Method and apparatus for improving performance of aircraft display utilizing TCAS computer and mode S transponder
AssigneeL-3 Communications Corporation
InventorsMichael H. Curtis, Kenneth C. Reeves, Desi D. Stelling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved TCAS indicating system and method for displaying information from the MODE S TRANSPONDER or other subsystem, directly to the TCAS DISPLAY by coding the information and programming the TCAS COMPUTER and the MODE S TRANSPONDER to pass the coded information through to the TCAS DISPLAY.
Claims7
The method of displaying data in a TCAS system including a control panel with movable control elements, a mode S transponder, a TCAS computer and a TCAS display, comprising the steps of.
- A. producing a desired display signal by manipulating certain predetermined ones of the control elements of the control panel;
- B. presenting the signal produced in step A. to the mode S transponder;
- C. combining the signal received in step B. with predetermined information in the mode S transponder and supplying the combined signal to the TCAS computer;
- D. comparing the combined signal received by the TCAS computer with the desired display signal to produce a verified signal;
- and
- E. transmitting the verified signal to the TCAS display for display thereof
In a TCAS system including a control panel having a plurality of activatable elements thereon, a mode S transponder, a TCAS computer and a TCAS display, the improvement comprising:
- means generating a code dependent on the activation of predetermined elements of the control panel;
- means transmitting the code to the mode S transponder, the mode S transponder combining the code with predetermined information in the mode S transponder to provide a command signal;
- means transmitting the command signal to the TCAS computer, the TCAS computer detecting the code and producing a verified command signal in accordance therewith;
- and
- means transmitting the verified command signal to the TCAS display for display of the predetermined information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.