Display system for an aircraft

• US 7,808,403 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Pouzolz, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/089,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 340/971, 340/973, 340/945, 340/975, 340/980, 340/988, 345/169, 345/173, 345/181
• US Class Current: 340/971
• 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: G01D 2207/10 Displays which are primarily used in aircraft or display aircraft-specific information
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/10 with provision for switching-in of additional or auxiliary indicators or recorders

Abstract

A display system for an aircraft includes an automatic reconfiguration device that, upon detecting a failure of a screen of the system, displays an image that is associated with the failed screen on an associated valid screen having lesser priority.

Claims

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

a plurality of screens each of which is formed so as to be able to display an image, and a particular image being associated with each of said screens;

detection means for detecting any failure of one of said screens; and

automatic reconfiguration means intended, upon the detection of a failure of at least one screen by said detection means;

to automatically check if the image which is associated with said failed screen has priority over at least one other image associated with another screen, based on at least one set of predetermined priority rules; and

when the image which is associated with said failed screen has priority, to display this image on a valid screen with which there is associated an image which has a lower priority according to said set of priority rules, wherein said automatic reconfiguration means comprise a plurality of auxiliary means, each of which is associated with one of said screens and for this purpose comprises a status table for the associated screen which indicates the image that said associated screen should display automatically as a function of a validity status of at least some of the other screens and as a function of said set of priority rules.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it additionally comprises manual reconfiguration means allowing an operator to manually command the display of a particular image on at least one of said screens.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said manual reconfiguration means comprise first actuable means for directly commanding the display of a particular image on a valid screen.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said manual reconfiguration means comprise second actuable means for commanding the display on a valid screen of a plurality of images which are displayed cyclically in a pre-established order and successively upon each actuation of said second means.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said manual reconfiguration means comprise third actuable means for commanding the display on a valid screen of two different images which are displayed successively in an alternating manner upon each actuation of said third means.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of personal screens intended for one and the same pilot of the aircraft and comprising a first screen with which there is associated a first image concerning short-term piloting information, and said automatic reconfiguration means are formed so as:

to display said first image on a valid personal screen in the event of failure of said first screen; and

to prevent two identical images from being displayed simultaneously on two different personal screens.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of common screens simultaneously intended for two pilots of the aircraft and comprising a first screen with which there is associated a first image concerning information relating at least to the engines of the aircraft, and said automatic reconfiguration means are formed so as:

to display said first image on a valid common screen in the event of failure of said first screen; and

to prevent two identical images from being displayed simultaneously on two different common screens.

8. An aircraft, wherein it comprises a display system as claimed in claim 1.