System and display element for displaying waypoint markers with integrated altitude constraint information

Abstract

A flight deck display system for an aircraft includes a processor architecture configured to receive aircraft instrument data, waypoint restriction information, and position data for the aircraft and, based upon the received data, generate image rendering display commands. The system also includes a display element configured to receive the image rendering display commands and, in response thereto, to render a display that includes a perspective view of terrain and at least one waypoint marker corresponding to an approaching waypoint. The waypoint marker includes visually distinguishable characteristics that convey waypoint restriction information (e.g., altitude or airspeed constraint information that governs the waypoint).

1 . A flight deck display system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
 a processor architecture configured to receive waypoint location data for waypoints, terrain data, aircraft geographic position data for the aircraft, and restriction data for the waypoints, and the processor architecture being configured to generate image rendering display commands based upon the waypoint location data, the terrain data, the restriction data, and the aircraft geographic position data; and   a display element configured to receive the image rendering display commands and, in response thereto, to render a perspective view of terrain corresponding to a flight deck viewpoint, and to render a waypoint marker in the perspective view of terrain, the waypoint marker corresponding to an approaching waypoint; wherein   content and appearance of the waypoint marker are influenced by an aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning subsystem coupled to the processor architecture, and configured to obtain the aircraft geographic position data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory element for storing the waypoint location data and the restriction data for the waypoints. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein appearance of the waypoint marker changes if a projected path of the aircraft does not satisfy the aircraft operating parameter restriction. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint is an at-or-above altitude constraint;   the waypoint marker is rendered in the perspective view of terrain in a conformal manner that indicates a target altitude for the at-or-above altitude constraint; and   the waypoint marker is rendered with visually distinguishable characteristics associated with at-or-above altitude constraints.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint is an at-or-below altitude constraint;   the waypoint marker is rendered in the perspective view of terrain in a conformal manner that indicates a target altitude for the at-or-below altitude constraint; and   the waypoint marker is rendered with visually distinguishable characteristics associated with at-or-below altitude constraints.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint is a between altitude constraint;   the waypoint marker is rendered in the perspective view of terrain in a conformal manner that indicates an upper altitude limit and a lower altitude limit corresponding to the between altitude constraint; and   the waypoint marker is rendered with visually distinguishable characteristics associated with between altitude constraints.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint is a specified altitude constraint;   the waypoint marker is rendered in the perspective view of terrain in a conformal manner that indicates a target altitude for the specified altitude constraint; and   the waypoint marker is rendered with visually distinguishable characteristics associated with specified altitude constraints.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft operating parameter restriction for the approaching waypoint is an at-or-above airspeed constraint, an at-or-below airspeed constraint, a between airspeed constraint, or a specified airspeed constraint. 
     
     
         10 . A flight deck display element having rendered thereon a perspective view of terrain corresponding to a viewpoint from the flight deck, and having rendered thereon a waypoint marker in the perspective view of terrain, the waypoint marker corresponding to a waypoint in a flight plan, the waypoint marker comprising:
 a primary icon having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region and the second region have different visually distinguishable characteristics that represent whether the waypoint marker is associated with an at-or-above altitude constraint or an at-or-below altitude constraint; and   an altitude bar indicative of a nominal altitude corresponding to the waypoint, wherein the perspective view of terrain, the primary icon, and the altitude bar are rendered in a conformal manner relative to the earth.   
     
     
         11 . The flight deck display element of  claim 10 , wherein the different visually distinguishable characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: different colors; different brightness; different transparency levels; different translucency levels; different line patterns; different line thickness; different shapes; different sizes; different flicker patterns; different focus levels; different sharpness levels; different orientations; different alignments; and different clarity levels. 
     
     
         12 . The flight deck display element of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the waypoint marker is associated with an at-or-above altitude constraint;   the visually distinguishable characteristics of the second region make the second region highlighted relative to the first region; and   the visually distinguishable characteristics of the first region make the first region subdued relative to the second region.   
     
     
         13 . The flight deck display element of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first region is an upper region of the primary icon;   the second region is a lower region of the primary icon;   the lower region is rendered in a relatively opaque manner; and   the upper region is rendered in a relatively transparent manner.   
     
     
         14 . The flight deck display element of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first region is an upper region of the primary icon;   the second region is a lower region of the primary icon;   the lower region is rendered in a relatively bright manner; and   the upper region is rendered in a relatively dim manner.   
     
     
         15 . The flight deck display element of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the waypoint marker is associated with an at-or-below altitude constraint;   the visually distinguishable characteristics of the first region make the first region highlighted relative to the second region; and   the visually distinguishable characteristics of the second region make the second region subdued relative to the first region.   
     
     
         16 . The flight deck display element of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first region is an upper region of the primary icon;   the second region is a lower region of the primary icon;   the upper region is rendered in a relatively opaque manner; and   the lower region is rendered in a relatively transparent manner.   
     
     
         17 . The flight deck display element of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first region is an upper region of the primary icon;   the second region is a lower region of the primary icon;   the upper region is rendered in a relatively bright manner; and   the lower region is rendered in a relatively dim manner.   
     
     
         18 . A flight deck display element having rendered thereon a perspective view corresponding to a viewpoint from the flight deck, and having rendered thereon a waypoint marker in the perspective view, the waypoint marker corresponding to a waypoint in a flight plan, the waypoint marker comprising:
 a primary icon representing the waypoint; and   a first altitude bar indicative of a first altitude constraint associated with the waypoint, wherein the perspective view, the primary icon, and the first altitude bar are rendered in a conformal manner relative to the earth.   
     
     
         19 . The flight deck display element of  claim 18 , further comprising a second altitude bar indicative of a second altitude constraint associated with the waypoint, wherein the second altitude bar is rendered in a conformal manner relative to the earth. 
     
     
         20 . The flight deck display element of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the waypoint has a between constraint assigned to it;   the first altitude constraint represents an upper altitude limit corresponding to the between constraint; and   the second altitude constraint represents a lower altitude limit corresponding to the between constraint.   
     
     
         21 . The flight deck display element of  claim 18 , wherein the appearance of the waypoint marker changes if a projected path of the aircraft does not satisfy the first altitude constraint.