Garmin At, Inc.

Other

United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Robert M Grove

Steve Horvath

Craig R Bowers

Bob Hilb

Steven Horvath

John Thomas Pratt

A system and method for filtering various targets (such as ground vehicles, stationary objects, and aircraft) from display on a display screen within the cockpit of an 'Own Ship' aircraft. The system and method withhold from display any non-exempt targets that have an altitude that is either: (1) greater than an upper-threshold altitude; or (2) less than a lower-threshold altitude. The upper-threshold altitude and the lower-threshold altitude may be set to user-specified, customized values as desired to accommodate current flying conditions. In addition, the system and method may also be configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes, each of which features a different upper threshold altitude/lower threshold altitude combination. The system and method are preferably configured to reset certain threshold altitudes to pre-defined default altitudes in response to the aircraft landing.

Altitude range filter for cockpit traffic display

Pilot-programmable altitude range filter for cockpit traffic display

A system for graphically displaying on a cockpit display an indication of closure (i.e. a 'closure indictor') with a selected target aircraft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system only displays a closure indicator if: (1) the selected target aircraft is within a pre-determined monitoring zone; and (2) the track of the selected target aircraft is within a pre-determined variation angle of the track of the Own Ship aircraft. If the rate of closure between the selected target aircraft and the Own Ship aircraft is within a predetermined range of values, the closure indicator includes a closing/receding indicia (such as an upwardly or downwardly directed arrow) that indicates whether the Own Ship aircraft is closing in on or receding from the selected target aircraft. The system preferably removes the closure indicator from display when the Own Ship aircraft or the selected target aircraft ceases to be airborne.

Graphic closure indicator for cockpit traffic display

A system for graphically displaying on a cockpit display an indication of closure (i.e. a &ldquo;closure indictor&rdquo;) with a selected target aircraft. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system only displays a closure indicator if: (1) the selected target aircraft is within a predetermined monitoring zone; and (2) the track of the selected target aircraft is within a pre-determined variation angle of the track of the Own Ship aircraft. If the rate of closure between the selected target aircraft and the Own Ship aircraft is within a predetermined range of values, the closure indicator includes a closing/receding indicia (such as an upwardly or downwardly directed arrow) that indicates whether the Own Ship aircraft is closing in on or receding from the selected target aircraft. The system preferably removes the closure indicator from display when the Own Ship aircraft or the selected target aircraft ceases to be airborne.

An electronic cockpit display of traffic information in a pilot's own aircraft, comprising: a traffic display out to a distance from the own aircraft at a periphery of the display set by an adjustable scale; and a range indicator display representing a selected physical distance from the own aircraft, the range indicator moving in a selectable range ring mode to maintain the selected distance from the own aircraft represented by the indicator as the adjustable scale changes. The range indicator display optionally may be selectively operable in an alternative half-scale range ring mode, in which the range indicator remains at the halfway position on the display as the adjustable scale changes, and in which the physical distance from the own aircraft represented by the indicator varies with the scale adjustment. Range monitoring may be provided using a range ring as the range indicator.

Selectable range ring for an ADS-B CDTI cockpit display

A method is provided for determining the integrity of incoming target data and for assigning and displaying a target icon correlated to the target data integrity. Target data integrity depends on the both accuracy and the timeliness of the position data being broadcast about the target. Target data integrity is monitored continuously to display a target icon correlated to the current integrity level. Changes in the target icon alert the flight crew or other user to changes in target data integrity. The icon attributes used to communicate a change in integrity do not interfere with other icon attributes used to communicate other characteristics of a target.

Growing community of inventors

Newberg, OR, United States of America

Robert M Grove