Waypoint display system and method

• US 8,457,889 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Feyereisen, Thea L., He, Gang, Wyatt, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilder, Hunter
• Application Number:
  US12/059,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/16, 701/206, 701/467, 340/973, 340/975
• US Class Current: 701/467
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00

Abstract

A display system and method for a vehicle are provided. The display system includes a processor configured to receive data representative of a waypoint and terrain and to supply display commands associated with the waypoint and the terrain; and a display device coupled the processor for receiving the display commands and operable to render three-dimensional terrain and a first symbol elevated from the terrain representing the waypoint.

Claims

1. A display system for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to receive data representative of a waypoint and terrain and to supply display commands associated with the waypoint and the terrain; and

a display device coupled to the processor for receiving the display commands and operable to render three-dimensional terrain and a first symbol elevated from the terrain representing the waypoint, wherein the first symbol is replaced by a second symbol representing the waypoint when the vehicle approaches the waypoint, the second symbol conforming to the terrain, wherein the first symbol has at least one of a different shape and a different orientation than the second symbol, wherein the waypoint is an intended geographical location within a flight plan between an originating airport and a destination airport.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first symbol is elevated from the terrain and anchored to the terrain.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first symbol has a first star shape and the second symbol has a second star shape.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the terrain has a first scale and the first symbol has a second scale, larger than the first scale.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the second scale is variable as a function of distance of the vehicle from the waypoint.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first symbol has an appearance that is a function of use conditions.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first symbol has an appearance that is a function of a current energy state of the vehicle representing a speed and altitude of the vehicle.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the waypoint is a first waypoint, the processor additionally receiving signals representative of a second waypoint, the display signals supplied by the processor additionally representing the second waypoint for display on the display, and the second waypoint having a different appearance than the first waypoint.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the waypoint has an associated approach and the first symbol is replaced by a third symbol if the vehicle misses the approach, the third symbol having a different appearance from the first symbol.

10. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first symbol has a first transparency at a first distance of the vehicle from the waypoint and a second transparency at a second distance of the vehicle from the waypoint.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the first symbol increases transparency as the vehicle approaches the waypoint.

12. A method of displaying a first waypoint and a second waypoint on terrain within a three-dimensional visual display of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, with a processor, a first distance of the first waypoint from the vehicle and a second distance of the second waypoint from the vehicle, wherein each of the first and second waypoints is an intended geographical location within a flight plan between an originating airport and a destination airport; and

displaying, on a display device, a first symbol representing the first waypoint on the terrain as a function of the first distance and a second symbol representing the second waypoint on the terrain as a function of the second distance, the first symbol and the second symbol having different appearances,

wherein the first and second waypoints being different colors indicating a sequential navigation order.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first symbol is elevated relative to the terrain and the second symbol conforms to the terrain.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying step includes displaying the first waypoint at a first scale and the terrain at a second scale, smaller than the first scale.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying step includes displaying the first symbol as a star shape.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying step further includes displaying the first symbol and the second symbol as a function of use conditions.

17. A display system for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to receive data representative of a waypoint and terrain and to supply display commands associated with the waypoint and the terrain, wherein the waypoint is an intended geographical location within a flight plan between an originating airport and a destination airport; and

a display device coupled to the processor for receiving the display commands and operable to render three-dimensional terrain and a first symbol representing the waypoint elevated from the terrain and anchored to the terrain, wherein the first symbol is replaced by a second symbol representing the waypoint when the vehicle approaches the waypoint, the second symbol conforming to the terrain, wherein the first symbol has at least one of a different shape and a different orientation than the second symbol.