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US 7,453,375 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for navigation of airspace, weather, terrain, and traffic
AssigneeToyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
InventorsBassam H. Chamas, Ryuichi Yokota
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for airspace navigation. Airspace navigation information for an aircraft is displayed in a first mode, such as, in a horizontal mode. One or more navigation events may then be detected, such as, proximity to a terrain feature, weather, traffic etc. The airspace navigation information for the aircraft is then displayed using dual modes, e.g., a horizontal mode and a vertical mode. Display parameters, such as colors, resolution, distance, scale, etc. may be set automatically or by a user. The display may also include information, such as avionics systems information, and communications information.
Claims20
A navigation system for an aircraft having a top and at least one side, the system comprising:
- a navigation data module to receive navigation data;
- a display to display the navigation data in a horizontal mode;
- and
- a controller to detect a navigation event based on the navigation data and to cause the display to automatically display the navigation data in the horizontal mode and a vertical mode, in response to the navigation event, wherein
- the vertical mode includes a vertical mode aircraft symbol and the horizontal mode includes a horizontal mode aircraft symbol,
- the vertical mode includes lines showing gradations of altitude,
- the horizontal mode displays a top view of the aircraft together with a top view of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-defined airspace near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays a side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the FAA-defined airspace near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of terrain near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the terrain near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of weather near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of weather near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of terrain near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of other aircraft near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective, and
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of an instrument landing system (ILS) approach path including a localizer center beam and a localizer pattern, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the ILS approach path including a glide slope center beam and a glide slope pattern, the side view being from a substantially side perspective.
8 more elements
A navigation system for an aircraft having a top and at least one side, the system comprising:
- a navigation data module to receive navigation data;
- a display to display the navigation data in a vertical mode;
- and
- a controller to detect a navigation event based on the navigation data and to cause the display to automatically display the navigation data in the vertical mode and a horizontal mode, in response to the navigation event, wherein
- the vertical mode includes a vertical mode aircraft symbol and the horizontal mode includes a horizontal mode aircraft symbol,
- the vertical mode includes lines showing gradations of altitude, the horizontal mode displays a top view of the aircraft together with a top view of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-defined airspace near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays a side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the FAA-defined airspace near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of terrain near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the terrain near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of weather near the aircraft the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of weather near the aircraft, the side view being from a substantially side perspective,
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of other aircraft near the aircraft, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of other aircraft near the aircraft the side view from a substantially side perspective, and
- the horizontal mode displays the top view of the aircraft together with a top view of an instrument landing system (ILS) approach including a localizer center beam and a localizer pattern, the top view being from a substantially top perspective, and the vertical mode displays the side view of the aircraft together with a side view of the ILS approach path including a glide slope center beam and a glide slope pattern, the side view being from a substantially side perspective.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.