Flight Phase Duration Counter with Selective Recording Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current timepieces used by pilots cannot accurately calculate the duration of distinct flight phases, such as visual and instrument flight, which are crucial for determining rest times and fuel autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A duration counting instrument with multiple recording means that can be selectively armed and disarmed, allowing for the calculation and display of cumulative time for each flight phase, enabling seamless switching between phases and storing data for total flight time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cumulative timer is used to record total flight time, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to measure and display duration of distinct flight phases is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The timer device is segmented into multiple independent recording means (first duration recording means, second duration recording means, etc.), each capable of independently measuring and storing the duration of specific flight phases. This segmentation allows the device to simultaneously track multiple distinct phases without requiring a single complex system, thus maintaining relatively simple individual components while achieving comprehensive measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple duration recording means are provided for different flight phases, then the measurement capability for distinct phases is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple duration recording means are merged into a single integrated timer device with shared control means, display means, and memory resources. The control means can selectively activate different recording means based on the current flight phase, and the display means can show cumulative time for any selected phase. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity compared to having completely separate timers for each phase while maintaining the capability to measure multiple phases independently.
3Measurement precision
If the timer continuously records all phases simultaneously, then the total flight time is accurately tracked, but the ability to identify and analyze individual phase durations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control means is configured to preemptively disarm (deactivate) duration recording means when a phase transition is detected. For example, when transitioning from visual flight to instrument flight, the control means automatically disarms the visual flight recording means and activates the instrument flight recording means. This preliminary action prevents overlapping or duplicate recording of the same time period across different phases, ensuring that each phase's duration is measured independently and accurately without information loss.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual switching between phases is required, then the ease of operation is reduced, but the adaptability to different flight scenarios is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The timer device incorporates automatic phase detection and switching capabilities through the control means, which monitors flight parameters and autonomously determines when phase transitions occur. The control means automatically arms or disarms the appropriate duration recording means based on detected phase changes, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains high adaptability to different flight scenarios while significantly improving ease of operation, as the pilot simply needs to fly normally without manually configuring the timer.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an instrument (1) for counting duration for differentiated phases comprising a plurality of duration recording means (11), each actuatable for the arming and disarming thereof by a first control means (13), said instrument comprising a general control means (12) for controlling, on the basis of a rest position where all said recording means are disarmed, the arming of a single one of them, selected by selection means (14) which said instrument comprises, and for furthermore controlling, at a terminal instant, the disarming of all said recording means. The instrument comprises switching means (15) devised, so as, during a command to arm one of said recording means, to trigger the disarming of all the other recording means (11) and retain the aggregate recording of the time counted on each of said recording means. The selection means are devised so as to be controlled by a user or/and by measurement means or/and by a signal, so as to trigger the arming of one of said recording means.