Aircraft system controller and associated method
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorsBenoit OUELLETTE, Patrice PICHE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Controllers and methods for enabling an operator to interface with an aircraft system are provided. A method includes receiving a first input to the aircraft system via angular displacement of a rotatable knob in a first direction away from a neutral angular position of the rotatable knob, causing the rotatable knob to automatically return to the neutral angular position, and annunciating, via the rotatable knob, a first state of the aircraft system associated with the first input. The method also includes receiving a second input to the aircraft system from a source different from the rotatable knob, and annunciating, via the rotatable knob, a second state of the aircraft system associated with the second input.
Claims22
An aircraft system controller enabling an operator to control an aircraft system, the aircraft system controller comprising:
- a knob, wherein:
- the knob is rotatable about a rotation axis in a first direction from a neutral angular position of the knob to a first angular position associated with a first input to the aircraft system;
- the knob is rotatable about the rotation axis in a second direction from the neutral angular position of the knob to a second angular position associated with a second input to the aircraft system;
- the knob is biased toward the neutral angular position to automatically return to the neutral angular position from the first angular position and from the second angular position;
- and
- the knob is movable along the rotation axis, movement of the knob along the rotation axis being associated with a third input to the aircraft system;
- and
- an annunciator displaying a visual indication associated with the aircraft system, the visual indication being visible within a periphery of the knob.
A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle system;
- and
- a rotatable push button enabling an operator of the vehicle to control a state of the vehicle system, wherein:
- the push button is rotatable in a clockwise direction from a neutral angular position of the push button to a first angular position associated with a first input to the vehicle system;
- the push button is rotatable in a counter-clockwise direction from the neutral angular position of the push button to a second angular position associated with a second input to the vehicle system;
- the push button is biased toward the neutral angular position to automatically return to the neutral angular position from the first angular position and from the second angular position;
- the push button is depressable to provide a third input to the vehicle system;
- and
- the push button includes a face displaying a visual indication indicative of the state of the vehicle system.
A method of interfacing with an aircraft system, the method comprising:
- receiving a first input to the aircraft system via angular displacement of a rotatable knob in a first direction away from a neutral angular position of the rotatable knob;
- causing the rotatable knob to automatically return to the neutral angular position;
- annunciating, via the rotatable knob, a first state of the aircraft system associated with the first input;
- receiving a second input to the aircraft system from a source different from the rotatable knob;
- and
- annunciating, via the rotatable knob, a second state of the aircraft system associated with the second input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.