Aircraft Character Verification Using Centroid Geometric Coordinates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Graphics processors in aircraft cockpits may display characters incorrectly due to errors, leading to potential misinterpretation during piloting, as existing methods lack precise verification mechanisms for character display accuracy across varying positions, sizes, and orientations.

Innovation Solution

A verification method using the barycenter of characters to calculate geometric coordinates and compare them with reference characters, ensuring correct display by determining deviations within a predetermined threshold, regardless of position, size, or orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a GPU displays characters with varying position, size and orientation, then the display flexibility is improved, but the verification accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay flexibilityVSAvoidverification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores reference geometric coordinates for all characteristic points of reference characters in a reference table during the design phase. When verification is needed, the system simply looks up the pre-computed reference values and compares them with actual display coordinates, eliminating the need for complex real-time geometric transformations and enabling rapid verification despite display variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of reference character geometric coordinates stored in a reference table, which serves as a template for verification. Instead of comparing actual characters directly, the system compares their extracted geometric coordinates against the stored reference copy, enabling efficient verification of characters displayed at various positions, sizes and orientations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If a verification method is implemented, then the character display accuracy is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharacter display accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores reference geometric coordinates for all characteristic points of reference characters in a reference table during the design phase. When verification is needed, the system simply looks up the pre-computed reference values and compares them with actual display coordinates, eliminating the need for complex real-time geometric transformations and enabling rapid verification despite display variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential geometric coordinates of characteristic points from characters for verification purposes. By taking out only the necessary coordinate data rather than performing complete character image processing, the system achieves fast verification with minimal processing time while maintaining high accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3757880B1Electronic method and device for verifying a character to be displayed on a screen relative to a reference character, computer program product and associated graphic processor
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 THALES SA
  • EP3757880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3757880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3757880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for verifying a character to be displayed (24) on a screen (20), against a reference character (34). The characters to be displayed (24) and the reference character (34) each comprise at least several characteristic points (28, 38). The method comprises: a) determining (210) a centroid (G1) of the characteristic points (28) of the character to be displayed (24), b) calculating (220) geometric coordinates of each characteristic point (28) of the character to be displayed (24) in a coordinate system (29) centered on the determined centroid (G1), and c) calculating (230) a difference (E) between the character to be displayed (24) and the reference character (34), based on the geometric coordinates calculated for the character to be displayed (24) and predetermined geometric coordinates for the reference character (34). The character to be displayed (24) is considered correct only if the calculated deviation (E) is less than a predetermined threshold (S).