A multifunction meter for use in an aircraft

Claim 2

An indicator assembly for an aircraft that has an engine, comprising: selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of information values to be displayed, said plurality of information values including information values indicative of: a) temperature of said engine, b) revolution rate of said engine, and c) temperature of said engine as a function of revolution rate of said engine; processing means, coupled to signals indicative of a temperature and a revolution rate of said engine, for determining a current value of said one information value based on at least one of said temperature and said revolution rate of said engine, and producing a display signal indicative thereof; and display means for producing a display output based on said display signal.

Claim 3

An indicator assembly as in claim 1 wherein said processing means is also for: comparing said revolution rate of said engine with a predetermined threshold to determine an operating state of said engine, said operating state being an operating mode when greater than said threshold and an starting mode when less than said threshold, determining a temperature reference based on said temperature of said engine and said operating state, and computing a temperature relation as a function of said temperature of said engine and said temperature reference and wherein said selecting means can also select said temperature relation to be displayed.

Claim 4

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said processing means is also for: comparing said revolution rate of said engine with a predetermined threshold; and producing a different display signal for each limit, said display signal being displayed on said display means.

Claim 5

Assembly as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of different ones of said information values can be sequentially displayed, and wherein said selecting means sequentially cycles between different ones of said plurality of information values.

Claim 6

Assembly as in claim 1 further comprising: memory means for storing maximum and minimum revolution rates within a predetermined time period; and means for determining a low cycle fatigue value using said maximum and minimum revolution rates.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein one of said information values is normally being displayed, and said selecting means selects one of said plurality of information values other than said one which is usually being displayed.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein temperature is said value usually being displayed.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said information values other than said one which is usually displayed, is displayed for a limited time, after which said one information value which is usually displayed, is again displayed.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said processing means is also for causing a flashing display between a title indicative of an information value, and a number indicative of a value of said information value, when an information value other said usually displayed information value is selected.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a ball relay, coupled to said processing means, for indicating a warning condition.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said display means includes a warning indication area thereon said warning indication driven by said processing means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising a plurality of buffers for receiving input signals to be coupled to said processing means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising: means for obtaining a measurement of a temperature of said engine and producing a temperature output indicative thereof; and means for obtaining a measurement of a revolution rate of said engine and producing a revolution output indicative thereof.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said display means is a simple display.input signals to be coupled to said processing means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising a chassis in which said processing means and said selecting means are mounted, said chassis being of a cross sectional area, smaller than an area size of said display means.

Claim 17

An indicator assembly for an aircraft with an engine, comprising: processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of a temperature and a revolution rate of said engine, b) comparing said revolution rate with a predetermined threshold of revolution rate to determine an operating state of said engine, said operating state being an operating mode when greater than said threshold, and a starting mode when less than said threshold, c) determining a temperature reference based on said operating state, and d) computing a temperature relation as a function of said temperature reference and said temperature of said engine; and

Claim 18

An indicator assembly for an aircraft with an engine, comprising: processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of a temperature and a revolution rate of said engine, b) comparing said revolution rate with a predetermined threshold of revolution rate to determine an operating state of said engine, said operating state being an operating mode when greater than said threshold, and a starting mode when less than said threshold, c) determining a temperature reference based on said operating state, and d) computing a temperature relation as a function of said temperature reference and said temperature of said engine; and

Claim 19

means for displaying said temperature relation.

Claim 20

means for displaying said temperature relation.

Claim 21

An assembly as in claim 16, further comprising mode selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of an information values, to be displayed.

Claim 22

Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein one information value is usually displayed, and other information values, including said temperature relation, are selected by an operation of said mode selecting means.

Claim 23

Apparatus as in claim 18 said usually displayed information value is temperature.

Claim 24

Apparatus as in claim 18 wherein there are a plurality of information values, and said mode setting means switches between said plurality of information values by choosing a next information value in a serial order.

Claim 25

Apparatus as in claim 18 further comprising a chassis housing said processing means, wherein said chassis has a cross-sectional area of a smaller than an area of said displaying means.

Claim 26

An indicator assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising: a display; means for selecting a particular information value to be displayed from a plurality of information values, said plurality of information values including values indicative of: a) temperature, b) revolution rate and c) functions of temperature as compared with a reference that is based on revolution rate; and processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of temperature and revolution rate of said engine, b) normally displaying a temperature of said engine on said display, c) detecting a selection by said selecting means; d) obtaining a value indicative of said particular information value, only for a predetermined time after said c) detecting a selecting function, and e) displaying said value only while it is being obtained, said displaying being on a same display area that said temperature is normally displayed on.

Claim 27

An indicator assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising: a display; means for selecting a particular information value to be displayed from a plurality of information values, said plurality of information values including values indicative of: a) temperature, b) revolution rate and c) functions of temperature as compared with a reference that is based on revolution rate; and processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of temperature and revolution rate of said engine, b) normally displaying a temperature of said engine on said display, c) detecting a selection by said selecting means; d) obtaining a value indicative of said particular information value, only for a predetermined time after said c) detecting a selecting function, and e) displaying said value only while it is being obtained, said displaying being on a same display area that said temperature is normally displayed on.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said processing means is also for f) flashing between a label indicative of said information to be displayed, and a value of said information to be displayed.

Claim 29

Apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said display is a simple display.

Claim 30

Apparatus as in claim 22 further comprising a chassis for mounting said selecting means and said processing means, said chassis having a cross-sectional area smaller than an area of said display.

Claim 31

An indication assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising: a display; means for selecting a particular information value to be displayed on said display from a plurality of information values, said plurality of information values including: a) a condition during starting mode where temperature is greater than a first threshold , b) a condition during operation mode where temperature is a greater than a second threshold, c) revolution rate greater than a danger revolution rate times a proportionality constant, d) peak temperature value during start mode, e) time above certain temperature during start operation, f) peak temperature during operating mode g) time above certain temperature during operating mode, h) engine speed peak, i) time above a red line value of revolution rate times a proportionality constant, j) engine operating hours in operating mode, and k) engine cycles; processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of temperature and revolution rate of said engine; b) normally displaying a temperature of said engine; c) detecting a selection on by said selecting means; d) incrementing a pointer each time a selecting by said selecting means is detected, said pointer indicative of which of said plurality of information values is selected; e) obtaining a value indicated by a value of said pointer, said obtaining occurring only for a predetermined time period after said detecting a selecting function; f) displaying on said display said information value indicated by said pointer, alternately with a label indicative of said information value, flashing between said label and said value occurring at predetermined intervals, said displaying occurring only during said predetermined time period after said detecting a selection function; and g) returning to said display of a temperature of said engine and resetting said pointer after said predetermined time period elapses, unless another selection is detected; and a chassis attached to said display and housing said selecting means and said processing means, said chassis having a cross sectional area of a size smaller than an area of said display.

Claim 32

An indication assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising: a display; means for selecting a particular information value to be displayed on said display from a plurality of information values, said plurality of information values including: a) a condition during starting mode where temperature is greater than a first threshold , b) a condition during operation mode where temperature is a greater than a second threshold, c) revolution rate greater than a danger revolution rate times a proportionality constant, d) peak temperature value during start mode, e) time above certain temperature during start operation, f) peak temperature during operating mode g) time above certain temperature during operating mode, h) engine speed peak, i) time above a red line value of revolution rate times a proportionality constant, j) engine operating hours in operating mode, and k) engine cycles; processing means for: a) receiving signals indicative of temperature and revolution rate of said engine; b) normally displaying a temperature of said engine; c) detecting a selection on by said selecting means; d) incrementing a pointer each time a selecting by said selecting means is detected, said pointer indicative of which of said plurality of information values is selected; e) obtaining a value indicated by a value of said pointer, said obtaining occurring only for a predetermined time period after said detecting a selecting function; f) displaying on said display said information value indicated by said pointer, alternately with a label indicative of said information value, flashing between said label and said value occurring at predetermined intervals, said displaying occurring only during said predetermined time period after said detecting a selection function; and g) returning to said display of a temperature of said engine and resetting said pointer after said predetermined time period elapses, unless another selection is detected; and a chassis attached to said display and housing said selecting means and said processing means, said chassis having a cross sectional area of a size smaller than an area of said display.

Claim 35

A method as in claim 27 comprising the further steps of: comparing said revolution rate of said engine with a predetermined threshold, to determine an operating state of said engine as being in an operating mode when greater than said threshold and in a starting mode when less than said threshold, determining a temperature reference based on said operating state, and computing a temperature relation as a function of said temperature of said engine and said temperature reference.

Claim 36

A method as in claim 27 comprising the further steps of: comparing said revolution rate of said engine with a predetermined threshold; and producing a different display signal for each limit, said output being displayed on said display means.

Claim 37

A method as in claim 27 comprising the further steps of sequentially displaying different ones of said information values, and sequentially cycling between different ones of said plurality of information values for each selecting.

Claim 38

A method as in claim 27 comprising the further steps of: storing maximum and minimum revolution rates within a predetermined time period; and determining a low cycle fatigue value based on said maximum and minimum values.

Claim 39

A method as in claim 30 wherein one of said information values is normally being displayed, comprising the further steps of selecting one of said plurality of information values other than said one which is usually being displayed.

Claim 40

A method as in claim 32 wherein temperature is the value usually being displayed.

Claim 41

A method as in claim 33 wherein said information values other than said one which is usually displayed, are only displayed for a limited time, after which said one information value which is usually displayed, is again displayed.

Claim 42

A method as in claim 30 comprising the further step of causing a flashing display between a title indicative of an information value, and a number indicative of a value of said information value, when an information value other said usually displayed information value is selected.

Claim 43

A method as in claim 30 further comprising the step of calibrating said meter.

Claim 46

A method as in claim 37 comprising the further steps of selecting an information value from a plurality of information values, to be displayed.

Claim 47

A method as in claim 38 wherein one information value is usually displayed, and other information values are selected in said selecting step.

Claim 48

A method as in claim 40 wherein said usually displayed information value is temperature.