Aircraft vertical flight position display instrument

Claim 2

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, other means to project on to the display plate a cursor line, means to adjust said other means to angularly position the cursor line projected on to the display plate by said other means so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, other indicia borne by the display plate and associated with the grid lines to indicate the distance and altitude of the vehicle shown in symbolic relationship by the beam of light to both the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate and to the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight defined by the cursor line, and angular indicia borne by the display plate and associated in cooperative relation with the cursor line to indicate the desired angle of flight of the vehicle shown by the beam of light in symbolic relationship thereto.

Claim 3

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, operator-operative means to preselect altitude of flight of the vehicle at the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of said display plate, and means operated by the operator-operative means to indicate the preselected altitude of said indicated aimpoint.

Claim 4

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, operator-operative means to preselect altitude of flight of the vehicle at the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of said display plate, and means operated by the operator-operative means to indicate the preselected altitude of said indicated aimpoint.

Claim 5

The combination defined by claim 2 including other means to project onto the display plate a second beaM of light to show a symbolic relationship of a waypoint of the vehicle in relation to the aimpoint and in relation to the position of the vehicle in flight shown symbolically by the first mentioned beam of light projected onto the display plate, and other operator-operative means to set the other means to project the second beam of light onto the display plate so as to show symbolically the waypoint at a predetermined offset distance from the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 6

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, means to operably position the light projecting means so that the beam of light symbolic of the relationship of the vehicle in flight may be effectively shifted from one side of the indicia point borne by the display plate to an opposite side of the indicia point upon the vehicle in flight passing the aimpoint of the vehicle indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 7

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, means to operably position the light projecting means so that the beam of light symbolic of the relationship of the vehicle in flight may be effectively shifted from one side of the indicia point borne by the display plate to an opposite side of the indicia point upon the vehicle in flight passing the aimpoint of the vehicle indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 8

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, means to compute flight distance of the vehicle to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of said display plate, and means responsive upon the computed flight distance decreasing below a predetermined value to effect an amplification of the symbolic relationship of the beam of light to the grid lines indicative of the altitude and distance of the vehicle in relation to said indicated aimpoint.

Claim 9

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing grid lines and an indicia point, and means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point and to the grid lines, the indicia point being indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle and the grid lines being indicative of altitude and distance of the vehicle relative to the aimpoint, means to compute flight distance of the vehicle to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of said display plate, and means responsive upon the computed flight distance decreasing below a predetermined value to effect an amplification of the symbolic relationship of the beam of light to the grid lines indicative of the altitude and distance of the vehicle in relation to said indicated aimpoint.

Claim 10

The combination defined by claim 5 including means to operably position the light projecting means so that the beam of light symbolic of the relationship of the vehicle in flight may be effectively shifted from one side of the indicia point borne by the display plate to the opposite side of the indicia point upon the vehicle in flight passing the aimpoint of the vehicle indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 11

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of a vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line extending from the indicia point borne by the display plate at one end of the cursor line, and means to position the cursor line projecting means so as to pivot the projected cursor line about the indicia point at said one end of the cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate.

Claim 12

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of a vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line extending from the indicia point borne by the display plate at one end of the cursor line, and means to position the cursor line projecting means so as to pivot the projected cursor line about the indicia point at said one end of the cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate.

Claim 13

The combination defined by claim 7 including operator-operative means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation.

Claim 14

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of a vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, othEr means to project onto the display plate a second beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of a waypoint of the vehicle in relation to the aimpoint and in relation to the position of the vehicle in flight shown symbolically by the first mentioned beam of light projected onto the display plate.

Claim 15

A display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of a vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, othEr means to project onto the display plate a second beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of a waypoint of the vehicle in relation to the aimpoint and in relation to the position of the vehicle in flight shown symbolically by the first mentioned beam of light projected onto the display plate.

Claim 16

The combination defined by claim 9 including, operator-operative means to set the other means to project the second beam of light symbolic of the waypoint at a predetermined offset distance from the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle.

Claim 17

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to the slotted discs for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, and an ambiguity switching means operably by said control means and effective to cause said control means in response to said signals to angularly position the one disc and thereby the radial slot therein from one side of the indicia point to an opposite side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding from a point before the aimpoint to a point past the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, whereupon the beam of light indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight may be projected onto said display plate at said opposite side of the indicia point.

Claim 18

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to the slotted discs for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, and an ambiguity switching means operably by said control means and effective to cause said control means in response to said signals to angularly position the one disc and thereby the radial slot therein from one side of the indicia point to an opposite side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding from a point before the aimpoint to a point past the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, whereupon the beam of light indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight may be projected onto said display plate at said opposite side of the indicia point.

Claim 19

The improvement defined by claim 11 including a third disc concentrically mounted in relation to said indicia point, such third disc including means arranged for projecting a cursor line effectively onto the display plate to indicate a predetermined flight path for the aircraft to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, and operator-operative means to angularly position said third disc so as to angularly vary the position of the cursor line projected onto the display plate in relation to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate.

Claim 20

The improvement defined by claim 11 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a first predetermined scale range, and means for shifting the operation of said slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from the first scale range to a second predetermined scale range.

Claim 21

The improvement defined by claim 11 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a plurality of predetermined scale ranges, means for shifting the operation of said slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from one of said scale ranges to another of said ranges, and a range change trigger switching means operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said pair of discs by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the one to the other scale range.

Claim 22

The improvement defined by claim 11 including a third disc concentrically mounted in relation to said indicia point, such third disc including means arranged for projecting a cursor line onto the display plate to indicate a predetermined angle of flight of the aircraft to the aimpoint indicated by the indiCia point carried by the display plate, operator-operative means to angularly position said third disc so as to vary the angular position of the cursor line projected onto the display plate in relation to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a first predetermined scale range, means for shifting the operation of the pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from the first scale range to a second predetermined scale range upon adjustment of the pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical angular relation, and a range change trigger switching means operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said pair of discs by said control means at said predetermined critical relation to render effective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the first to the second scale range.

Claim 23

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to the slotted discs for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, a third disc concentrically mounted in relation to said indicia point, such third disc including means arranged for projecting a cursor line onto the display plate to indicate a predetermined angle of flight of the aircraft to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, and operator-operative means to angularly position said third disc so as to vary the angular position of the cursor line projected onto the display plate in relation to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate.

Claim 24

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to the slotted discs for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, a third disc concentrically mounted in relation to said indicia point, such third disc including means arranged for projecting a cursor line onto the display plate to indicate a predetermined angle of flight of the aircraft to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, and operator-operative means to angularly position said third disc so as to vary the angular position of the cursor line projected onto the display plate in relation to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate.

Claim 25

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint, the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a first predetermined scale range, and means for shifting the operation of said pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from the first scale range to a second predetermined scale range so as to prevent adjustment of the pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical angular relation.

Claim 26

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, and light projecting means including a pair of discs, one of said discs including a radial slot, and the other of said discs including a spiral slot, said pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a beam of light indicative of the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint, the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate for indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a first predetermined scale range, and means for shifting the operation of said pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from the first scale range to a second predetermined scale range so as to prevent adjustment of the pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical angular relation.

Claim 27

The improvement defined by claim 17 including indicator means operable by the range shifting means to indicate the effective scale range under prevailing flight conditions of the aircraft.

Claim 28

The improvement defined by claim 17 including a range change trigger switching means to define said critical angulAr relation and operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said pair of discs by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the first to the second scale range.

Claim 29

The improvement defined by claim 17 including a range change trigger switching means to define said critical angular relation and operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said pair of discs by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the first to the second scale range, indicator means operable by the range shifting means to indicate the effective scale range under prevailing flight conditions of the aircraft.

Claim 30

The improvement defined by claim 17 including ambiguity switching means operable by said control means and effective to cause said control means in response to said signals to operate the light projecting means so as to direct the beam of light onto the display plate at one side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding towards the aimpoint and onto the display plate at an opposite side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding past the aimpoint, whereupon the beam of light indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight may be projected onto said display plate at said opposite sides of the indicia point.

Claim 31

The improvement defined by claim 17 including means for projecting onto the display plate a line indicative of a predetermined angle of flight of the aircraft to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate, and operator-operative means to angularly position said flight line projecting means so as to vary the angular position of the line projected on the display plate in relation to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate.

Claim 32

The improvement defined by claim 17 including a range change trigger switching means operable by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the operation of said light projecting means by said control means relative to the scale means from the first to the second scale range, an indicator means operable by the range shifting means to indicate the effective scale range under prevailing flight conditions of the aircraft, an ambiguity switching means operable by said control means and effective to cause said control means in response to said signals to operate the light projecting means so as to direct the beam of light onto the display plate at one side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding towards the aimpoint and onto the display plate at an opposite side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding past the aimpoint, whereupon the beam of light indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight may be projected onto said display plate at said opposite sides of the indicia point.

Claim 33

The improvement defined by claim 23 including an indicator means operable by the range shifting means to indicate the effective scale range under prevailing flight conditions of the aircraft, ambiguity switching means operable by said control means and effective to cause said control means in response to said signals to operate the light projecting means so as to direct the beam of light onto the display plate at one side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding towards the aimpoint and at an opposite side of the indicia point upon the aircraft in flight proceeding past the aimpoint, whereupon the beam of light indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight may be projected onto said display plate at said opposite sides of the indicia point, and means for projecting onto the display plate a line indicative of a predetermined path of flight of the aircraft to the aimpoint, and operator-operative means to angularly position said line projecting means so as to vary the angular position of the line projected onto the display plate in relatIon to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point carried by the display plate.

Claim 34

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, light projecting means including a first pair of discs, one of said first pair of discs including a radial slot, and the other of said first pair of discs including a spiral slot, said first pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a first beam of light to indicate symbolically the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint, said light projecting means including a second pair of discs, one of said second pair of discs including a radial slot, and the other of said second pair of discs including a spiral slot, and means to angularly position said second pair of discs in relation one to the other so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate a second beam of light to indicate symbolically a waypoint of the aircraft; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to said first and second pairs of slotted discs, said indicia point indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, and operator-operative means to selectively operate said angular positioning means so as to cause the second beam of light indicative of the waypoint to be projected through the cooperating slots of the second pair of discs onto the display plate a selected offset distance from the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 35

For use in an aircraft instrument of a type including a display plate, a control means for receiving signals indicative of a position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, light projecting means including a first pair of discs, one of said first pair of discs including a radial slot, and the other of said first pair of discs including a spiral slot, said first pair of slotted discs being operable by said control means so as to position said slots in cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate in response to said signals a first beam of light to indicate symbolically the flight position of the aircraft in relation to the aimpoint, said light projecting means including a second pair of discs, one of said second pair of discs including a radial slot, and the other of said second pair of discs including a spiral slot, and means to angularly position said second pair of discs in relation one to the other so as to position said slots in a cooperative relation to effectively project therethrough onto the display plate a second beam of light to indicate symbolically a waypoint of the aircraft; the improvement comprising an indicia point carried by the display plate in concentric relation to said first and second pairs of slotted discs, said indicia point indicating the aimpoint on the display plate, and operator-operative means to selectively operate said angular positioning means so as to cause the second beam of light indicative of the waypoint to be projected through the cooperating slots of the second pair of discs onto the display plate a selected offset distance from the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point.

Claim 36

The improvement defined by claim 25 including a fifth disc in concentric relation to said first and second pairs of discs, said fifth disc including a radial line thereon, other operator-operative means to angular adjust the fifth disc and thereby the radial line thereon so as to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to effectively define a desired path of flight of the aircraft in a vertical plane to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate.

Claim 37

The improvement defined by claim 25 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the first beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a plurality of selectively effective scale ranges, and means for shifting the operation of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from one of said scale ranges to another of said ranges upon adjustment of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical relation.

Claim 38

The improvement defined by claim 25 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the first beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a plurality of selectively effective scale ranges, and means for shifting the operation of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from one of said scale ranges to another of said ranges, and a range change trigger switching means operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said first pair of discs by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the one to the other scale range.

Claim 39

The improvement defined by claim 25 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the first beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a plurality of selectively effective scale ranges, means for shifting the operation of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from one of said scale ranges to another of said Scale ranges upon adjustment of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical relation, and means responsive to the selective operation of the angular positioning means by the operator-operative means to render ineffective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from the one to the other scale range upon the selected offset distance of the waypoint being greater than said other scale range.

Claim 40

The improvement defined by claim 25 including scale means on the display plate for indicating altitude and bearing distance of the aircraft at the flight position indicated by the first beam of light relative to the aimpoint over a plurality of selectively effective scale ranges, and means for shifting the operation of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means relative to the scale means from one of said scale ranges to another of said scale ranges upon adjustment of said first pair of slotted discs by said control means to a predetermined critical relation, a range change trigger switching means to define said critical relation and operable by the adjusted angular position of the other of said first pair of discs by said control means to render effective the means for shifting the scale range of indication by the scale means from said one to said other scale range, means responsive to the selective operation of the angular positioning means by the operator-operative means to render ineffective the means for shifting the range of indication by the scale means from said one to said other scale range upon the selected offset distance of the waypoint being greater than said other scale range, and means operable by the range shifting means for indicating the effective scale range under prevailing flight conditions of the aircraft.

Claim 41

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, switch means operative in one sense to render the setting of the navigation computer by the operator-operative control means effective, said switch means being alternately operative in another sense to render the setting by the first mentioned operator-operative control means ineffective, second control means rendered effective upon the switch means being operative in said other sense to provide another setting of the navigation computer so as to effect a fixed angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and the positioning means being thereupon responsive to said effective second control means to reposition the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define another predetermined flight path for the vehicle to the aimpoint.

Claim 42

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, switch means operative in one sense to render the setting of the navigation computer by the operator-operative control means effective, said switch means being alternately operative in another sense to render the setting by the first mentioned operator-operative control means ineffective, second control means rendered effective upon the switch means being operative in said other sense to provide another setting of the navigation computer so as to effect a fixed angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and the positioning means being thereupon responsive to said effective second control means to reposition the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define another predetermined flight path for the vehicle to the aimpoint.

Claim 43

The combination defined by claim 31 including other operator-operative means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a preselected altitude for the controlled flight of the vehicle, said navigation computer including means for supplying an output signal upon the preselected altitude of flight of the vehicle being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle, third control means responsive to said output signal upon said switch meAns being operative in said other sense to render the fixed angle setting of the navigation computer ineffective and to cause said positioning means to reposition the cursor line projecting means so as to project onto the display plate the cursor line at a predetermined neutral angular position so as to provide a warning of a flight altitude of the vehicle less than that of the preselected altitude.

Claim 44

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, other operator-operative means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a preselected altitude for the controlled flight of the vehicle, the navigation computer including means for supplying another output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle corresponding to the preselected altitude, and a warning device responsive to said last mentioned output signal.

Claim 45

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, other operator-operative means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a preselected altitude for the controlled flight of the vehicle, the navigation computer including means for supplying another output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle corresponding to the preselected altitude, and a warning device responsive to said last mentioned output signal.

Claim 46

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, switch means operative in one sense to render the setting of the navigation computer by the operator-operative control means effective, said switch means being alternately operative in another sense to render the setting by the first mentioned operator-operative control means ineffective, second control means rendered effective upon the switch means being operative in said other sense to provide another setting of the navigation computer so as to effect a fixed angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, the positioning means being thereupon responsive to said effective second control means to reposition the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define another predetermined flight path for the vehicle to the aimpoint, other operator-operative means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a preselected altitude for the controlled flight of the vehicle, said navigation computer including means for supplying an output signal upon the preselected altitude of flight of the vehicle being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle, third control means responsive to said output signal upon said switch means being operative in said other sense to render the fixed angle setting of the navigation computer ineffective and To cause said positioning means to reposition the cursor line projecting means so as to project onto the display plate the cursor line at a predetermined neutral angular position so as to provide a warning of a flight condition of the vehicle below that of the preselected altitude, and the navigation computer supplying another output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle corresponding to the preselected altitude, and a warning device responsive to said other output signal.

Claim 47

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing an indicia point indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to show a symbolic relationship of the vehicle in flight to the indicia point indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to project onto the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the indicia point of the display plate, operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, switch means operative in one sense to render the setting of the navigation computer by the operator-operative control means effective, said switch means being alternately operative in another sense to render the setting by the first mentioned operator-operative control means ineffective, second control means rendered effective upon the switch means being operative in said other sense to provide another setting of the navigation computer so as to effect a fixed angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, the positioning means being thereupon responsive to said effective second control means to reposition the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define another predetermined flight path for the vehicle to the aimpoint, other operator-operative means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a preselected altitude for the controlled flight of the vehicle, said navigation computer including means for supplying an output signal upon the preselected altitude of flight of the vehicle being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle, third control means responsive to said output signal upon said switch means being operative in said other sense to render the fixed angle setting of the navigation computer ineffective and To cause said positioning means to reposition the cursor line projecting means so as to project onto the display plate the cursor line at a predetermined neutral angular position so as to provide a warning of a flight condition of the vehicle below that of the preselected altitude, and the navigation computer supplying another output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the vehicle corresponding to the preselected altitude, and a warning device responsive to said other output signal.

Claim 48

For use with a navigation computer for controlling flight of an aircraft, a device comprising an operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect the controlled flight of the aircraft to a preselected altitude, a display plate, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to provide a symbolic indication of the aircraft in said controlled flight, the navigation computer providing output signals indicative of the location of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, means for operatively controlling the light projecting means in response to said flight location signals, another operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a controlled flight of the aircraft at a preselected angle, the navigation computer including another means to supply another output signal upon the preselected altitude being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft, a third control means responsive to said other output signal to render said other operator-operative control means ineffective, and another warning means operatively controlled by said third control means in response to said other output to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft below that of the preselected altitude.

Claim 49

For use with a navigation computer for controlling flight of an aircraft, a device comprising an operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect the controlled flight of the aircraft to a preselected altitude, a display plate, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to provide a symbolic indication of the aircraft in said controlled flight, the navigation computer providing output signals indicative of the location of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, means for operatively controlling the light projecting means in response to said flight location signals, another operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a controlled flight of the aircraft at a preselected angle, the navigation computer including another means to supply another output signal upon the preselected altitude being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft, a third control means responsive to said other output signal to render said other operator-operative control means ineffective, and another warning means operatively controlled by said third control means in response to said other output to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft below that of the preselected altitude.

Claim 50

For use with a navigation computer for controlling flight of an aircraft, a device comprising an operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect the controlled flight of the aircraft to a preselected altitude, the navigation computer including means to supply an output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft corresponding to the preselected altitude, warning means responsive to said output signal to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft at the preselected altitude, a display plate, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to provide a symbolic indication of a position of the aircraft in flight, the navigation computer providing output signals indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, means for operatively controlling the light projecting means in response to said flight position indicative signals, another operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a controlled flight of the aircraft at a preselected angle, means to project on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of flight of the aircraft in a vertical plane to the aimpoint, the other operator-operative control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the aircraft in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, the navigation computer including another means to supply another output signal upon the preselected altitude being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft, a third control means being responsive to said other output signal to render said other operator-operative control means ineffective, and said means to project onto the display plate the cursor line effectively serving to provide another warning means operatively controlled by said third control means to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft below that of the preselected altitude.

Claim 51

For use with a navigation computer for controlling flight of an aircraft, a device comprising an operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect the controlled flight of the aircraft to a preselected altitude, the navigation computer including means to supply an output signal upon the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft corresponding to the preselected altitude, warning means responsive to said output signal to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft at the preselected altitude, a display plate, means to project on the display plate a beam of light to provide a symbolic indication of a position of the aircraft in flight, the navigation computer providing output signals indicative of the position of the aircraft in flight relative to an aimpoint, means for operatively controlling the light projecting means in response to said flight position indicative signals, another operator-operative control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a controlled flight of the aircraft at a preselected angle, means to project on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of flight of the aircraft in a vertical plane to the aimpoint, the other operator-operative control means to selectively position the means to project onto the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the aircraft in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation, the navigation computer including another means to supply another output signal upon the preselected altitude being greater than the prevailing altitude of flight of the aircraft, a third control means being responsive to said other output signal to render said other operator-operative control means ineffective, and said means to project onto the display plate the cursor line effectively serving to provide another warning means operatively controlled by said third control means to provide a warning of a prevailing flight condition of the aircraft below that of the preselected altitude.

Claim 52

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing indiCia means indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means variably operable to show symbolically on the display plate a position of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight in relation to the indicia means indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to show on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in said vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by said indicia means of the display plate, control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to show on the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation.

Claim 53

For use with a navigation computer to control flight of a vehicle, a display instrument comprising a display plate bearing indiCia means indicative of an aimpoint of the vehicle in flight, means variably operable to show symbolically on the display plate a position of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight in relation to the indicia means indicative of the aimpoint of the vehicle, means to show on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in said vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by said indicia means of the display plate, control means to set the navigation computer so as to effect a selected angle for the controlled flight of the vehicle, and means responsive to said control means to selectively position the means to show on the display plate the cursor line so as to effectively define the desired path of the vehicle in the vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint in a predetermined angular relation.

Claim 54

A display instrument as defined by claim 37 including means to compute flight distance of the vehicle to the aimpoint, and means responsive upon the computed flight distance decreasing below a predetermined value to cause the variably operable means to effect an amplification of the position of the vehicle in flight shown symbolically on the display plate in relation to said indicia means and said cursor line, other indicia means on said display plate cooperatively arranged in relation to the position of the vehicle shown symbolically on the display plate, and said other indicia means being indicative of the altitude and distance of the vehicle in relation to the aimpoint.

Claim 55

A display instrument as defined by claim 37 including means to cause the variably operable means to show symbolically on the display plate the position of the vehicle in flight to be effectively shifted from one side of the indicia means indicative of the aimpoint borne by the display plate to the opposite side of said indicia means indicative of said aimpoint upon the vehicle in flight passing the aimpoint of the vehicle indicated by said indicia means.

Claim 56

A display instrument as defined by claim 39 including means to compute flight distance of the vehicle to the aimpoint, and means responsive upon the computed flight distance decreasing below a predetermined value to cause the variably operable means to effect an amplification of the position of the vehicle in flight shown symbolically on the display plate in relation to said indicia means and said cursor line, other indicia means on said display plate cooperatively arranged in relation to the position of the vehicle shown symbolically on the display plate, and said other indicia means being indicative of the altitude and distance of the vehicle in relation to the aimpoint.

Claim 57

In a display instrument of a type including a display plate bearing first, second and third indicia means, variably operable means for showing on the display plate a symbolic image of a vehicle in a vertical plane of flight in cooperative relation with the first, second and third indicia means; the improvement comprising means to control the variably operable means so as to show on the display plate the symbolic image of the vehicle in a position in said vertical plane of flight corresponding to distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate relative to an aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means on the display plate, the second and third indicia means being indicative of the respective distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate relative to the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means, other variably operable means to show on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means of the display plate, indicia borne by the display plate and associated with the second and third indicia means to indicate the distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate in relation to both the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means of the display plate and to the desired path of the vehicle in said vertical plane of flight defined by the cursor line shown by the other variably operable means, and angular indicia borne by the display plate and associated in cooperative relation with the cursor line to indicate the desired angle of flight of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate.

Claim 58

In a display instrument of a type including a display plate bearing first, second and third indicia means, variably operable means for showing on the display plate a symbolic image of a vehicle in a vertical plane of flight in cooperative relation with the first, second and third indicia means; the improvement comprising means to control the variably operable means so as to show on the display plate the symbolic image of the vehicle in a position in said vertical plane of flight corresponding to distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate relative to an aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means on the display plate, the second and third indicia means being indicative of the respective distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate relative to the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means, other variably operable means to show on the display plate a cursor line so as to define a desired path of the vehicle in a vertical plane of flight to the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means of the display plate, indicia borne by the display plate and associated with the second and third indicia means to indicate the distance and altitude of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate in relation to both the aimpoint indicated by the first indicia means of the display plate and to the desired path of the vehicle in said vertical plane of flight defined by the cursor line shown by the other variably operable means, and angular indicia borne by the display plate and associated in cooperative relation with the cursor line to indicate the desired angle of flight of the vehicle shown by the symbolic image on the display plate.