Avionics Display Touch Gesture Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avionics systems in aircraft cockpits lack interactivity and have limited display space, leading to increased pilot workload and ergonomic issues, particularly with electronic flight bags that require physical interaction and do not provide seamless integration with existing avionics systems.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive avionics display system comprising large-format primary displays, secondary displays for rehosting EFB devices, format selector panels, and keyboard panels that allow for finger contacts and gestures to control layout and interact with EFB applications wirelessly, providing seamless integration and simplified format control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If smaller-format displays are used in current avionics systems, then device complexity is reduced, but display space and interactivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple smaller displays into a single large-format display surface that provides both expanded display area and integrated interactivity. The large display consolidates information from multiple sources while maintaining touch-sensitive control capabilities, eliminating the need for separate EFB devices and their mounting hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The large-format display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays primary flight information, provides touch-sensitive format control, enables EFB application access, and offers gesture-based navigation. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required separate devices and interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If EFB devices are physically mounted in the cockpit, then data interactivity is provided, but ergonomics deteriorate and pilot error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges EFB functionality directly into the primary avionics display, eliminating the need for separate EFB devices that required physical mounting. Pilots can access EFB applications through the integrated large display without handling separate devices, improving ergonomics and reducing error risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The large-format display acts as an intermediary between the pilot and EFB devices, providing wireless or wired connectivity while presenting a unified interface. This mediator eliminates the need for direct physical interaction with EFB devices while maintaining full functionality.
3Productivity
If multiple separate displays are used without interactivity, then device complexity is reduced, but pilot workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent display functions into a single integrated large-format display with inter-active capabilities. Format selector panels and touch-sensitive controls allow pilots to navigate and reconfigure display content without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adapts to pilot needs through touch-sensitive format control and gesture recognition. The interface can be reconfigured on-demand, allowing pilots to optimize display layouts for different flight phases without manual intervention or complex switching procedures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If large-format touch-sensitive displays are implemented, then interactivity and display space are improved, but format control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large-format display provides self-service format control through touch-sensitive panels and gesture recognition. The system automatically interprets pilot gestures and adjusts display formats without requiring complex manual controls or additional configuration devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical format control mechanisms with touch-sensitive electronic controls and gesture recognition. This substitution simplifies the control interface while maintaining full format customization capability, eliminating complex switches, buttons, and physical dials.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for an interactive avionics display system integrates a large-format primary avionics display, a secondary avionics display capable of mirroring the display of electronic flight bag mobile devices, a format selector panel, and a keyboard panel. Background displays and foreground multifunction windows generated by the display system house applications and display relevant avionics data. The multifunction windows can be resized or repositioned on the display surface using finger contacts and gestures. Format selector panels include control selectors corresponding to the multifunction windows, the control selectors responsive to finger contact with the format selector panels or the corresponding multifunction windows. Keyboard panels provide touch-sensitive radio and communications controls as well as an alphanumeric keyboard responsive to finger contact with text fields generated by the display.