Display device for aircraft and method for displaying detected threats

• US 7,161,500 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Rosenblad, Tomas, Skinnars, Örian, Alfredsson, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/476,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/961, 340/963, 340/971, 340/980, 340/973, 340/974, 340/975, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 701/301, 701/120
• US Class Current: 340/961
• 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: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft

Abstract

This invention concerns a display device for aircraft comprising a display surface (15) that has a punctual marking (11) arranged so as to represent the pilot'"'"'s own airplane and one or more threat markings, each of which is arranged so as to represent a direction to an associated detected threat. The display device is characterized in that each threat marking comprise an indicator (14, 15) that contains information about the time to the associated threat, and in that it is arranged so as to present, on a display surface (15), a current time discrepancy relative to a planned mission and a remaining amount of fuel relative to the planned mission. The invention also concerns a method for presenting one or more detected threats in relation to an aircraft.

Claims

1. A display device for aircraft comprising a display surface that presents a symbol comprising of an outer edge surrounding a symbol center, wherein the symbol center marks the aircraft and wherein one or more threat markings are positioned in relation to the outer edge in such a way that each of them indicates a direction to an associated detected threat, wherein:

each threat marking comprises an indicator that extends from the outer edge in the direction toward the symbol center and whose length is chosen so that the distance between the end of the indicator and the symbol center represents the time until the associated threat, and

the display device is arranged so as to present, on a display surface, a current time discrepancy in relation to a planned mission and the amount of fuel left in relation to the planned mission.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein only those threats for which the time to the threat is less than a pre-selected value are assigned an indicator.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the outer edge is placed at a distance from the symbol center that corresponds to said pre-selected value.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the outer edge is circular in shape.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the time discrepancy is presented in the form of a first bar whose length and direction depend on the current time discrepancy.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the first bar is placed outside of the symbol and extends along a portion thereof.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the first bar has its zero point at the outer edge and extends in toward the symbol center when the time discrepancy is negative, i.e. when the flight is behind a timetable for the planned mission, and in the opposite direction when the time discrepancy is positive.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of fuel left in relation to the planned mission is presented in the form of a second bar.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the second bar is placed outside of the symbol and extends along a portion thereof.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the second bar has its zero point at the outer edge and extends in toward the symbol center when the fuel is not expected to suffice for the entire mission, and in the opposite direction when there is a surplus of fuel.

11. A method for displaying one or more detected threats in relation to an aircraft, wherein each and every one of the detected threats is represented as a threat marking on a display surface, wherein the aircraft is placed at a center surrounded by an outer edge, and where a direction to each threat is marked by the placement of the associated threat marking in relation to the outer edge, wherein:

each threat marking is represented by an indicator that extends from the outer edge in the direction toward the symbol center, wherein the length of the indicator is chosen so that the distance between the end of the indicator and the symbol center represents the time until the associated threat, and

a current time discrepancy in relation to a planned mission and the remaining fuel left in relation to the planned mission are presented on a display surface.