Attitude and Configuration Indicator Display System and Method

Abstract

Attitude and Configuration Indicator Display System and Method within the context of an Electronic Instrument System in which the configuration status of a piloted craft; typically the instant positions of lift inducing elements and drag inducing elements, are represented by symbol groupings integrated with an a parent icon, typically a chevron-type symbol representative of the piloted craft. The symbol groupings receive data from associated on-board sensors and are displayed singly or in combination with each other anytime the piloted craft is not in a clean configuration to instantly alert the pilot(s) of the configuration status with a single glance directed to the attitude indicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic Attitude and Configuration Indicator display system comprising:
 (1) an attitude indicator display,   (2) a two-dimensional parent icon with a border residing within bounds of the attitude indicator display in which the parent icon represents a piloted craft, and wherein position of the parent icon indicates at least the pitch and the roll of the piloted craft, and,   (3) a plurality of child symbol groups adjacent to or on the border of the parent icon wherein each group represents a category of elements associated with the configuration of the piloted craft and moves in concert with the parent icon and remains fully visible within the same plane as any other child symbol group when displayed, regardless of the indicated pitch and roll.   
     
     
         2 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 1  in which each child symbol group is displayed or hidden in response to real time data from sensors on the piloted craft. 
     
     
         3 . The attitude and Configuration Indicator display system according to  claim 1  wherein each child symbol group is distinguishable from any other child symbol group by at least its characteristics of position and shape relative to the parent icon. 
     
     
         4 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 1  in which the plurality of child symbol groups have at least two sub-indicators as members that indicate an operational aspect of a configuration element of the piloted craft. 
     
     
         5 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 1  in which at least one child symbol group is within the borders of the parent icon. 
     
     
         6 . A method of displaying configuration and attitude data within an electronic instrument display system comprising the steps of:
 (1) displaying a flat parent icon representing a piloted craft wherein position of the parent icon indicates at least the pitch and the roll of the piloted craft, and,   (2) selectively displaying or hiding child symbol groups on or adjacent to the parent icon in which each child symbol group represents the instant status of a particular element type associated with the piloted craft's configuration wherein each displayed child symbol group moves in concert with the parent icon and remains fully visible within the same plane as any other displayed child symbol group regardless of the indicated pitch and roll of the parent icon.   
     
     
         7 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 6  in which the child symbol groups are displayed or hidden in response to the status of configuration elements. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6  in which the element types represented include at least the lift inducing elements and drag inducing elements of the piloted craft. 
     
     
         9 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 6  in the child symbol groups are displayed or hidden in response to real time data via sensors associated with the configuration elements. 
     
     
         9 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 6  in which at least one child symbol groups has sub-indicators which represent a particular configuration element associated with the piloted craft. 
     
     
         10 . In combination with an electronic instrument display system, an attitude indicator display comprising:
 a symbolic flattened icon representative of a piloted craft in which the flattened icon's position within the display indicates at least the pitch and the roll of the piloted craft, and,   a plurality of child symbol groups proximate to or within said flattened icon wherein each group represents a particular category of element associated with the configuration status of the piloted craft and each child symbol group is distinguishable from the other groups by at least its attributes of position and shape and wherein the plurality of child symbol groups are integrated with the flattened icon and move in concert therewith, and,   at least one sub-indicator as part of a child symbol group that indicates an operational aspect of a configuration element of the piloted craft, and wherein any one child symbol group is viewable on a same plane as any other child symbol group regardless of the indicated pitch and roll.   
     
     
         10 . The Attitude and Configuration Indicator display according to  claim 10  in which the child symbol groups are displayed or hidden in response to real time data from sensors on the piloted craft. 
     
     
         11 . The attitude indicator according to  claim 10  in which the categories of elements represented by the child symbol groups include at least the lift inducing elements and drag inducing elements of the piloted craft.