Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Colin D Reed

David L Leedom

Bryan C Schultz

David A Gribble

Michael James Krenz

Geoffrey A Shapiro

Timothy J Wittkop

Pamela K Hahn

Tony Vander Velden

Brian E Mishmash

Jan M Heeren

Systems and methods provide providing predictive radio tuning for an aircraft. The systems and methods electronically receive data from an off aircraft source and integrate with aircraft sourced data. The information is related to frequencies for aircraft radios at one or more locations. The systems and methods electronically determine a location of the aircraft, electronically provide a predicted frequency in response to the location and the information using a radio tuning application, and display the predicted frequency on a radio tuning panel on an electronic display.

Predictive radio tuning systems and methods for aircraft

A system, device, and method for presenting aircraft requirements are disclosed. The aircraft requirements presentation system could include a source of maintenance data; an aircraft system(s); an input device; a processing unit (PU); and a display unit. The PU may be configured to acquire maintenance data; identify one or more schedule maintenance actions due at the present time; generate command data to a disable specific functionality of the aircraft system(s); provide the command data to the aircraft system(s); generate an image data set representative of one or more page images, whereon each page there may be image of at least one maintenance strip indicating a maintenance action and at least one a count for the maintenance action; and present the image(s) on the display unit. In some embodiments, a maintenance strip could include a graphical user interface through which a pilot may enable the disabled functionality.

Aircraft requirements presentation system, device, and method

The present disclosure is directed to a method for managing a location of a cursor on a display. The method may include the step of receiving an input from a user. The method may also include the step of detecting a gaze of the user within the display. The method may also include the step of displaying the cursor on the display within the gaze of the user.

Eye tracking to move the cursor within view of a pilot

An apparatus for providing format and display configuration selection includes a display device, a user interface device, and a computer control system communicatively coupled to the display device and the user interface device, wherein the computer control system is configured to initiate a display format selection menu in a display area of the display device, wherein the display format selection menu includes an application menu area, a display configuration area, and an application configuration preview area, select an application from the application menu area, select a display configuration from the display configuration area, generate a multi-application display preview by displaying the one or more selected applications in a configuration defined by the selected display configuration in the application preview area, and implement the previewed multi-application display in response to a signal received from the user interface device indicative of acceptance of the previewed multi-application display.

Format and display configuration selection of a display device

The present invention is directed to a flight controls system and a method for navigating an aircraft via the flight controls system implemented on-board an aircraft. The flight controls system may provide a first mode for allowing the aircraft to be autonomously navigated safely to a loiter zone in the event the pilot becomes incapacitated or unable to operate the aircraft. Further, the flight controls system may provide a second mode for providing autonomous landing functionality for the aircraft when the engines of the aircraft have failed.

Autonomous flight controls for providing safe mode navigation

A method and system for providing flight plan (i.e., route) previews is disclosed. A graphical representation of a route is provided on a display for a user to preview prior to committing the route to a flight management system. Furthermore, a textual description of the route may also be displayed. The textual description may provide additional information that may further assist the user making the selection.

Providing preview information to facilitate flight plan selection

The present invention is a method for providing a visual indicator which indicates functions of multi-purpose controls in a current cursor location context. The method includes providing a current cursor location context. The method further includes providing a visual indicator based on the current cursor location context. The visual indicator indicates a function of a multi-purpose control. The multi-purpose control is configured for allowing a user to interact with a cursor at the cursor's current location within the current cursor location context. Further, indicating the function of the multi-purpose control includes, prior to activation of the multi-purpose control, providing information regarding an interaction to take place with the cursor when the multi-purpose control is activated.

System and method for providing a visual indicator which indicates functions of multi-purpose controls in a cursor-driven display environment

An enhanced flight display system for an aircraft, including primary display controls, a flight display, and processing elements. The primary display controls provide a primary capability for performing defined display functions. The flight display includes a touchscreen input device being partitioned into a plurality of fixed touch regions that are responsive to touch so as to provide a secondary capability for performing defined flight display functions. The processing elements are operatively associated with the primary display controls and the flight display for implementing the defined flight display functions in response to utilization of the primary display controls or the touch of one of the touch regions, wherein operation of the fixed touch regions is configured to be independent of the primary display controls. This system provides an intuitive, aircraft optimized touchscreen interface to an aircraft flight display with no or minimal display design changes.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Colin D Reed