Display system of an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10604270-B2
Application number	US-201815977663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2018
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

The display system for a cockpit of an aircraft comprises a transparent display device and a display computer. The transparent display device includes a brightness masking device that can be commanded according to at least three predetermined levels of opacity in at least four masking independent zones. The display system includes a brightness sensor. The display computer is configured to determine a level of brightness due to the light source, in display zones corresponding to each of the masking zones, depending on information coming from the brightness sensor; determine an opacity level associated with each of the masking zones, depending on the brightness level determined, such that a higher level of opacity corresponds to a higher level of brightness; and command the opacity level in each of the masking zones of the brightness masking device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display system for a cockpit of an aircraft, said display system comprising:
a transparent display device provided to be used by a user in the cockpit of the aircraft; and
a display computer configured to command a display of information on the transparent display device,
the transparent display device including a brightness masking device that can be commanded to mask a brightness received by the user through the transparent display device according to at least three predetermined levels of opacity in at least four masking independent zones located facing the transparent display device,

a brightness sensor wherein the brightness sensor is rigidly connected to the cockpit, and
the display computer being configured to:
determine a brightness level in display zones of the transparent display device corresponding to each of said masking independent zones, depending on information coming from the brightness sensor;
determine an opacity level associated with each of said masking independent zones, depending on the brightness level determined for each corresponding display zone of the transparent display device, such that a higher level of opacity corresponds to a higher level of brightness; and
command the opacity level in each of the masking independent zones of the brightness masking device, the opacity level commanded in a masking independent zone corresponding to the determined opacity level for this masking independent zone.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the display computer is further configured to:
determine a brightness level for the display of information in each of the display zones of the transparent display device, this brightness level being determined depending on the opacity level associated with the corresponding masking independent zone, such that the brightness level is reduced when the opacity level is increased; and
command the display of the information on the transparent display device by applying the display brightness levels determined for the various display zones.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least three predetermined levels of opacity correspond to:
a maximum opacity level;
a minimum opacity level corresponding to a masking-absence command; and
at least one intermediate opacity level between the maximum and minimum levels.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the masking device comprises an electrochromic film.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the masking device comprises electrochromic glass.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent display device corresponds to a head-up viewer.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent display device corresponds to a display device provided to be worn such as to be rigidly connected to a head of the user.

8. The system according to claim 1 , further including at least one sensor for an orientation and a position of a head of the user and a memory comprising position information for at least one windscreen of the cockpit, and the display computer is further configured to:
acquire orientation information and position information for the head of the user, which information is provided by the at least one sensor;
acquire, from the memory, position information for the at least one windscreen of the cockpit; and
determine, depending on the orientation information and on the position information for the head of the user and on the position information for the at least one windscreen of the cockpit, if a line of sight of the user intersects an internal element of the cockpit and, in such a case, command an opacity level, in each of the masking independent zones of the brightness masking device, corresponding to a minimum opacity level from said at least three predetermined levels of opacity.

9. An aircraft comprising a display system comprising:
a transparent display device provided to be used by a user in a cockpit of the aircraft; and
a display computer configured to command a display of information on the transparent display device,
the transparent display device including a brightness masking device that can be commanded to mask a brightness received by the user through the transparent display device according to at least three predetermined levels of opacity in at least four masking independent zones located facing the transparent display device,

a brightness sensor wherein the brightness sensor is rigidly connected to the cockpit, and
the display computer being configured to:
determine a brightness level in display zones of the transparent display device corresponding to each of said masking independent zones, depending on information coming from the brightness sensor;
determine an opacity level associated with each of said masking independent zones, depending on the brightness level determined for each of the corresponding display zones of the transparent display device, such that a higher level of opacity corresponds to a higher level of brightness; and
command the opacity level in each of the masking independent zones of the brightness masking device, the opacity level commanded in a masking independent zone corresponding to the opacity associated level determined for this masking independent zone.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Descheemaeker Cedric
• Manjon Sanchez Javier

Classifications

• H04N5/58

  in dependence upon ambient light · CPC title

• G02B2027/0118

  comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility · CPC title

• G06F3/1423

  controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display · CPC title

• G09G2320/0626

  for control of overall brightness · CPC title

• G09G2380/12

  Avionics applications · CPC title