Combined mode controller and display control unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173785-B2
Application number	US-201715617804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2017
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A combined controller with a panel that has a face and a back, a case attached to the back of the panel. The face of the panel includes a plurality of first primary flight display inputs configured to receive physical inputs for the control of a first primary flight display; a plurality of second primary flight display inputs configured to receive physical inputs for the control of a second primary flight display; and a plurality of flight control inputs configured to receive physical inputs for the control of automated flight behavior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control unit, comprising:
a panel having a face and an opposite back;
a case attached to the back of the panel;
a plurality of first primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of first primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of a first primary flight display;
a plurality of second primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of a second primary flight display; and
a plurality of flight control inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of flight control inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of automated flight behavior.

2. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of each of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs, and the plurality of flight control inputs comprise soft keys.

3. The control unit of claim 2 , wherein at least one of each of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs, and the plurality of flight control inputs comprise hard keys.

4. The control unit of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs is configured to control a first multi-function display.

5. The control unit of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of second primary flight display inputs is configured to control a second multi-function display.

6. The control unit of claim 5 , wherein the panel has a total area of less than fifty-three square inches.

7. An aircraft cockpit, comprising:
a first primary flight display;
a second primary flight display; and
a control unit, comprising:
a panel having a face and an opposite back;
a case attached to the back of the panel;
a plurality of first primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of first primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of the first primary flight display;
a plurality of second primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of the second primary flight display; and
a plurality of flight control inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of flight control inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of automated flight behavior.

8. The aircraft cockpit of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first multi-function display;
a first multi-function control unit including a plurality of inputs configured to control the first multi-function display;
a second multi-function display; and
a second multi-function control unit including a plurality of inputs configured to control the second multi-function display.

9. The aircraft cockpit of claim 8 , wherein at least one the plurality of first primary flight display inputs is configured to back-up the first multi-function control unit.

10. The aircraft cockpit of claim 9 , wherein at least one the plurality of second primary flight display inputs is configured to back-up the second multi-function control unit.

11. The aircraft cockpit of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of inputs on the first multi-function control unit is configured to back-up at least one of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs.

12. The aircraft cockpit of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of inputs on the second multi-function control unit is configured to back-up at least one of the plurality of second primary flight display inputs.

13. The aircraft cockpit of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs, and the plurality of flight control inputs comprises a soft key.

14. A rotorcraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
a rotor; and
a cockpit disposed within the fuselage, comprising:
a first primary flight display;
a second primary flight display; and
a control unit, comprising:
a panel having a face and an opposite back;
a case attached to the back of the panel;
a plurality of first primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of first primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of the first primary flight display;
a plurality of second primary flight display inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of the second primary flight display; and
a plurality of flight control inputs on the face of the panel, the plurality of flight control inputs being configured to receive physical inputs for the control of automated flight behavior.

15. The rotorcraft of claim 14 , the cockpit further comprising:
a first multi-function display;
a first multi-function control unit including a plurality of inputs configured to control the first multi-function display;
a second multi-function display; and
a second multi-function control unit including a plurality of inputs configured to control the second multi-function display.

16. The rotorcraft of claim 15 , wherein at least one the plurality of first primary flight display inputs is configured to back-up the first multi-function control unit.

17. The rotorcraft of claim 16 , wherein at least one the plurality of second primary flight display inputs is configured to back-up the second multi-function control unit.

18. The rotorcraft of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of inputs on the first multi-function control unit is configured to back-up at least one of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs.

19. The rotorcraft of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of inputs on the second multi-function control unit is configured to back-up at least one of the plurality of second primary flight display inputs.

20. The rotorcraft of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first primary flight display inputs, the plurality of second primary flight display inputs, and the plurality of flight control inputs comprises a soft key.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Leachman Joe
• Priest Thomas B

Classifications

• G01C23/00

  Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration · CPC title

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• G08G5/21

  located onboard the aircraft · CPC title