Automatic dimming method for light guide plate and indicating lamp in civil airplane cockpit control panel

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic dimming method for a light guide plate and an indicating lamp in a civil airplane cockpit control panel. The automatic dimming system comprises an ambient light intensity acquisition unit, an ambient light intensity data processing unit, an automatic dimming control unit and communication modules used for interacting automatic dimming control data in the units. Wherein the ambient light intensity acquisition units are arranged at symmetrical positions on the left side and the right side of a dimming area. The beneficial effects of the invention are that automatic dimming of main dimming objects, namely the light guide plate component and the indicating lamp device, in a civil airplane cockpit control panel system is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cockpit control panel of a civil passenger aircraft, in particular to an automatic dimming method for a light guide plate and an indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil passenger aircraft. Background Art

[0002] There are several to dozens of control panels in the layout areas of the top panel, sunshade, instrument panel, control console, etc. of the cockpit of a civil airliner. The control panel is an independent device that integrates the operating switches, light guide plate components and indicator light devices according to system relevance, and is designed, installed and maintained in the form of a route replaceable unit. At present, the existing control panel only has a manual dimming function, that is, the brightness of the light guide plate components and indicator light devices is adjusted by the dimming knob to adapt to different cockpit lighting environments, so that the flight crew can obtain aircraft status information. During the flight of a civil airliner, the lighting environment in the cockpit is complex and changes rapidly. The flight crew frequently manually adjusts the brightness of the light guide plate components and indicator light devices, which is prone to distraction and other problems, which is not conducive to flight safety. In view of the above, it is very necessary to apply automatic dimming technology of light guide plates and indicator lights in the cockpit control panel of civil airliners to reduce the degree of distraction of pilots. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem that the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft in the prior art only has a manual dimming function, and to provide a novel automatic dimming method and system for a light guide plate and an indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a technical solution: a method for automatically dimming a light guide plate and an indicator light in a cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft, comprising: Step S1, determining the average value of the optical sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle; go to step S2; Step S2, determining the validity of the mean values ​​of the optical sensor data on the left and right sides of the current detection cycle layout area: if both are valid, go to step S3; if only one is valid, go to step S4; Step S3, if the ambient light illumination corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is higher than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to be turned off; if the ambient light illumination corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is lower than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the ambient light illumination corresponding to the higher one and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; if one of the ambient light illuminations corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is higher than the shutdown threshold and the other is lower than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the ambient light illumination corresponding to the lower one and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; go to step S5; Step S4, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the illumination value corresponding to the valid light sensor data and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; go to step S5; Step S5, dimming the light guide plate component in the layout area according to the light guide plate component automatic dimming instruction.

[0005] As a preferred solution for the automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and the indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil passenger aircraft, in step S3 and / or step S4, the change trend of the ambient light illumination corresponding to the average value of the light sensor data of the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle and the previous detection cycle is determined: if the change trend changes from dark (previous detection cycle) to bright (current detection cycle), then the automatic dimming instruction is updated by one detection cycle and is the automatic dimming instruction of the next detection cycle; if the change trend changes from bright (previous detection cycle) to dark (current detection cycle), then the automatic dimming instruction is updated by several detection cycles and is the automatic dimming instruction of the next detection cycle.

[0006] As a preferred solution of the automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and the indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft, it further includes: Step S6, determining the maximum average value of the optical sensor data in the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle or in all layout areas of the cockpit; and proceeding to step S7; Step S7, if the maximum light sensor data mean value is greater than the high brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set to a high brightness state; if the maximum light sensor data mean value is less than the low brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set to a low brightness state; if the maximum light sensor data mean value is between the high brightness threshold value and the low brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set according to the ambient illumination change trend corresponding to the maximum light sensor data mean value; go to step S8; Step S8, dimming the indicator light devices in the layout area according to the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction.

[0007] As a preferred solution for the automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and the indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft, in step S7, if the trend of the change of the ambient illumination corresponding to the maximum mean value of the light sensor data is from low to high, the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device is maintained at the brightness state of the previous detection cycle, and it is set to a new state after one detection cycle; if the trend of the change of the ambient illumination corresponding to the maximum mean value of the light sensor data is from high to low, the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device is maintained at the brightness state of the previous detection cycle, and it is set to a new state after several detection cycles.

[0008] The present invention also provides a system for realizing the automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and indicator light in the cockpit control panel of the civil passenger aircraft, comprising: an ambient light illumination acquisition unit, an ambient light illumination data processing unit, an automatic dimming control unit and a communication module for exchanging data among these units; wherein the ambient light illumination acquisition unit is located on the left and right sides of the layout area.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are at least as follows: (1) except that the ambient light illuminance acquisition unit is a newly added component of the existing control panel, the ambient light illuminance data processing unit and the automatic dimming control unit can reuse the existing control panel, which will not significantly increase the complexity of the control panel implementation. (2) The implementation method of the automatic dimming command of the light guide plate component and the indicator light device is compatible with the implementation method of the manual dimming command of the existing control panel system, and maintains the consistency of the internal and external communication and command response with the existing control panel system. (3) In the implementation method of the automatic dimming command of the light guide plate component and the indicator light device, the ambient light illuminance data processing unit integrates the light sensor data to determine the holding time of the automatic dimming command, which can adapt to the gradual change and sudden change scenes of the cockpit ambient light illuminance from dark to bright and from bright to dark, and meet the requirements of filtering out the sudden change interference of ambient light and the visual characteristics of the human eye, which is conducive to the flight crew to efficiently obtain the aircraft system status in a complex cockpit light environment, and helps to improve the safety of the flight mission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the logical composition of the automatic dimming system of the cockpit control panel of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a typical light sensor layout relied upon by the method for implementing the cockpit control panel automatic dimming system described in the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic diagram of a typical embodiment of the automatic dimming system for a cockpit control panel of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 The present invention is a schematic diagram of the process of automatic dimming instructions for a light guide plate component in one area in the method for implementing the automatic dimming system of a cockpit control panel described in the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 The present invention is a schematic diagram of a method for determining the ambient illumination of an area and a mechanism for sending automatic dimming instructions for a light guide plate component in the method for implementing the automatic dimming system of a cockpit control panel described in the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 The present invention is a schematic diagram of a process for setting an automatic dimming instruction for an indicator light device when the indicator light device automatic dimming curve is outside the high and low illumination thresholds in the implementation method of the automatic dimming system for a cockpit control panel described in the present invention.

[0016] Figure 7 The present invention is a schematic diagram of an ambient illumination judgment method and a sending mechanism of an automatic dimming instruction for an indicator light device in the method for realizing the automatic dimming system of a cockpit control panel described in the present invention.

[0017] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component relied upon by the implementation method of the cockpit control panel automatic dimming system described in the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the automatic dimming curve of the indicator light device on which the implementation method of the cockpit control panel automatic dimming system of the present invention relies. Implementation

[0019] The present invention is further described in detail below by means of specific embodiments in combination with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the description of these embodiments is used to help understand the present invention, but does not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in each embodiment of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0020] See also Figure 1, the figure shows an automatic dimming system for a cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft. The automatic dimming system includes: device type I, device type II, device type III, and device type IV. The device type I has an ambient light illumination acquisition unit and a communication module. The device type II has a light guide plate component / indicator light device, an ambient light illumination acquisition unit, an automatic dimming control unit, and a communication module. The device type III has a light guide plate component / indicator light device, an automatic dimming control unit, and a communication module. The device type IV has an ambient light illumination data processing unit and a communication module. The ambient light illumination acquisition units in the device type I and the device type II are used to collect light sensor data (through a light sensor) and transmit the collected light sensor data to a communication network through the communication module. The ambient light illumination data processing unit in the device type IV receives the light sensor data from the device type I and the device type II in the communication network through the communication module and processes it comprehensively to form an automatic dimming instruction for the light guide plate component / indicator light device and transmit it to the communication network through the communication module. The automatic dimming object control unit in the device type II and the device type III receives the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component / indicator light device from the communication network through the communication module and controls the operation of the light guide plate component / indicator light device according to the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component / indicator light device. Example

[0021] See also Figure 2 and Figure 3 The top control panel area of ​​the civil aircraft cockpit has a left top integrated control panel and a right top integrated control panel. The sunshade area of ​​the civil aircraft cockpit has a left sunshade integrated control panel and a right sunshade integrated control panel. The control panel area of ​​the civil aircraft cockpit has a control panel area lighting control panel, a dimming control power supply and other digital control panel components.

[0022] The ambient light acquisition units in the left top integrated control panel, the left sunshade integrated control panel, and the console area lighting control panel respectively collect the ambient light illumination of the cockpit through light sensors to form light sensor data. The light sensor data is processed by the automatic dimming control unit #1 and transmitted to the dimming control power supply through the CAN bus communication module #1 and the CAN bus communication network #1.

[0023] The right top integrated control board, the right sunshade integrated control board, and the ambient light illumination acquisition unit in the ambient light illumination acquisition device respectively collect the ambient light illumination of the cockpit through light sensors to form light sensor data. The light sensor data is processed by the automatic dimming control unit #2 and transmitted to the dimming control power supply through the CAN bus communication module #2 and the CAN bus communication network #2.

[0024] The ambient light illumination data processing units #1 and #2 in the dimming control power supply receive three sets of light sensor data respectively through the CAN bus communication networks #1 and #2 and the CAN bus communication modules #1 and #2. The ambient light illumination data processing units #1 and #2 obtain all six sets of light sensor data through data exchange. After comprehensive processing, the automatic dimming instructions of the light guide plate components and the automatic dimming instructions of the signal light components are formed, and then sent through the CAN bus communication modules #1 and #2 and the CAN bus communication networks #1 and #2. At the same time, the automatic dimming control units #1 and #2 in the dimming control power supply can control the brightness of the light guide plate components and the signal light components in the analog control panel assembly according to the automatic dimming instructions of the light guide plate components and the automatic dimming instructions of the signal light components.

[0025] The left top integrated control panel, the right top integrated control panel, the left visor integrated control panel, the right visor integrated control panel, the console area lighting control panel and the other digital control panel components receive the light guide plate component automatic dimming instruction and the signal light device automatic dimming instruction from the dimming control power supply through the CAN bus communication network #1, #2 and the CAN bus communication module #1, #2, and then control the brightness of the light guide plate component and the signal light device according to the instruction. In particular, the light guide plate component automatic dimming instruction and the signal light device automatic dimming instruction transmitted on the CAN bus communication network #1, #2 can also be transmitted through the aircraft network in the form of Ethernet, other serial bus forms, or wireless forms, and used for brightness control of the light guide plate component and the signal light device of other aircraft systems.

[0026] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the figure shows the process of processing light sensor data and forming the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component. Taking the automatic dimming of the light guide plate in one area as an example, the dimming control power supply receives light sensor data from 20 areas on the left and right sides of the area with a detection cycle of 1 second, forms the average value of light sensor data Q1, Q2, and then generates the average value of light sensor data Q2 according to the light guide plate automatic dimming instruction. Figure 4 The processing process shown in the figure obtains the current illuminance L, and then obtains the corresponding automatic dimming instruction according to the ambient illuminance L and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component. After obtaining the average values ​​of the regional light sensor data Q1 and Q1', Q2 and Q2' of the two detection cycles, the dimming control power supply Figure 5 The processing process shown determines the changing trend of the illumination in the current area and determines the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component to be sent.

[0027] See also Figure 6 and Figure 7The figure shows the process of processing light sensor data and forming the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device. The dimming control power supply defaults to the high brightness state of the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction, and receives 20 regional light sensor data from each of the six light sensors set in the system with a detection cycle of 1 second to form the light sensor data average Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6. Figure 6 The processing shown in the figure obtains the current illuminance L, and then obtains the corresponding automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device according to the ambient illuminance L and the automatic dimming curve of the indicator light device. After obtaining the ambient illuminance L and L' of the two detection cycles, the dimming control power supply Figure 7 The processing process shown determines the changing trend of the current illumination and determines the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device that should be sent.

[0028] See also Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , the figure shows an example model of the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component and the automatic dimming curve of the indicator light device.

[0029] The above only expresses the implementation mode of the present invention, and its description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be based on the attached claims.

Claims

1. A method for automatically dimming a light guide plate and an indicator light in a cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft, characterized in that: include: Step S1, determining the average value of the optical sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle; go to step S2; Step S2, determining the validity of the mean values ​​of the optical sensor data on the left and right sides of the current detection cycle layout area: if both are valid, go to step S3; if only one is valid, go to step S4; Step S3, if the ambient light illumination corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is higher than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to be turned off; if the ambient light illumination corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is lower than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the ambient light illumination corresponding to the higher one and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; if one of the ambient light illuminations corresponding to the mean values ​​of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection period is higher than the shutdown threshold and the other is lower than the shutdown threshold, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the ambient light illumination corresponding to the lower one and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; go to step S5; Step S4, the automatic dimming instruction of the light guide plate component is set to determine the brightness value to which the light guide plate component of the layout area should be adjusted according to the illumination value corresponding to the valid light sensor data and the automatic dimming curve of the light guide plate component; go to step S5; Step S5, dimming the light guide plate component in the layout area according to the light guide plate component automatic dimming instruction.

2. The automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S3 and / or step S4, the changing trend of the ambient light illumination corresponding to the average value of the light sensor data on the left and right sides of the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle and the previous detection cycle is determined: if the changing trend changes from dark (previous detection cycle) to bright (current detection cycle), then the automatic dimming instruction is updated for one detection cycle to be the automatic dimming instruction for the next detection cycle; if the changing trend changes from bright (previous detection cycle) to dark (current detection cycle), then the automatic dimming instruction is updated for several detection cycles to be the automatic dimming instruction for the next detection cycle.

3. The automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Further including: Step S6, determining the maximum average value of the optical sensor data in the layout area of ​​the current detection cycle or in all layout areas of the cockpit; and proceeding to step S7; Step S7, if the maximum light sensor data mean value is greater than the high brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set to a high brightness state; if the maximum light sensor data mean value is less than the low brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set to a low brightness state; if the maximum light sensor data mean value is between the high brightness threshold value and the low brightness threshold value set by the indicator light device automatic dimming curve, the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction is set according to the ambient illumination change trend corresponding to the maximum light sensor data mean value; go to step S8; Step S8, dimming the indicator light devices in the layout area according to the indicator light device automatic dimming instruction.

4. The method for implementing the automatic dimming system of the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft according to claim 3 is characterized in that: In step S7, if the trend of the ambient illumination change corresponding to the maximum mean value of the light sensor data is from low to high, the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device is maintained at the brightness state of the previous detection cycle, and it is set to a new state after one detection cycle; if the trend of the ambient illumination change corresponding to the maximum mean value of the light sensor data is from high to low, the automatic dimming instruction of the indicator light device is maintained at the brightness state of the previous detection cycle, and it is set to a new state after several detection cycles.

5. A system for realizing the automatic dimming method of the light guide plate and indicator light in the cockpit control panel of a civil aircraft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: include: An ambient light illumination acquisition unit, an ambient light illumination data processing unit, an automatic dimming control unit and communication modules used for exchanging data among these units; wherein the ambient light illumination acquisition unit is arranged at symmetrical positions on the left and right sides of the dimming area.

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