Vertical Flight Profile Display Centering for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems lack the ability to optimally center a vertical display window for viewing the entire flight plan during flight preparation or mission preparation phases, as existing methods rely on current aircraft position and cannot be applied to viewing parts of the flight plan not immediately in front of the aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allow the flight management computer to send display instructions to control a display window, acquiring a reference point from the flight plan, computing its altitude, and determining a vertical centering coefficient based on flight phase and selected display range, enabling optimal vertical centering of the display window for viewing the vertical flight profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vertical display window is centered based on current aircraft position, then the display works during flight, but it cannot display the entire flight plan during preparation phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic centering behavior that adapts to different operational contexts. During flight preparation phase, the display centers on the first waypoint to show the entire flight plan. During actual flight, it centers on the current aircraft position. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between viewing the entire flight plan and maintaining flight-oriented display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the centering parameter (reference point) based on the flight phase. In preparation phase, the reference point is set to the first waypoint of the flight plan, allowing full visibility. During flight, the reference point dynamically follows the aircraft position. This parameter change enables the display to serve different purposes in different phases.
2Loss of information
If the display shows the entire flight plan, then pilots can view height margins and altitude constraints, but the display window cannot be properly centered using existing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the centering logic from the general flight display system and creates a specific preparation-phase mode. When in preparation phase, the system extracts the first waypoint as the reference point, separating this special-case handling from the normal flight-centered display logic. This allows full flight plan visibility without complicating the overall system.
3Reliability
If the display is designed for current position centering, then it works during flight, but it cannot be used for viewing future waypoints in preparation phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal display system that serves both flight and preparation phase requirements. By detecting the operational phase and adjusting the reference point accordingly (current position during flight, first waypoint during preparation), the same display window and centering mechanism fulfill multiple functions, eliminating the need for separate display systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A display method comprises a step during which an aircraft flight management computer sends display instructions to a display management system, to control the display of an aircraft flight plan window. The display method also comprises steps comprising acquiring a reference point and a vertical flight profile of the aircraft comprising the reference point, and computing, using the vertical flight profile, an altitude of the reference point. It also comprises steps comprising acquiring an information item relating to a flight phase associated with the reference point, acquiring an information item relating to a selected display range, determining a vertical centering coefficient of a display window relating to the vertical flight profile, as a function of the flight phase and transmitting, to the display management system, instructions for displaying the display window as a function of the altitude of the reference point and of the centering coefficient of the display window.