Device for interaction with a display system, in particular for an avionics display system

• US 8,768,541 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Detouillon, Gregory, Deleris, Yannick
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, SARA J
• Application Number:
  US12/492,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20100001132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/173, 345/156, 715/858, 715/256, 701 3- 18
• US Class Current: 701/3
• 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: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A display system in a flight deck includes at least one screen adapted for displaying several different applications and at least one cursor associated with the applications, an interaction device includes means for activation of the cursor configurable automatically according to the application displayed, and the interaction device includes a touch-sensitive screen adapted for displaying a visual representation of a control panel of a real physical system of the flight-deck.

Claims

1. A flight deck, comprising:

a display system including a plurality of display screens each configured to display a plurality of different applications and at least one cursor associated with the applications that is movable between the plurality of display screens;

an interaction device for interacting with the display system and which includes an activation unit configured to activate and control the at least one cursor and a configuration unit that automatically configures the activation unit so as to update a visual presentation and function thereof; and

at least one control panel for a flight-deck system,

wherein the interaction device includes a touch-sensitive display screen configured to, in a mode of interaction with the display system, display the cursor, the activation unit being configured automatically according to the application implemented on one of the plurality of display screens of the display system, and, in a mode of virtual representation of a control panel, for displaying a visual representation of the at least one control panel of the flight-deck system, an action on the touch-sensitive display screen configured to control the flight-deck system,

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen includes a button for selection of a display and use mode chosen between the mode for interaction with the display system and the mode for virtual representation of the control panel,

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to implement a note-taking function, and the note-taking function is started by selecting a virtual key that is displayed at a same position irrespective of a present application displayed, and

wherein the configuration unit reconfigures the visual representation of the activation unit and the function of the activation unit.

2. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the virtual representation of the control panel is a control panel that controls a radio frequency communication system of an aircraft.

3. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the configuration unit is configured to choose the configuration of the activation unit from a programmable database storing a series of configurations of the activation unit associated respectively with applications of the display system.

4. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the note-taking function includes a handwriting recognition function that translates inputted notes into ASCII characters.

5. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the configuration unit configures the visual representation and the function associated with virtual keys of a virtual keyboard of the touch-sensitive display screen.

6. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is built into a folding shelf located beneath at least one of the plurality of display screens in a cockpit of an aircraft.

7. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen includes a button for selection of a display mode, in which the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to display at least one said application on one of said screens of the display system.

8. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein the applications are chosen from among at least one electronic flight bag (EFB) format, a textual avionic format, or a graphic avionic format.

9. An aircraft, including the flight deck in accordance with claim 1.

10. The flight deck in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first display screen of said plurality of display screens functions as a control and display system (CDS) screen, and a second display screen of said plurality of display screens functions as an electronic flight bag (EFB) screen.

11. A flight deck, comprising:

an avionic display system, for a cockpit of an aircraft, including a plurality of display screens each configured to display a plurality of different applications and at least one cursor associated with the applications that is movable between the plurality of display screens;

an interaction device for interacting with the display system and which includes an activation unit configured to activate and control the at least one cursor and a configuration unit that automatically configures the activation unit so as to update a visual presentation and function thereof; and

at least one control panel including electronic flight instruments for a flight-deck system,

wherein the interaction device includes a touch-sensitive display screen configured to, in a mode of interaction with the display system, display the cursor, the activation unit being configured automatically according to the application implemented on one of the plurality of display screens of the display system, and, in a mode of virtual representation of a control panel, for displaying a visual representation of the at least one control panel of the flight-deck system including the electronic flight instruments, an action on the touch-sensitive display screen configured to control the flight-deck system,

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen includes a button for selection of a display and use mode chosen between the mode for interaction with the display system and the mode for virtual representation of the control panel including the electronic flight instruments,

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to implement a note-taking function, and the note-taking function is started by selecting a virtual key that is displayed at a same position irrespective of a present application displayed, and

wherein the configuration unit reconfigures the visual representation of the activation unit and the function of the activation unit.

12. The flight deck in accordance with claim 11, wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is built into a folding shelf located beneath at least one of the plurality of display screens in a cockpit of an aircraft.

13. A flight deck, comprising:

a display system including a plurality of display screens each configured to display a plurality of different applications and a cursor associated with the applications that is movable between the plurality of display screens; and

an interaction device including a touch-sensitive display screen for interacting with the display system and which includes an activation unit configured to activate and control the cursor, and a configuration unit that automatically re-configures the activation unit based on a determination that one of the applications displayed on one of the display screens is an active application when the cursor is positioned on said one display screen displaying said one application, so as to update a visual presentation and a function of the activation unit,

wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is reconfigurable by updating different virtual key configurations displayed thereon responsive to the determination that one of the applications displayed on said one of the display screens is the active application when the cursor is positioned on said one display screen displaying said one application.