US3706970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Head-up attitude display
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-05-12
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1990-05-12
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft instrument providing a head-up attitude display. The instrument provides a pitch and roll attitude reference coincident with the true horizon in a pilot''s actual field of view through a cockpit windscreen. The principal indicator is a movable, horizontal baton which is driven from a standard gyroscopic attitude reference. The baton has two degrees of freedom, one up and down in the vertical plane for pitch attitude changes and a tilting movement for roll attitude changes. With the two degrees of freedom and the baton positioned immediately adjacent the windscreen, an artificial horizon is provided in the direct field of view of the pilot with all the advantages of peripheral vision inherent in a head-up system. The batons are illuminated to accentuate the image of the batons in the peripheral vision of the pilot.
Inventors
- 👤 William J O'keefe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C23/00; G01C23/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
A head-up attitude display instrument for a manually controlled aircraft having a cockpit and windscreen, said instrument comprising an instrument fixture mounted in the cockpit of the aircraft; a pivotable and rotatable shaft mounted in said fixture and projecting therefrom in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the fixture and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft; a baton secured to the free end of the shaft at right angles to the centerline of the shaft for forming a horizon reference in the field of view of a pilot looking through the windscreen; roll means, responsive to rolling motions of the aircraft and including a signal-producing gyroscopic attitude reference, for controlling rotation of said shaft such that the horizon reference baton is continually coincident at all times with the real horizon and responds in position and movement in accordance with the relative movement of the real horizon with respect to the aircraft; pitch means, responsive to pitching motions of the aircraft and including said signal-producing gyroscopic attitude reference, for controlling pivoting of the shaft with respect to the fixture in said parallel plane in response to pitching motions of the aircraft; and a second reference representative of the aircraft suPported by said fixture in the field of view of a pilot looking through the windscreen and at a position adjacent said baton, said second reference being adjustable to the desired flight attitude or angle of attack; said baton including illumination means comprising a plurality of lights distributed along the side of the baton facing away from the windscreen and toward the viewer; and said roll means including a manually adjustable roll trimming means for rotating the shaft with respect to the fixture a preselected amount serially with the gyroscopic attitude reference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
A head-up attitude display instrument for a manually controlled aircraft having a cockpit and windscreen, said instrument comprising an instrument fixture mounted in the cockpit of the aircraft; a pivotable and rotatable shaft mounted in said fixture and projecting therefrom in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the fixture and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft; a baton secured to the free end of the shaft at right angles to the centerline of the shaft for forming a horizon reference in the field of view of a pilot looking through the windscreen; roll means, responsive to rolling motions of the aircraft and including a signal-producing gyroscopic attitude reference, for controlling rotation of said shaft such that the horizon reference baton is continually coincident at all times with the real horizon and responds in position and movement in accordance with the relative movement of the real horizon with respect to the aircraft; pitch means, responsive to pitching motions of the aircraft and including said signal-producing gyroscopic attitude reference, for controlling pivoting of the shaft with respect to the fixture in said parallel plane in response to pitching motions of the aircraft; and a second reference representative of the aircraft suPported by said fixture in the field of view of a pilot looking through the windscreen and at a position adjacent said baton, said second reference being adjustable to the desired flight attitude or angle of attack; said baton including illumination means comprising a plurality of lights distributed along the side of the baton facing away from the windscreen and toward the viewer; and said roll means including a manually adjustable roll trimming means for rotating the shaft with respect to the fixture a preselected amount serially with the gyroscopic attitude reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The head-up attitude display instrument of claim 1 wherein: the pitch means additionally includes a manually adjustable pitch trimming means for pivoting the shaft with respect to the fixture a preselected amount serially with gyroscopic attitude reference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |