US 8,576,093 B2Granted

3D navigation aid system and display for same

AssigneeThales

InventorsLaurent Flotte, Gabrielle DeBrito, Christian Nouvel, Nicolas Marty

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention relates to an aircraft navigational aid system with 3D display including an anti-collision device, with means of storing data representing obstructions, means for calculating a representation of the obstructions in a three-dimensional space and a device for displaying the obstructions data in three dimensions. The system includes means for augmenting the display of the representation of the area of hazardous obstructions with at least two indicator objects for the said area of hazardous obstructions disposed together in such a manner as to form a third object targeting the localization of the point in the area of hazardous obstructions closest to the aircraft. The invention also relates to the method of display of the indicator objects in a three-dimensional display.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An aircraft navigational aid system for a pilot of an aircraft designed to highlight an area of hazardous obstructions within a displayed three-dimensional representation of obstructions of a monitoring area in front of and closest to the aircraft, the navigational aid system comprising:

an anti-collision device configured to detect, within the monitoring area in front of and closest to the aircraft, said area of hazardous obstructions inside an instantaneous protection envelope for the aircraft, said anti-collision device comprising a computer configured to calculate the three-dimensional representation of obstructions and store data representing the obstructions;
and
a display device configured to display the three-dimensional representation of the obstructions, the computer of the anti-collision device further comprising:
means for calculating, according to an instantaneous position of the aircraft, a horizontal dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions, a vertical dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions and a localization of a point in the area of hazardous obstructions closest to the aircraft;
and
means for augmenting the display of the area of hazardous obstructions with at least two indicator objects of said area of hazardous obstructions, a first indicator object of the two indicator objects indicating the horizontal dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions, and a second indicator object of the two indicator objects indicating the vertical dimension of the said area of hazardous obstructions, the first and the second indicator objects being displayed in addition to and superimposed upon the displayed three-dimensional representation of the obstructions, the first and the second indicator objects being disposed together to intersect in a manner as to form a third object targeting the localization of the point in the area of hazardous obstructions closest to the aircraft and changing over time according to the instantaneous position of the aircraft.

3 more elements

A display method for an aircraft navigational aid system for a pilot of an aircraft designed to highlight an area of hazardous obstructions within a displayed three-dimensional representation of obstructions of a monitoring area in front of the aircraft in three dimensions, the display method comprising:

calculating said three-dimensional representation of the obstructions;
detecting and calculating said area of hazardous obstructions inside an instantaneous protection envelope for the aircraft;
calculating, according to an instantaneous position of the aircraft, a horizontal dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions, a vertical dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions, and a localization of a point in the area of hazardous obstructions closest to the aircraft;
and
displaying a first indicator object representing the horizontal dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions and a second indicator object representing the vertical dimension of said area of hazardous obstructions, the first and the second indicator objects being displayed in addition to and superimposed upon the displayed three-dimensional representation of the obstructions, the first and the second indicator objects being disposed together to intersect in a manner as to form a third object targeting the localization of the point in the area of hazardous obstructions closest to the aircraft and changing over time according to the instantaneous position of the aircraft.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/870,663Filed 27 Aug 2010
Priority: FR 09 041431 Sep 2009
Published: US 2011/0210871 A11 Sep 2011
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01C 23/00
Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value
G08G 5/21
Arrangements for acquiring, generating, sharing or displaying traffic information: located onboard the aircraft
G08G 5/74
Arrangements for monitoring traffic-related situations or conditions: for monitoring terrain
G08G 5/80
Traffic control systems for aircraft: anti-collision systems