Abstract:
An apparatus and method for displaying, monitoring and controlling information relating to an avionics radio which includes use of a multi-functional display in front of the pilot incorporating a graphical user interface so as to result in a virtual radio tuning unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In the past, designers of avionics displays and flight deck electronic navigation, control and communication systems have endeavored to achieve a reduction in pilot workload. One area of concern has been the RTU, which typically requires a significant amount of “heads-down” time. This “heads-down” time occurs when the pilot is neither looking at the primary flight displays, nor out the wind screen, but instead is focused upon a task in an oblique direction, such as when using a typical RTU control unit, which may have an integrated keypad or tuning knob console and a mechanical or electronic textual display unit. One approach has been proposed in which a large stand-alone LCD display, disposed to the side of the pilot, is used for both viewing RTU information, as well as having the capability to provide data input through a graphical user interface and a cursor. While these stand-alone, side-mounted LCD RTUs have clear advantages, they also have significant drawbacks.  
           [0002]    During times of heavy turbulence, otherwise very simple tasks can become too difficult and too time consuming. For example, the step of requiring a pilot to reposition the cursor to select from several options to display all of the RTU information may require an unacceptable period of time during times of heavy turbulence. Requiring the pilot to manually switch from COM  1  to COM  2  receivers each time he desires to view another, may be undesirable. Requiring the pilot to manipulate a knob or button to return to an immediately pre-existing view setting may also require too much attention during critical times. Requiring the pilot to turn her attention to a side mounted display may also be undesirable in certain circumstances. In general, during take-off and approach, the workload on a pilot can already be extreme, leaving the pilot with little or no time to spare. Any additional effort, at an already busy time, is quite undesirable.  
           [0003]    Another continuous quest for avionics engineers is to develop enhancements which reduce the cost and the weight of avionics equipment. Prior art radio tuning units have been both relatively expensive and heavy. Typically, an RTU would include an electromechanical control panel with several mechanical dials and switches. These mechanical components must be engineered to achieve very high reliability. Consequently, they are frequently relatively expensive and heavy, thereby increasing fuel expenses and consuming precious potential revenue generating payload.  
           [0004]    Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for effecting the control of radio tuning units in an aircraft which overcome some of these shortcomings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved avionics display and RTU combination.  
           [0006]    It is a feature of the present invention to include a forward mounted multi-functional display with RTU display capabilities.  
           [0007]    It is another feature of the present invention to include a graphical user interface which allows for automatic expansion of a segment of an RTU display by selecting a menu key while a cursor is in the display segment.  
           [0008]    It is yet another feature of the present invention to include an automatic time out feature which returns the RTU display to a pre-existing view.  
           [0009]    It is still yet another feature of the present invention to include automatic cursor movement to appropriate fields on the RTU display upon manipulation of control unit buttons.  
           [0010]    It is even another feature of the present invention to simultaneously display both COM  1  and COM  2  radio information in separate display segments.  
           [0011]    It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce pilot workload.  
           [0012]    It is another advantage of the present invention to enhance pilot situational awareness.  
           [0013]    It is another feature of the present invention to include a virtual RTU.  
           [0014]    It is another advantage of the present invention to eliminate the absolute requirement for a relatively heavy electromechanical RTU control panel.  
           [0015]    The present invention is an apparatus and method for controlling an RTU on a display, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “heads down-less ” manner in a sense that the undesirable requirement for the pilot to turn her attention from the primary flight displays is reduced and concomitantly the cost and weight of such a RTU system is reduced.  
           [0016]    Accordingly, the present invention is a combination of an RTU and an avionics display positioned and operating in innovative ways so as to reduce cost, weight, and pilot “heads down” time.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawing wherein:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a representation of a left side avionics display of the present invention, showing the display partitioned into segments including a single line RTU segment.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a representation of a right side avionics display of the present invention, showing the display partitioned into segments including a dual line RTU segment.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a representation of a secondary linked page of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a representation of an avionics display of the present invention, showing the COM  1  display segment in an expanded state.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a representation of an avionics display of the present invention, showing the NAV  1  display segment in an expanded state.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a representation of an avionics display of the present invention, showing the HF  1  display segment in an expanded state.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an avionics system of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a left side display of the present invention, generally designated  100 , having a primary flight display segment  102  and a second flight display segment  103 . Second flight display segment  103  includes a one line RTU display segment  104 , a COM  1  display segment  106 , an ATC  1  display segment  108 , a page selection display segment  110 , and a TCAS display segment  112 , as well as other non-RTU functions. The radio navigation, communication and control functions shown are dependent upon the equipment available on the aircraft and are configurable as desired.  
         [0026]    Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a right side display of the present invention, generally designated  200 , including a primary flight display segment  102 , a second flight display segment  103 , and a two-line RTU display segment  204 , as well as next page advancing button  206 . The radio navigation, communication and control functions shown are dependent upon the equipment available on the aircraft and are configurable as desired.  
         [0027]    Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a secondary display page of the present invention, generally designated  300 , including a COM  3  display segment  302  and a previous button  306 . Page  300  represents a display which would be the result of clicking on next page advancing button  206  of FIG. 2 or page selection display segment  110  of FIG. 1. The radio navigation, communication and control functions shown are dependent upon the equipment available on the aircraft and are configurable as desired. Depending upon the designer&#39;s choice, there may be multiple ways to change pages on a display and to input a frequency change. Various combinations of known data entry methods could also be used, depending upon the particular requirements of any design. Additionally, it may be desirable to use a 1/2 page toggling button to facilitate rapid changes from COM  1  to COM  2  etc., especially if they are not shown simultaneously. A 1/2 toggle button is shown in the upper left-hand corner of FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    The invention may use still other ways to navigate among the various possible pages. In one design, a menu button could be incorporated into a COM  1 / 2  display segment. With this menu button, you can activate a drop-down menu, with which you can select either a 1-row or 2-row RT display. Also, the display can now be configurable, so that with the drop-down menu, you can select COM  1 / 2 / 3 , or HF  1 / 2  to be in this display segment.  
         [0029]    Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a display page of the present invention, generally designated  400 , which represents a two-line RTU display segment similar to the two line RTU display segment  204  of FIG. 2 (except it is configured to show COM  1 ) after the expanded COM  1  display segment  402  has been selected and expanded beyond its normal smaller window. The expansion is accomplished by moving the cursor into the unexpanded COM  1  area and pressing a menu button or otherwise generating any type of selection signal. The expanded COM  1  display segment  402  will, after a predetermined length of time after a selection has been made, or after a button has been manipulated, return to its smaller previous display size.  
         [0030]    Now referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a display of the present invention generally designated  500 , including an expanded NAV  1  display segment  502 . Expanded NAV  1  display segment  502  is similar to expanded COM  1  display segment  402  of FIG. 4.  
         [0031]    Now referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a display page of the present invention, generally designated  600 , having an expanded HF  1  display segment  602 . Expanded HF  1  display segment  602  is similar to expanded NAV  1  display segment  502  and expanded COM  1  display segment  402  of FIGS. 5 and 4 respectively.  
         [0032]    Now referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an avionics system of the present invention, generally designated  700 , including a display  702  coupled to an avionics radio  704  having radio controls  706 , coupled thereto. A cursor control  708  is coupled to display  702 . Preferably, display  702  is a multi-functional display disposed in front of the forward-looking pilot and is coupled to avionics systems  710 , which are various systems for use by a pilot in control, communication and navigation. Display  702  receives display signals from avionics systems  710  for generating various displays, such as primary flight displays, weather radar, TCAS and any other display desired by a pilot. Radio  704  can be any type of navigation and/or communication radio for an aircraft.  
         [0033]    In operation, the present invention functions as follows: a pilot can now control and monitor the function of navigation and communication radios on an aircraft by viewing a forward mounted display  702  and manipulating a cursor controller  708 . When the pilot wishes to control the radio  704 , she can use the graphical user interface (GUI), of the present invention, on the display  702 . The GUI may include an RTU link on the display  702 , or it may be activated by other actions, such as voice commands (which could be implemented by avionics operational systems  710 ), or manipulation of the radio controls  706 . In a preferred embodiment, the GUI may be configured as shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 ; however, other configurations may be used as well. The term “operational” is used herein to describe aircraft navigational and/or aircraft control aspects of an aircraft which go beyond a mere navigation radio and a mere communication radio used for communicating control information.  
         [0034]    Throughout this description, the terms “buttons” and “clicking” have been used. They are selected because they are believed to readily convey the present invention; however, it should be understood that other visual marks other than buttons could be substituted, and actions other than clicking could be substituted as well. It is intended that the present invention and the claims below be read to include all variations of these concepts.  
         [0035]    The hardware and software to create the displays of the present invention are either well known in the art or could be adapted, without undue experimentation, from well-known hardware and software, by persons having ordinary skill in the art, once they have carefully reviewed the description of the present invention included herein.  
         [0036]    It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.