Aircraft Engine Fan Speed Display Improvements for Enhanced Monitoring and Thrust Setting Ability
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsChristopher M. Hodges, Kevin S. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for displaying N1 speed on a flight deck display in a manner that provides increased resolution at the upper end of the operating range. This is accomplished by a variable scale(s) which improves the functionality of the N1 gauge (serving as an indication of thrust) in the desired region. Also, there is visual indication to provide pilots the ability to discern if the current thrust is within a specific tolerance to the desired value within the takeoff region. This additional indication is based on color changes associated with the N1 display structure.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for displaying aircraft engine information, comprising:
- acquiring a value of an engine control parameter during operation of an aircraft engine, wherein the engine control parameter has a nonlinear relationship with thrust;
- displaying a scale on a display unit;
- and displaying first symbology having a position relative to the scale using a nonlinear scaling function, the first symbology representing the acquired value of the engine control parameter.
A system for indicating aircraft engine information onboard an aircraft, comprising:
- a display unit that can be controlled electronically to generate symbology and colors;
- and a display control processor configured to control said display unit to generate indicators indicating the current fan speed of an operating aircraft engine, wherein said display control processor is configured to perform the following operations:
- acquiring a value of an engine control parameter during operation of an engine, wherein the engine control parameter has a nonlinear relationship with thrust;
- controlling said display unit to display a scale;
- and controlling said display unit to display first symbology having a position relative to the scale using a nonlinear scaling function, the first symbology representing the acquired value of the engine control parameter.
An aircraft comprising:
- an aircraft engine having a fan;
- a sensor configured to generate fan speed data representing a measurement of a fan speed of said fan;
- a display unit that can be controlled electronically to generate symbology and colors;
- and a display control processor configured to perform the following operations:
- receiving fan speed data generated by said sensor;
- and controlling said display unit to display a scale and symbology having a position relative to the scale determined using a nonlinear scaling function, the symbology representing the measured fan speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.