Aircraft vertical speed instrument device with multi-functional design aspects

Abstract

The present invention provides a unique and novel device for indicating flight information to a pilot or co-pilot of an aircraft. The present invention is adapted to fit into an existing aircraft instrument panel at the location of, for example, a VSI instrument, and provides a digital display capable of providing a vast array of information to a pilot or co-pilot without the need to mechanically retrofit the instrument panel or replace safety-critical critical instruments.

1 . An instrument for use in an aircraft instrument panel, the instrument comprising:
 an electronic display portion for displaying information to a pilot of an aircraft;   the instrument being sized and shaped to be inserted through the aircraft instrument panel in an opening originally containing a traditional indicator instrument;   the instrument being sized and shaped to attach to the instrument panel in a manner such that a lateral and vertical boundary of the instrument and attachment hardware falls entirely within a lateral and vertical boundary previously occupied by the indicator instrument;   the instrument being capable of being affixed to the aircraft instrument panel via the attachment hardware in a manner that does not require modification of the existing instrument panel; and   the instrument digitally replicating functionality of the indicator instrument and further displaying additional flight information or annunciation deemed valuable to a pilot and different from information or annunciation of the indicator instrument.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator instrument is a low criticality instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument according to  claim 2  wherein the indicator instrument is a non-required instrument by regulation. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument according to  claim 2  wherein the additional information or annunciation includes information displayed on critical instruments. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator instrument is a traditional vertical speed indicator. 
     
     
         6 . An instrument according to  claim 1  wherein the information displayed to said pilot is selected from the group consisting of vertical speed, altitude, maps, navigation data, terrain data, traffic data, lighting data, engine data, performance data, fuel data, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . An instrument according to  claim 1 , the instrument attachment hardware further comprising:
 a flange portion fixedly attached to a housing portion of said instrument and extending around a perimeter thereof, the flange portion having at least one opening formed therein, the opening sized and shaped such that said instrument may be attached to an aircraft instrument panel.   
     
     
         8 . An instrument according to  claim 1  wherein said electronic display portion is an LCD. 
     
     
         9 . An instrument according to  claim 8  wherein said LCD is generally rectangular and wherein the indicator instrument is generally round. 
     
     
         10 . A method of replacing an instrument for use in an aircraft instrument panel, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an electronic display portion of the instrument for displaying information to a pilot of an aircraft,   sizing and shaping the instrument such that the instrument can be inserted through an aircraft instrument panel in an opening originally containing a traditional indicator instrument;   inserting the instrument into an aircraft instrument panel without making any aircraft instrument panel modifications and in a manner such that the a lateral and vertical boundary of the instrument and attachment hardware falls entirely within the a lateral and vertical boundary previously occupied by the indicator instrument or instruments;   replicating digitally functionality of the indicator instrument; and   displaying additional flight information or annunciation deemed valuable to a pilot and different from information or annunciation of the indicator instrument.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the indicator instrument is a low criticality instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the indicator instrument is a non-required instrument by regulation. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the additional information or annunciation includes information displayed on critical instruments. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the indicator instrument is a traditional vertical speed indicator. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the information displayed to said pilot is selected from the group consisting of vertical speed, altitude, maps, navigation data, terrain data, traffic data, lighting data, engine data, performance data, fuel data, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the instrument further comprises:
 a flange portion fixedly attached to a housing portion of said instrument and extending around a perimeter thereof, the flange portion having at least one opening formed therein, the opening sized and shaped such that said instrument may be attached to an aircraft instrument panel.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein said electronic display portion is an LCD. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein said LCD is generally rectangular and wherein the indicator instrument is generally round.