Avionic Touchscreen Haptic Feedback for Flight Crew Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional programmable touchscreens in avionic applications lack the visual and tactile feedback necessary to maintain flight crew awareness of actions taken, which is crucial for safe and effective operation.
Innovation Solution
An avionics input device that includes a touchscreen panel, a haptic feedback device, an input decoder, a storage device, and a processor, which displays user input devices, generates input signals, and provides visual, audible, and tactile feedback to simulate the sensory experience of traditional knobs and switches, thereby enhancing user interaction and awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional programmable touchscreens are used to replace knobs and switches, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but visual and tactile feedback capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multiple feedback mechanisms including visual feedback through LED indicators that illuminate when a touchscreen button is pressed, tactile feedback through vibration motors that provide haptic resistance, and audible feedback through speakers that confirm button presses. These feedback mechanisms ensure flight crew awareness of actions taken while maintaining the simplicity of touchscreen interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components between the touchscreen interface and the flight crew, including LED indicators positioned near touchscreen buttons, vibration motors coupled to the touchscreen panel, and audio output devices. These intermediaries provide sensory feedback that bridges the gap between the digital touchscreen interface and the pilot's sensory perception.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional programmable touchscreens are used to replace physical input devices, then flight deck clutter is reduced, but user sensible feedback capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple feedback modalities (visual LED indicators, tactile vibration motors, and audible speakers) into a single touchscreen interface system. This integration provides comprehensive sensory feedback while maintaining the space-saving advantages of touchscreen technology over traditional mechanical panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements immediate sensory feedback through LED indicators that illuminate upon button press, vibration motors that provide haptic resistance during interaction, and audio confirmations that verify user inputs. This multi-sensory feedback approach compensates for the lack of physical feedback in touchscreen interfaces.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional programmable touchscreens are used, then cost of aircraft is reduced by removing complex mechanical panels, but sensory feedback advantages are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cost-effective feedback mechanisms using standard components such as LED indicators, vibration motors, and audio speakers integrated with the touchscreen system. These feedback mechanisms provide necessary sensory information to flight crew while maintaining the cost advantages of touchscreen technology over complex mechanical panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary feedback components (LED indicators, vibration motors, audio speakers) that mediate between the touchscreen interface and the flight crew's sensory perception. These intermediaries provide essential sensory feedback while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of touchscreen systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces flight deck clutter and costs by providing intuitive and safe touchscreen operations with visual, audio, and tactile feedback, maintaining crew awareness and reducing the risk of accidental actions.
Implementation Method 1
The haptic feedback device is mechanically coupled to the touchscreen panel for vibrating the touchscreen panel at a frequency and an amplitude determined in response to haptic feedback signals received thereby
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for avionic touchscreen operation. The method includes the steps of displaying one or more user input devices on a touchscreen panel, receiving user inputs on a face of the touchscreen panel, and generating input signals in response to the user inputs. The method further includes the steps of generating operational signals in response to comparing the input signals to predetermined user input signals, adjusting one or more avionic operation parameters in response to the operational signals, and providing user sensible outputs in response to the operational signals and in accordance with the user inputs. The step of providing user sensible output includes providing two or more user sensible outputs selected from the group of providing user sensible outputs including providing visual outputs, providing audible outputs and providing tactile outputs. Alternatively, the one or more user input devices displayed on the touchscreen panel includes one or more knobs.