Temporary, location-dependent clock presentation system, device, and method

14 Pages·2015·1.2 MB·English

US008977492B1
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 8,977,492 B1
Rosser et a]. (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 10, 2015
(54) TEMPORARY, LOCATION-DEPENDENT (56) References Cited
CLOCK PRESENTATION SYSTEM, DEVICE,
AND METHOD U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2006/0015247 A1* 1/2006 Speer .......................... .. 701/206
(71) ApplicantszRoy L. Rosser, Austin, TX (U S); OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Michael A. Jimenez, Marion, IA (U S)
Instrument Flying Handbook, 2012, pp. 6-24-6-28, FAA-H-8083
_ 15B, Department of Transportation, F.A.A., Airman Testing Stan
(72) Inventors: Roy L. Rosser, Austin, TX (U S); dards Branch, Oklahoma City, OK,
MiChael A- Jimenel, MarlOIl, IA (Us) Fatigue in Aviation, OK-07-193, Department of Transportation, F.A.
A., Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, OK.
(73) Assignee: 5:252:11 Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, * Cited by examiner
Primary Examiner * John Q Nguyen
* _ _ _ _ _ Assistant Examiner * Michael Kerrigan
( ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this (74) Attorney] Agent] or Firm i Angel N_ Gerdzhikov;
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Donna R Suchy; Daniel M_ Barbieri
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. (57) ABSTRACT
Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for
(21) Appl' N05 13/835,085 generating a temporary, pop-up, location-dependent clock to
the pilot of an aircraft. A clock generator may be con?gured
(22) Filed; Man 15, 2013 to retrieve ~approailh progedure data rfeprgseritative of 1yviaiy
p01nt ocation suc as t e ocation o a na approac X;
receive navigation data representative aircraft location infor
(51) Int, Cl, mation; determine the passing of the waypoint inbound to the
@061? 1 7/00 (200601) applicable airport; and perform one repetitive clock operation
G01C 21/20 (200601) of a plurality of repetitive clock operations upon the passing
52 U 8 C1 of the waypoint, Wherein an image data set is generated and
( ) ‘ ‘ ‘ _ provided to one or more display units. The image data set
CPC .............. .. G01C 21/20 (2013.01), G06F 17/00 could be representative of (1) a pop_up timer displaying a
(201301) counting down of time from the manually-initialized, esti
USPC ........................................................ .. 701/467 mated time, or (2) a pop-up stopwatch displaying a counting
(58) Field of Classi?cation Search up of time When the estimated time is not manually initial
CPC .............................. .. G06F 17/00; G01C 21/20 iZed
See application ?le for complete search history. 17 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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US. Patent Mar. 10, 2015 Sheet 3 0f7 US 8,977,492 B1
US. Patent Mar. 10, 2015 Sheet 4 0f7 US 8,977,492 B1
US. Patent Mar. 10, 2015 Sheet 5 0f7 US 8,977,492 B1
US. Patent Mar. 10, 2015 Sheet 6 0f7 US 8,977,492 B1
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US. Patent Mar. 10, 2015 Sheet 7 0f7 US 8,977,492 B1
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Retrieve appreecii preeeciure data
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Reeeive navigaticm date
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Determine passing (if nevigatien waypeint
Yes Tim/ei\ s et f N9
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US 8,977,492 B1
1 2
TEMPORARY, LOCATION-DEPENDENT In one embodiment, a system for generating a temporary,
CLOCK PRESENTATION SYSTEM, DEVICE, pop-up, location-dependent clock is disclosed. The system
AND METHOD may be comprised of a manual input data source, a procedure
data source, a navigation data source, a clock generator con
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ?gured to generate a ?rst or second image data set, and one or
more display units. In one embodiment, each display unit
1. Field of the Invention could be con?gured to receive the image data set and present
This invention pertains generally to the ?eld of vehicle
a clock comprised of either a timer counting down or a stop
display units that present navigation information to the user of
watch counting up. In another embodiment, the clock may be
a vehicle such as the pilot of an aircraft.
presented within an indicator corresponding to a navigation
2. Description of the Related Art
aid upon which the procedure is based. In another embodi
Aircraft ?y in all sorts of weather conditions that can be
ment, the clock may be presented within the pitch scale of an
generally categorized as ?ight under Vlsual Meteorological
attitude indicator. In another embodiment, the manual input
Conditions (“VMC”) or Instrument Meteorological Condi
data source, the procedure data source, the navigation data
tions (“IMC”). When operating in VMC or IMC weather
source, and the clock generator could be integrated into a
conditions, ?ight may be conducted underVisual Flight Rules
?ight management system. In another embodiment, the
(“VFR”) or Instrument Flight Rules (“IFR”), respectively.
Generally, ?ight under VFR occurs when a pilot can ?y with manual input data source, the procedure data source, the
reference to visual cues located outside the aircraft; when the navigation data source, the clock generator, and a display unit
pilot cannot rely on outside visual cues, e.g., when there is 20 could be integrated into a portable electronic device.
poor visibility, he or she conducts the ?ight in IMC under IFR. In another embodiment, a device for generating a tempo
To assist the pilot when landing on a runway at an airport rary, pop-up, location-dependent clock is disclosed. The
when ?ying in IMC, a pilot may perform an instrument device may be comprised of a clock generator con?gured to
approach procedure (“IAP”). The IAP may be categorized as perform the method discussed in the following paragraph. As
a precision approach procedure or a non-precision approach 25 embodied herein, the clock generator could be comprised of
procedure, each designed with a ?nal approach ?x (“PAP”) one or more processing units con?gured or programmed to
and a missed approach point (“MAP”). The MAP may be generate the ?rst or second image data set.
considered as a point along the IAP at which time the pilot In another embodiment, a method for generating a tempo
decides to land the aircraft or execute a missed approach rary, pop-up, location-dependent clock is disclosed. The
procedure, where such decision may depend upon the pilot’ s 30 method could be comprised of retrieving procedure data rep
ability to see the runway environment.
resentative of a navigation waypoint such as a ?nal approach
The MAP may vary and depend upon the approach proce
?x, receiving navigation data representative aircraft location
dure being ?own. For a precision approach procedure, the
information, determining the passing of the navigation way
MAP may be located at a point along a glide slope at which
point, and performing one repetitive clock operation of a
decision height (“DH”) or decision altitude (“DA”) is 35
plurality of repetitive clock operations upon the passing of the
reached. In one type of non-precision approach procedure,
waypoint. One repeating clock operation may be comprised
the pilot may determine the MAP with a navigational ?x or
navigational aid (“NAVAID”) where the NAVAID facility of a count down of time from an estimated time initialized
manually, generating an image data set representative of a
upon which the IAP is based is located on the airport. In
another type of non-precision approach procedure, the MAP 40 pop-up timer displaying the counting down of time from the
may be determined with de?ned waypoints used in conjunc manually-initialized time, and providing the ?rst image data
tion with a global positioning system (“GPS”) or VOR/DME set to one or more display units. If the estimated time is not
RNAV (which is de?ned as very high frequency omnidirec initialized manually, another repeating clock operation may
tional range/distance measuring equipment area navigation). be comprised of a count up of time from zero, generating an
In another type of non-precision approach procedure 45 image data set representative of a pop-up stopwatch display
where the NAVAID upon which the IAP is based is located ing the counting up of time, and providing the ?rst image data
away from the airport, the MAP may be determined by timing set to one or more display units. In another embodiment, the
the IAP when passing the PAP; when performing this type repetitive clock operation may be inhibited if the procedure is
non-precision approach procedure, it is not uncommon for a a precision approach procedure and/or includes the use of
pilot to forget to time the approach when passing the PAP. 50 distance measuring equipment.
Without a timer, the pilot may not know when he or she
arrives at the MAP at the correct time when a decision needs BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
to be made. This could lead to a loss of a pilot’s situational
awareness and increase the risk of experiencing a tragic con FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a temporary, pop-up,
sequence where, for instance, the aircraft is operating in or 55 location-dependent clock system.
near an area of mountainous terrain. FIG. 2 illustrates a published instrument approach proce
dure chart of an IAP.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIG. 3A illustrates a Very high frequency Omnidirectional
Range (“VOR”) indicator of an aircraft approaching an FAF.
The embodiments disclosed herein present at least one 60 FIG. 3B illustrates the VOR indicator of FIG. 3A as the
novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for gener aircraft passes the PAP at which point a pop-up stopwatch
ating a temporary, pop-up, location-dependent clock to the appears.
pilot of an aircraft. With the embodiments disclosed herein, a FIG. 3C illustrates the VOR indicator of FIG. 3A as the
clock may appear momentarily during an IAP phase, display aircraft passes the PAP at which point a pop-up timer appears
ing either a timer counting down from a pilot’s estimate of 65 displaying a manually-entered time.
time or a stopwatch counting up from zero when no estimate FIG. 4A illustrates an automatic direction ?nder (“ADF”)
is provided. indicator of an aircraft approaching an FAF.
US 8,977,492 B1
3 4
FIG. 4B illustrates the ADF indicator of FIG. 4A as the ?ight navigation database that may be part of a ?ight man
aircraft passes the PAP at which point a pop-up stopwatch agement system (“FMS”). Although not limiting to the
appears. embodiments disclosed herein, the reference data source 130
FIG. 4C illustrates the ADF indicator of FIG. 4A as the could be a database designed to meet the standards published
aircraft passes the PAP at which point a pop-up timer appears by Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (“ARINC”) in the fol
displaying a manually-entered time. lowing document: ARINC Speci?cation 424-18 entitled
FIG. 5A illustrates an aircraft passing an FAF at which “Navigations Systems Data Base” (“ARINC 424”), an avia
point a pop-up stopwatch within an egocentric image appears. tion industry standard known to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 5B illustrates an aircraft passing an FAF at which The ?ight navigation database may contain records which
point a pop-up time within an egocentric image appears dis provide reference data such as, but not limited to, airport data
playing a manually-entered time. and/or approach data of an instrument approach procedure
FIG. 6 provides a ?owchart illustrating a method for gen (“IAP”) of an airport. Those skilled in the art understand that
erating a temporary, pop-up, location-dependent clock. approach procedures are comprised of a plurality of way
points, and data representative of the geographic location of
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION waypoints are included in the navigation reference data
source 130. Although the reference points in the following
In the following description, several speci?c details are discussion may be drawn to a waypoint of an approach pro
presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodi cedure known as a ?nal approach ?x (“FAF”), the disclosures
ments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will herein are not limited to FAFs but may include any point used
recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced with 20 in an approach procedure having a de?ned geographic loca
out one or more of the speci?c details, or in combination with tion such as, for example, an initial approach ?x.
other components, etc. In other instances, well-known imple In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the CG 140 may receive data
mentations or operations are not shown or described in detail from various systems including, but not limited to, the manual
to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the input device 110, the navigation data source 120, and the
invention. 25 reference data source 130. The CG 140 may be operatively
FIG. 1 depicts a location-dependent clock presentation coupled to these to facilitate the receiving of input data; as
system 100 suitable for implementation of the techniques embodied herein, operatively coupled may be considered as
described herein. The system may be comprised of a manual interchangeable with electronically coupled. It is not neces
input device 110, a navigation data source 120, a reference sary that a direct connection be made; instead, such receiving
data source 130, a clock generator (“CG”) 140, and a display 30 of input data and providing of output data could be provided
unit(s) 150. through a data bus or through a wireless network. The CG 140
In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the manual input device 110 may also be operatively coupled to the display unit(s) 150 to
could comprised of any source for facilitating a viewer’s facilitate the providing of data generated by the CG 140.
interaction with the information displayed by a display unit. In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the CG 140 may be represen
The manual input device 110 may include any device that 35 tative of any electronic data processing unit or complex of
allows for the selection of time as described below. Such processing units which execute software or source code
devices could include, but are not limited to, a tactile device stored, permanently or temporarily, in a digital memory stor
(e.g., keyboard, control display unit, cursor control device, age device or computer-readable media (not depicted herein)
stylus, electronic grease pen, handheld device, touch screen including, but not limited to, RAM, ROM, CD, DVD, hard
device, notebook, tablet, electronic ?ight bag, etc. . . . ) and/or 40 disk drive, diskette, solid-state memory, PCMCIA or PC
speech recognition systems. The manual input device 110 Card, secure digital cards, and compact ?ash cards. The CG
could be integrated with a display unit if it is con?gured to 140 may be driven by the execution of software or source
receive pilot input (e.g., handheld device, touch screen code containing algorithms developed for the speci?c func
device, notebook, tablet, etc. . . . ). As embodied herein, the tions embodied herein. Common examples of electronic data
manual input device 110 may provide input representative of processing units are microprocessors, Digital Signal Proces
a pilot’s input of time to the CG 140 for subsequent process sors (DSPs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Pro
ing as discussed herein. grammable Gate Arrays (PGAs), and signal generators; how
The navigation data source 120 may include, but is not ever, for the embodiments herein, the term “processor” is not
limited to, an air/data system, an attitude heading reference limited to such processing units and its meaning is not
system, an inertial guidance system (or inertial reference 50 intended to be construed narrowly. For instance, a processor
system), a radio navigation system, and a global navigation could also consist of more than one electronic data processing
satellite system (or satellite navigation system) such as the unit. As embodied herein, the CG 140 could be a processor(s)
global positioning system (“GPS”), all of which are known to used by or in conjunction with any other system of the aircraft
those skilled in the art. As embodied herein, the navigation including, but not limited to, a processor(s) associated with
data source 120 could provide navigation data including, but 55 the manual input device 110, the navigation data source 120,
not limited to, data representative of aircraft location and the reference data source 130, the display unit(s) 150, a syn
heading information. As embodied herein, the pilot input thetic vision system (“SVS”), an enhanced image generated
device 110 (e.g., handheld device, notebook, tablet, etc. . . . ) by an enhanced vision system (“EVS”), or a synthetic-en
could be integrated with the navigation data source 120 (e.g., hanced or enhanced synthetic image generated by a combined
GPS) to receive location information and/or con?gured to 60 SVS-EVS, or any combination thereof.
receive location information through a wired data bus and/or In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the display unit(s) 150 could
wireless network. As embodied herein, navigation data may be comprised of any display unit having a display surface on
be provided to the CG 140 for subsequent processing as which an image(s) may be presented to the pilot. The display
discussed herein. unit could be, but is not limited to, a Primary Flight Display
In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the reference data source 130 65 (“PFD”) Unit, Navigation Display (“ND”) Unit, Head-Up
could be comprised of any source of reference point data. The Display (“HUD”) Unit, Head-Down Display (“HDD”) Unit,
reference data source 130 may include, but is not limited to, a Multi-Purpose Control Display Unit, Engine Indicating and