Multifunctional control panel for aircraft

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a multi-functional control panel for an aircraft. The multi-functional control panel includes: a plurality of physical controls, each of which has a control function associated with a corresponding system of the aircraft and dependent on different flight scenarios; a display area for displaying the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls; and a processing device configured to: receive signals from various systems of the aircraft; determine the flight scenario of the aircraft based on the received signals; configure the control function corresponding to each of the plurality of physical controls based on the flight scenario; and display the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls in the display area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of control panel design for aircraft cockpits. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional aircraft cockpits typically employ fixed control devices, including various handles, switches, buttons, levers, and other control components. Pilots input control commands through these devices.

[0003] However, the complex functions of various aircraft systems result in a large number of control devices in the cockpit, often reaching hundreds. Only a small portion of these control devices are used frequently; most are used only occasionally in specific flight scenarios. This abundance of control devices occupies a significant amount of cockpit space and leads to a complex layout of the cockpit control interface.

[0004] This disclosure addresses, but is not limited to, the many factors mentioned above. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, this disclosure proposes a multi-functional control panel for aircraft. The control panel may include a display screen, physical controls, a control / display signal processor, a communication module, etc. The control panel can configure physical controls based on flight scenarios, allowing the physical controls to have different control functions depending on the flight scenario. Thus, the multi-functional control panel can achieve automatic and manual switching between different systems and control functions (e.g., based on flight scenarios and / or pilot manual input). This greatly reduces the number of controls required by the pilot, and these controls are all physical entities. Therefore, the multi-functional control panel avoids the disadvantages of touchscreen operation while retaining the advantages of physical controls, such as reduced erroneous operation and good tactile feedback. It also reduces the number of cockpit controls and lowers the cost of control device modifications.

[0006] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a multifunctional control panel is provided, comprising: a plurality of physical controls, each of which has a control function associated with a corresponding system of an aircraft and dependent on different flight scenarios; a display area for displaying the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls; and a processing device configured to: receive signals from various systems of the aircraft; determine the flight scenario of the aircraft based on the received signals; configure the control function corresponding to each of the plurality of physical controls based on the flight scenario; and display the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls in the display area.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the multi-function control panel also includes a manual toggle switch configured to switch between different flight scenarios so as to configure the plurality of physical controls depending on the flight scenario to which they are switched.

[0008] According to another embodiment, the flight scenarios include various normal scenarios and abnormal scenarios. Normal scenarios include, for example, taxiing, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, and landing. Abnormal scenarios include, for example, in-flight fire alarm and cabin depressurization.

[0009] According to yet another embodiment, the control function of each of the plurality of physical controls also depends on the model of the aircraft.

[0010] According to another embodiment, at least one of the plurality of physical controls has an indicator light or marker line on its outer ring, and the indicator light or marker line is lit when the at least one of the plurality of physical controls is activated.

[0011] According to yet another embodiment, each of the plurality of physical controls is one of a button, a knob, or a toggle switch.

[0012] According to yet another embodiment, the outlines of the plurality of physical controls are different.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the name and status of each of the plurality of physical controls are displayed in a display area above the physical control, and the corresponding control function is displayed in a display area below the physical control.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the signals from each system of the aircraft are n-bit signals, where m bits of the n-bit signal are used as system identification codes to distinguish each system of the aircraft, and the remaining n bits are used as system signals to identify relevant information of the corresponding system, where m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1, and n is greater than m.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the processing device is configured to: receive a control signal from any of the plurality of physical controls, the control signal being generated by a pilot operating the physical control; process the control signal into an n-bit signal, wherein m bits of the n-bit signal are the identification code of the corresponding system of the aircraft associated with the physical control, and the remaining nm bits are related control information for the corresponding system; and transmit the n-bit signal to the corresponding system of the aircraft for controlling the corresponding system.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment, the processing device is further configured to configure the plurality of physical controls according to an exception handling procedure for the exception in the event of an anomaly.

[0017] According to yet another embodiment, one or more of the plurality of physical controls are provided with a protective cover, and the one or more of the plurality of physical controls provided with the protective cover are configured for use in an aircraft system requiring protection against misoperation.

[0018] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided for configuring physical controls of a multi-functional control panel according to a first aspect of this disclosure, comprising: receiving signals from various systems of an aircraft; determining the flight scenario in which the aircraft is located based on the received signals; configuring a control function corresponding to each of the plurality of physical controls based on the flight scenario; and displaying the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls in a display area.

[0019] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft is provided, including one or more multi-function control panels as described in the first aspect of this disclosure.

[0020] The aspects generally include, as substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings and as explained by the drawings, methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products, and processing systems.

[0021] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the examples according to this disclosure so that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described thereafter. The disclosed concepts and specific examples can be readily used as the basis for modifying or designing other structures for implementing the same purposes as this disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. The characteristics of the concepts disclosed herein, in both their organization and manner of operation, and their associated advantages, will be better understood by considering the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Each drawing is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes and does not define any limitation on the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To gain a more detailed understanding of the features described above in this disclosure, reference can be made to various aspects of the above-briefly summarized content, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure and should not be considered as limiting its scope, as other equivalent aspects are permissible in this description. Identical reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a multi-function control panel for an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a multi-functional control panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic flowchart of a method for configuring physical controls of a multi-function control panel of an aircraft according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic screenshot of a multi-function control panel in an APU startup scenario during an aircraft power-on procedure, according to an embodiment of this disclosure, is shown; and

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic screenshot of the multifunction control panel in an abnormal aircraft operation procedure - left engine in-flight fire scenario, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The inventors recognized that traditional aircraft cockpit controls often employ fixed devices, including various handles, switches, buttons, levers, and other control devices. Pilots input control commands through these devices. However, the complex functions of various aircraft systems result in a large number of control devices in the cockpit, often reaching hundreds. Only a small portion of these control devices are frequently used; most are only used occasionally in specific flight scenarios. This abundance of control devices occupies a significant amount of cockpit space and leads to a complex cockpit control interface layout.

[0030] The inventors also recognized that some existing aircraft have installed touchscreens in the cockpit, using touch interfaces to replace some hardware control devices. However, in existing solutions, while integrating control devices into the touchscreen reduces the number of cockpit control devices, touchscreens are prone to accidental touches and lack tactile feedback, which may lead to pilot errors or untimely input of commands.

[0031] Therefore, this disclosure proposes a multi-functional control panel for aircraft. The control panel may include a display screen, physical controls, a control / display signal processor, a communication module, etc. The control panel can configure physical controls based on flight scenarios, allowing the physical controls to have different control functions depending on the flight scenario. Thus, the multi-functional control panel can achieve automatic and manual switching between different systems and control functions (e.g., based on flight scenarios and / or pilot manual input). This greatly reduces the number of controls required by the pilot, and these controls are all physical entities. Therefore, the multi-functional control panel avoids the disadvantages of touchscreen operation while retaining the advantages of physical controls, such as reduced erroneous operation and good tactile feedback. It also reduces the number of cockpit controls and lowers the cost of control device modifications.

[0032] For example, the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure can be manually or automatically switched between different systems according to the current operational needs of the aircraft (such as depending on the flight scenario), enabling the control panel to have multiple control functions and allowing different systems to be operated on the same panel. By logically judging the status information of the aircraft and each system, intelligent automatic system switching can be performed, which can reduce the difficulty and burden of pilot operation in specific scenarios. The physical controls of the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure can also be equipped with indicator lights or marking lines, which light up when the physical control is activated, thereby clearly distinguishing between activated and inactive physical controls to provide operational guidance to the pilot. Thus, the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure combines the advantages of touch screens and traditional physical control switches, integrating and simplifying the numerous control devices in the cockpit, significantly reducing the size and weight of the control panel, improving space utilization, and reducing costs. Furthermore, since the controls to be operated are all physical controls, the advantages of physical controls are also retained, such as good tactile feedback, good protection against misoperation, and high operational performance under turbulence conditions.

[0033] The detailed description that follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein can be practiced. This detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be practiced without these specific details.

[0034] refer to Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic of a multi-function control panel 100 for an aircraft according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] like Figure 1As shown, the multi-function control panel 100 may include multiple physical controls 101 and a display area 103. In one embodiment of this disclosure, the control function of each of the physical controls 101 is associated with a corresponding system of the aircraft and may depend on different flight scenarios. For example, in a first flight scenario (such as the normal takeoff phase), the first physical control may be associated with the aircraft's external power system and configured to act as an external power switch to control the external power system; in a second flight scenario (such as in the event of an in-flight fire), the first physical control may be associated with a fire extinguishing agent release function to release fire extinguishing agents. Thus, each physical control 101 of the multi-function control panel 100 may be configured differently based on different flight scenarios to control different systems of the aircraft. In one embodiment of this disclosure, flight scenarios may include various normal flight scenarios such as taxiing, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, and landing, as well as various abnormal flight scenarios such as in-flight fire and cabin depressurization.

[0036] In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, the control function of each of the plurality of physical controls 101 may also depend on the aircraft model. For example, different aircraft models may have different aircraft systems, so the aircraft model must be appropriately considered when configuring the functions of the physical controls 101.

[0037] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the display area 103 can be used to display the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls 101. Figure 1 In the specific example shown, each physical control 101 is shown as having two associated display areas (in Figure 1 The two displays (represented as two small screens located above and below the corresponding physical controls) can be used to display the name and status of the physical control 101, while the other can be used to display the corresponding control functions. Figure 1 In the example shown, the name and status of the physical control are displayed in the display area above the physical control, and the corresponding control functions are displayed in the display area below the physical control, such as... Figure 1 The corresponding display area 103 shows "XXXX". In this embodiment, the displayed corresponding control function may include the corresponding status of the aircraft system associated with the physical control.

[0038] However, in another embodiment of this disclosure, the display area 103 may be a single "larger" display screen with its different areas configured as associated with corresponding physical controls, rather than a separate "smaller" display screen for each physical control (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown in the example). It will also be understood that, although Figure 1The illustration shows a physical control with two associated displays. In other embodiments of this disclosure, a physical control may have one, three, or any other suitable number of associated displays, which will not be elaborated here.

[0039] In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, the relative position or arrangement between the display area and the physical controls may differ from... Figure 1 As shown in the example. For example, the display area can be placed on the left and right sides of the physical control instead of above and below, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0040] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the multi-function control panel 100 may further include a processing device ( Figure 1 (Not shown in the image) This processing device is used to process signals transmitted to the multifunction control panel 100 and signals received from the physical controls 101 of the multifunction control panel 100. In this embodiment, the processing device may be configured to: receive signals from various systems of the aircraft; determine the flight scenario of the aircraft based on the received signals; configure the control function corresponding to each of the plurality of physical controls 101 based on the determined flight scenario; and display the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls 101 in the display area 103. It will be understood that in this embodiment, the multifunction control panel 100 also includes suitable communication devices to communicate with the various systems of the aircraft to receive signals from these systems.

[0041] In one embodiment of this disclosure, signals from various systems of the aircraft can be combined into an n-bit signal. In this embodiment, m bits of the n-bit signal can be used as a system identification code to distinguish the various systems of the aircraft, and the remaining n bits are used as system signals to identify relevant information of the corresponding system, where m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1, and n is greater than m.

[0042] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the processing device may also be configured to: receive a control signal from any of a plurality of physical controls 101 (e.g., the control signal is generated by a pilot operating the physical control); process the control signal into an n-bit signal, wherein m bits of the n-bit signal are the identification code of the corresponding system of the aircraft associated with the physical control 101, and the remaining nm bits are related control information for the corresponding system; and transmit the n-bit signal to the corresponding system of the aircraft for control of the corresponding system.

[0043] In another embodiment of this disclosure, in the event of an anomaly, such as in an abnormal flight scenario, the processing device may also be configured to configure multiple physical controls 101 depending on the anomaly operation procedure for that anomaly. In this embodiment, if the number of physical controls is less than the number of controls required by the anomaly operation procedure, the processing device may sequentially configure the physical controls according to the operation sequence of the anomaly operation procedure, such that the physical controls can be reconfigured for subsequent systems requiring operation after being operated.

[0044] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the multi-function control panel 100 may further include a manual toggle switch. Figure 1 (Not shown in the image). In this embodiment, the manual switch can be manually operated by the crew to switch between different flight scenarios and / or aircraft systems, so that multiple physical controls can be configured depending on the flight scenario and / or aircraft system switched to. For example, according to this embodiment, the manual switch can be set to "automatic" by default, so that the multifunction control panel 100 can automatically switch between different flight scenarios and aircraft systems. In response to the crew manually operating the manual switch to switch to the corresponding flight scenario and / or aircraft system, the multifunction control panel 100 can be configured with physical controls 101 accordingly.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of this disclosure, the manual switching switch may be a rotary switch with a press function. Crew members can rotate the rotary switch to switch between different flight scenarios and / or aircraft systems, and press the switch to confirm the selected flight scenario and / or aircraft system.

[0046] although Figure 1 The physical controls 101 are shown as squares and circles, and it will be understood that the physical controls can have any suitable outline shape, and the outline shapes of the individual physical controls can be the same or different. Preferably, the outlines of the multiple physical controls can be different. Thus, the control function of each of the multiple physical controls 101 can also be taken into account its outline.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of this disclosure, the outer ring of the physical control 101 may be provided with indicator lights or marker lines. In this embodiment, when the physical control 101 is activated, the indicator lights or marker lines illuminate to guide the pilot's operation.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment of this disclosure, each of the plurality of physical controls 101 may be a button, knob, or toggle switch. In another embodiment of this disclosure, one or more of the physical controls 101 may also be provided with a protective cover to further prevent accidental operation by crew members. For example, for a FIRE ARM switch requiring protection against accidental operation, the multifunction control panel 100 may configure it on a physical control with a protective cover. That is, a physical control with a protective cover may be configured for use in an aircraft system requiring protection against accidental operation to further improve operational safety.

[0049] Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the multi-function control panel 100 also includes a main structure (such as...). Figure 1 As shown by reference numeral 105 in the attached drawing, this main structure is used to integrate the physical control 101 and display area 103, communication device, possible processing device and any other required components and to provide installation interface, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0050] Those skilled in the art will understand that, despite Figure 1 Four physical controls are shown, but the multifunction control panel 100 can have any suitable number of physical controls, which will not be described further here.

[0051] It will be understood that the "physical controls" and "manual toggle switches" mentioned herein refer to physical components, not "virtual controls" displayed on a screen that are operated via touch.

[0052] The following is for reference. Figure 2 The diagram shows a schematic schematic of a multi-function control panel 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] like Figure 2 As shown, the remote data processing unit 201 receives information from various systems of the aircraft and controls these systems. The remote data processing unit will then adjust the data according to the current status of each system of the aircraft (e.g., ...). Figure 2 The states of systems 1, ..., n (where n is an integer greater than 1) generate n-bit signals S1-Sn (where S1-Sm are used as system identification codes to distinguish the various systems of the aircraft; Sm+1-Sn bits are the system signals of the corresponding systems), which are then transmitted via a bus (e.g., ...). Figure 2The bus 203 shown transmits the signal to the multifunction control panel 200. The processing unit inside the multifunction control panel 200 (such as a digital signal processor) processes the signal and displays the corresponding information (such as physical control name, system status, etc.) on the screen. When the pilot operates the physical controls, the processing unit inside the multifunction control panel 200 processes the physical control signal into an n-bit signal of S1-Sn (where S1-Sm are used as system identification codes to distinguish the various systems of the aircraft; Sm+1-Sn bits are the system signals of the corresponding system), and transmits it via the bus to the remote data processing unit. The remote data processing unit identifies the signal and converts it into an appropriate signal type to send to the corresponding system of the aircraft for control of the corresponding system.

[0054] You will understand. Figure 2 The schematic diagram shown is merely exemplary. For example, the multi-function control panel 200 can directly receive signals from various systems of the aircraft without the need for a remote data processing unit 201 as an intermediary. The processing device of the multi-function control panel 200 can be a general-purpose single processor, or it can be divided into a display signal processor and a control signal processor. And so on.

[0055] Therefore, the multi-functional control panel disclosed herein (such as multi-functional control panel 100, 200) can realize automatic and / or manual switching between different systems and different control functions. Automatic switching is determined by the logic control algorithm within the multi-functional control panel: the multi-functional control panel can obtain the status parameters of various systems of the aircraft and intelligently determine whether the pilot needs to perform an operation and what kind of operation needs to be performed. Manual switching can be achieved through one or more physical controls on the multi-functional control panel, which can be designed as rotary buttons or other forms of controls. Manual switching can select the corresponding aircraft system, such as the fuel, hydraulic, flight control system, etc.; or it can select a preset scenario, such as takeoff, cruise, approach, etc. After identifying the required operation, each physical control is configured with a corresponding control function, and the display screen can display the name, status, corresponding system status, and other necessary information of the physical control. When a physical control is activated, its indicator light or marker line can be lit to guide the pilot's operation.

[0056] refer to Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a schematic flowchart of a method 300 for configuring physical controls of a multi-function control panel of an aircraft according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, method 300 may include, in block 310, receiving signals from various systems of the aircraft. For example, the current status of each system of the aircraft may be transmitted to a multi-function control panel (such as...). Figure 1Multifunctional control panel 100 or Figure 2 The multi-function control panel 200). It will be understood that signals from various systems of the aircraft (such as the current status of each system) can be transmitted directly to the multi-function control panel, or to intermediate processing units (such as... Figure 2 The remote data processing unit 201 shown is then transmitted to the multi-function control panel after any appropriate data processing. In one embodiment of this disclosure, the signals from the various systems of the aircraft can be n-bit signals. In this embodiment, m bits of the n-bit signal can be used as a system identification code to distinguish the various systems of the aircraft, and the remaining n bits are used as system signals to identify relevant information of the corresponding system, where m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1, and n is greater than m.

[0058] Next, in box 320, method 300 may include determining the flight scenario of the aircraft based on received signals. Taking the power-on procedure of an aircraft (such as a civil aircraft) – APU startup – as an example, method 300 may determine that the aircraft is on the ground through wheel-mounted signals; determine that the aircraft's engines and APU are not started through system status signals such as engine and power supply; and determine that the aircraft is in the initial cockpit preparation phase through a combination of factors such as power supply status and aircraft operating time.

[0059] Subsequently, in box 330, method 300 may include configuring the control function corresponding to each of the multiple physical controls based on the flight scenario, and in box 340, displaying the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the multiple physical controls in the display area. Continuing the above example, method 300 configures the physical controls as external power switches, APU main switches, APU start switches, etc., and the corresponding display screen in the display area displays the control name and related parameters, such as the aircraft main / APU battery voltage, external power status, APU parameters, and damper status.

[0060] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example aircraft 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the aircraft 400 may include one or more aircraft according to... Figure 1 The multi-functional control panel 100 shown and described.

[0061] The following is for reference. Figure 5-6 Examples of specific use cases for a multifunctional control panel according to exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

[0062] Figure 5A schematic screenshot of the multi-function control panel is shown in the aircraft power-on procedure - APU start-up scenario. In this example, the wheel-mounted signals indicate that the aircraft is on the ground; the system status signals such as engine and power supply indicate that the aircraft's engine and APU are not currently running; and the combined information of power supply status and aircraft operating time indicates that the aircraft is in the initial cockpit preparation phase, thus determining that the power-on procedure needs to be executed. Therefore, the multi-function control panel of this disclosure (such as multi-function control panel 100, 200) can automatically configure physical controls as external power switch 501, APU main switch 502, and APU start switch 503, such as... Figure 5 As shown. The corresponding display screen 507 shows the control names and related parameters, including the aircraft's main / APU battery voltage, external power status, APU parameters, and throttle status. The pilot can operate the physical controls (501, 502, 503) in sequence according to the indicator lights to complete the aircraft power-on procedure as per the manual.

[0063] In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, the pilot can also use a manual toggle switch (such as...) on the multifunction control panel. Figure 5 Manual switching is performed using the physical controls shown by reference numeral 505 in the attached diagram. Figure 5 In the example, the outer ring of the manual switch 505 can be used to select different systems, and its inner ring can be used to select different flight phases / scenarios, and so on. It will be understood that the manual switch 505 can also take other forms, such as a rotary switch with a press function, corresponding to different system and scenario labels displayed on the screen. The cursor on the display is controlled by rotating the switch to select the desired system / scenarios, and then pressed to confirm.

[0064] Figure 6 A schematic screenshot of the multifunction control panel in an abnormal aircraft operation procedure - left engine in-flight fire scenario, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown.

[0065] In this example, the multi-function control panel of this disclosure monitors the status of various aircraft systems in real time. When a left engine fire alarm (LENG FIRE) occurs, the multi-function control panel automatically switches to the fire protection system control interface, displaying the status information of the fire suppression system on the affected side, so that the pilot can perform operations such as fire pre-positioning and extinguishing agent release (on the affected side) in sequence according to the manual. When the pilot performs this abnormal operating procedure according to the manual, indicator lights and marking lines on the physical controls serve as prompts and guidance.

[0066] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the physical controls on the multifunction control panel may be fitted with protective covers. Thus, for FIRE ARM switches requiring protection against accidental operation, the multifunction control panel will activate them on the covered physical controls.

[0067] Similarly, in Figure 6 In the example shown, the multi-function control panel also features a manual toggle switch 605. Figure 6 In the example, the outer ring of the manual switch 605 can be used to select different systems, and its inner ring can be used to select different flight phases / scenarios, and so on. It will be understood that the manual switch 605 can also take other forms, such as a rotary switch with a press function, corresponding to different system and scenario labels displayed on the screen. The cursor on the display is controlled by rotating the switch to select the desired system / scenario, and then confirmed by pressing.

[0068] Therefore, it is evident that the controls required for operation on the multi-functional control panel disclosed herein are all physical controls. This avoids the drawbacks of touch operation while retaining the advantages of physical controls, such as reduced erroneous operation and good tactile feedback. Furthermore, it reduces the number of cockpit controls and lowers the cost of control modification.

[0069] The physical controls on the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure can manually or automatically switch systems according to the current operational needs of the aircraft, enabling the control panel to have multiple control functions and allowing different systems to be operated on the same panel. During automatic switching, the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure can intelligently switch systems automatically by logically judging the status information of the aircraft and its various systems, thereby reducing the difficulty and burden of pilot operation. The outer ring of the physical controls on the multi-functional control panel of this disclosure can have indicator lights or marking lines that illuminate when the switch is activated. This clearly distinguishes between activated and inactive switches, providing operational guidance for the pilot. The multi-functional control panel of this disclosure uses system identification codes to distinguish the various systems of the aircraft, facilitating the identification of signals transmitted between the multi-functional control panel and the various systems of the aircraft.

[0070] Therefore, the multifunctional control panel disclosed herein combines the advantages of touchscreens and traditional physical controls (such as physical control switches): it can integrate and simplify numerous control devices in the cockpit, significantly reduce the size and weight of the control panel, improve space utilization, and reduce costs. All operated switches are physical switches, thus retaining the advantages of physical switches, including: good tactile feedback, good protection against misoperation, and high operational performance under bumpy conditions, etc.

[0071] It will be understood that although the various embodiments of this disclosure describe a multi-function control panel in conjunction with an aircraft, the multi-function control panel of this disclosure can be used with appropriate modifications for any other suitable equipment, such as ships, vehicles, etc., without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0072] The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings illustrate specific embodiments that can be practiced by way of illustration. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements other than those shown or described. However, examples including the shown or described elements are also contemplated. Furthermore, examples of any combination or arrangement of those elements shown or described are contemplated, or with reference to specific examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein, or with reference to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

[0073] In the appended claims, the terms “comprising” and “including” are open-ended, meaning that a system, apparatus, article of manufacture, or process containing elements other than those listed after such terms in a claim is still considered to fall within the scope of that claim. Furthermore, in the appended claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used merely as designations and are not intended to indicate a numerical order of their contents.

[0074] Furthermore, the order of operations described in this specification is exemplary. In alternative embodiments, the operations may be performed in a different order than that shown in the accompanying drawings, and the operations may be combined into a single operation or broken down into more operations.

[0075] The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the examples described above (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in conjunction with other embodiments. Other embodiments may be used by those skilled in the art after reviewing the above description. The abstract allows the reader to quickly determine the nature of this technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted and it is understood that it is not intended to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, in the above detailed description, various features may be grouped together to make this disclosure flow smoothly. However, the claims may not state every feature disclosed herein, as embodiments may characterize a subset of said features. Furthermore, embodiments may include fewer features than those disclosed in a particular example. Therefore, the appended claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim existing independently as a separate embodiment. The scope of the embodiments disclosed herein should be determined by reference to the full scope of the appended claims and equivalents of such claims.

Claims

1. A multi-functional control panel for an aircraft, comprising: Multiple physical controls, each of which has a control function associated with a corresponding system of the aircraft and depends on different flight scenarios; A display area is provided, which can be used to display the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls; and Processing apparatus, the processing apparatus being configured to: Receive signals from various systems of the aircraft; The flight scenario in which the aircraft is located is determined based on the received signals; Configure the control function corresponding to each of the multiple physical controls based on the flight scenario; as well as The display area shows the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls.

2. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a manual toggle switch configured to switch between different flight scenarios so that the multiple physical controls can be configured depending on the flight scenario to which they are switched.

3. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flight scenarios include taxiing, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing, in-flight fire alarm, and cabin depressurization.

4. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control function of each of the multiple physical controls also depends on the model of the aircraft.

5. The multifunctional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the plurality of physical controls has an indicator light or marker line on its outer ring. When the at least one of the plurality of physical controls is activated, the indicator light or marker line is lit.

6. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of physical controls is one of a button, a knob, or a toggle switch.

7. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outlines of the multiple physical controls are different.

8. The multifunctional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The name and status of each of the multiple physical controls are displayed in the display area above the physical control, and the corresponding control function is displayed in the display area below the physical control.

9. The multifunctional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signals from each system of the aircraft are n-bit signals, where m bits of the n-bit signal are used as system identification codes to distinguish each system of the aircraft, and the remaining n bits are used as system signals to identify the relevant information of the corresponding system, where m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1, and n is greater than m.

10. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, The processing device is configured to: Receive control signals from any of the plurality of physical controls, the control signals being generated by the pilot operating the physical controls; The control signal is processed into an n-bit signal, wherein m bits of the n-bit signal are the identification code of the corresponding system associated with the physical control of the aircraft, and the remaining nm bits are the relevant control information for the corresponding system; as well as The n-bit signal is transmitted to the corresponding system of the aircraft for control of the corresponding system.

11. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing device is also configured to configure the plurality of physical controls according to the exception handling procedure for the exception in the event of an anomaly.

12. The multi-functional control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, One or more of the plurality of physical controls are provided with protective covers, and the one or more of the plurality of physical controls provided with protective covers are configured for use in aircraft systems that require protection against misoperation.

13. A method for configuring physical controls of a multi-functional control panel according to any one of claims 1-12, comprising: Receive signals from various systems of the aircraft; The flight scenario in which the aircraft is located is determined based on the received signals; Configure the control function corresponding to each of the multiple physical controls based on the flight scenario; as well as The display area shows the name, status, and corresponding control function of each of the plurality of physical controls.

14. An aircraft comprising one or more multi-function control panels according to any one of claims 1-12.

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