display system for an aircraft, said display system comprising:

at least one interactive window which can be viewed on at least one screen and which comprises at least one sensitive object associated with a particular function;

a cursor management device which comprises a first means which is capable of bringing a cursor into one of the following states;

an unallocated state, for which the corresponding cursor is not situated on the interactive window considered; and

an active state, for which the cursor is situated on the interactive window, it can be moved over this interactive window, and it can validate a designated sensitive object;

at least one means of managing the display which is carried out on said interactive window;

a first cursor control device which is capable of being actuated by a first pilot of the aircraft and which comprises;

at least one actuatable movement means, capable of moving a first cursor over said interactive window so as to designate a sensitive object; and

at least one actuatable validation means, capable of validating a sensitive object which is designated by way of said first cursor so as to execute the function which is associated with said sensitive object; and

a second cursor control device which is capable of being actuated by a second pilot of the aircraft and which comprises;

at least one actuatable movement means, capable of moving a second cursor over said interactive window so as to designate a sensitive object; and

at least one actuatable validation means, capable of validating a sensitive object which is designated by way of said second cursor so as to execute the function which is associated with said sensitive object,

wherein said cursor management device comprises;

at least said first means which is controllable and which is capable of bringing each of said first and second cursors into one of the following states;

an unallocated state;

an active state;

a standby state, for which the corresponding cursor is situated on the interactive window, it can be moved over this interactive window, and it can validate a designated sensitive object, but only after having been brought into the active state by an actuation of the corresponding cursor control device; and

an inactive state, for which the corresponding cursor is situated on the interactive window, but it cannot validate a designated sensitive object; and

at least one second means;

which is associated with said first means and controls said first means relating to the respective states of said first and second cursors, when they are both situated on the same interactive window;

which comprises a recording means for recording the last actions carried out on said cursor control devices;

which controls said first means while taking account of said last actions carried out and recorded and of predetermined rules; and

which controls said first means so that one of said cursors and one only is on each occasion in the active state when they are both situated on the same interactive window.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1,

which comprises a plurality of interactive windows, and wherein said second means manages the respective states of said first and second cursors each time that they simultaneously lie on one and the same interactive window.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said cursor management device brings a cursor into one of the following states:

the active state and the standby state, when this cursor is the only one that lies on an interactive window.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said second means takes account of the following rules:

the first cursor is brought to the active state;

if it is placed on an interactive window and the second cursor is not in the active state on this interactive window;

if it is in the standby state and the corresponding cursor control device is actuated;

if it is in the inactive state and the corresponding cursor control device is actuated, while the second cursor is not in the active state;

the first cursor is brought to the inactive state;

if it is placed on an interactive window and the second cursor is already in the active state on this interactive window;

if it is in the standby state and the second cursor is brought to the active state; and

the first cursor is brought to the standby state;

if it is in the active state and the corresponding cursor control device is not actuated for a predetermined duration;

if it is in the inactive state and the second cursor is removed from the interactive window.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1,

which comprises a plurality of screens, some of which are intended for the first pilot of the aircraft and are capable of receiving said first cursor, some others of which are intended for the second pilot of the aircraft and are capable of receiving said second cursor, and yet others of which are common to said first and second pilots and are capable of receiving at one and the same time said first cursor and said second cursor, and wherein each of said screens comprises at least one interactive window.

6. An aircraft,

which comprises a display system such as that specified under claim 1.