Configurable control panel for an aircraft cockpit and method of configuration for such a panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016362175-A1
Application number	US-201615179580-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 11, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A configurable control panel for an aircraft cockpit includes a set of universal control modules each comprising at least one screen including at least one manually manipulable control key. Each of the control modules further includes at least one master control module, and at least one universal slave module associated with the master module, and including a screen and at least one control key. The at least one master module is configured to control the screen and the at least one control key of the at least one universal slave module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A configurable control panel for an aircraft cockpit, comprising:
a set of universal control modules each comprising at least one screen including at least one manually manipulable control key, wherein each of the control modules further comprises:
at least one master control module; and
at least one universal slave module associated with the master module, and comprising a screen and at least one control key, and
wherein the at least one master module is configured to control the screen and the at least one control key of the at least one universal slave module.

2 . The control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one control key of the at least one master module is configured to select functional systems to be controlled by the control panel, and the at least one slave module is adapted based on the functional systems selected.

3 . The control panel according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-configurable control module to control a function of a system of the control panel.

4 . The control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one master control module and slave control module include at least one controller comprising a control algorithm for the control panel.

5 . The control panel according to claim 4 , wherein the controller of the at least one slave control module is configured to control a display on the screen of the at least one slave control module and to configure the at least one control key of the slave control module according to a function dictated by the master control module.

6 . The control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one control key comprises a key selected from the group consisting of a digital control key and an electromechanical control key.

7 . The control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screen of the set of universal control modules comprises a touch screen.

8 . The control panel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screen of the set of universal control modules comprises a non touch-sensitive screen.

9 . A method of configuration of a configurable control panel for an aircraft, the method comprising:
manipulating at least one master control module, for selection of a system configured to perform a function controllable by the control panel; and controlling, by a controller, of at least one screen and at least one control key of a set of slave control modules according to the functional system selected, wherein the control panel comprises a set of universal control modules each comprising at least one screen and at least one manually manipulable control key, wherein each of the control modules further comprises:
the at least one master control module; and
at least one of the slave control modules associated with the at least one master module, and comprising the at least one screen of the set of slave control modules and the at least one control key, and
wherein the at least one master control module is configured to control the at least one screen and the at least one control key of the at least one slave control module.

Assignees

• Zodiac Aero Electric

Inventors

• De Bossoreille Romain
• Nahmiyace Michael

Classifications

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• 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

• G06F3/1423

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

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64C13/042 Primary

  operated by hand · CPC title