US-12617547-B2 - Offboard graphics rendering gateway via avionics full duplex ethernet for a cockpit display system

US12617547B2US 12617547 B2US12617547 B2US 12617547B2US-12617547-B2

Abstract

A cockpit display system for an aircraft including an off-board graphics rendering gateway system providing additional cockpit display and other functionality. The cockpit display system includes a cockpit display subsystem having a display, a subsystem processor and integrated modular avionics (IMA) with user applications and cockpit display software. The cockpit display system also includes an off-board processor for processing aircraft functionality applications that are not available on the cockpit display subsystem, where the off-board processor provides graphical data over fiber optics to the cockpit display subsystem to be displayed by the cockpit display subsystem. The off-board processor includes a graphics gateway sub-processor that is in communication with the cockpit display subsystem, where the graphics gateway sub-processor exchanges data and information with the cockpit display subsystem over Ethernet cables to provide synchronization with the graphical data provided by the off-board processor to the cockpit display subsystem.

Inventors

Manuel E. Suarez

Assignees

NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240117

Claims (15)

1 . An aircraft cockpit display system on an aircraft, said system comprising: at least one cockpit display subsystem including a display, a subsystem processor and integrated modular avionics (IMA) having user applications and cockpit display software; and at least one off-board processor for processing aircraft functionality applications that are not available on the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor providing graphical data over fiber optics to the at least one cockpit display subsystem to be displayed by the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor including a graphics gateway sub-processor that is in communication with the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said graphics gateway sub-processor exchanging data and information with the at least one cockpit display subsystem to provide synchronization with the graphical data provided by the at least one off-board processor to the at least one cockpit display subsystem, wherein the at least one cockpit display subsystem is responsive to graphical data from one or more other systems on the aircraft.
2 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the graphics gateway sub-processor is in communication with the at least one cockpit display subsystem over an Ethernet cable.
3 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one off-board processor provides the graphical data on the fiber optics using an ARINC 818 protocol and the graphics gateway sub-processor and the at least one cockpit display subsystem exchange the data and information using an ARINC 664 protocol.
4 . The system according to claim 1 further comprising an avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet switch, said graphics gateway sub-processor and the at least one cockpit display subsystem exchanging the data and information through the switch.
5 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the other aircraft systems include a radar system.
6 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the aircraft is a military aircraft.
7 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one cockpit display subsystem is a plurality of cockpit display subsystems and the at least one off-board processor is a plurality of off-board processors, where a separate off-board processor is provided for each cockpit display subsystem.
8 . An aircraft cockpit display system on an aircraft, said system comprising: a cockpit display subsystem including a display, a subsystem processor and integrated modular avionics (IMA) having user applications and cockpit display software; and an off-board processor for processing aircraft functionality that is not available on the cockpit display subsystem, said off-board processor providing graphical data over fiber optics to the cockpit display subsystem to be displayed by the cockpit display subsystem, said off-board processor including a graphics gateway sub-processor that is in communication with the cockpit display subsystem over Ethernet cables, said graphics gateway sub-processor storing user applications that are not found on the cockpit display subsystem and that control displays that contain an external source that is populated by the graphical data provided to the cockpit display subsystem on the fiber optics.
9 . The system according to claim 8 further comprising an avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet switch, said graphics gateway sub-processor and the cockpit display subsystem exchanging the data and information through the switch.
10 . The system according to claim 8 wherein the cockpit display subsystem is responsive to graphical data from one or more other systems on the aircraft.
11 . The system according to claim 10 wherein the other aircraft systems include a radar system.
12 . The system according to claim 8 wherein the aircraft is a military aircraft.
13 . The system according to claim 8 wherein the at least one off-board processor provides the graphical data on the fiber optics using an ARINC 818 protocol and the graphics gateway sub-processor and the at least one cockpit display subsystem exchange the data and information using an ARINC 664 protocol.
14 . An aircraft cockpit display system on an aircraft, said system comprising: at least one cockpit display subsystem including a display, a subsystem processor and integrated modular avionics (IMA) having user applications and cockpit display software; at least one off-board processor for processing aircraft functionality applications that are not available on the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor providing graphical data over fiber optics to the at least one cockpit display subsystem to be displayed by the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor including a graphics gateway sub-processor that is in communication with the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said graphics gateway sub-processor exchanging data and information with the at least one cockpit display subsystem to provide synchronization with the graphical data provided by the at least one off-board processor to the at least one cockpit display subsystem; and an avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet switch, said graphics gateway sub-processor and the at least one cockpit display subsystem exchanging the data and information through the switch.
15 . An aircraft cockpit display system on an aircraft, said system comprising: at least one cockpit display subsystem including a display, a subsystem processor and integrated modular avionics (IMA) having user applications and cockpit display software; and at least one off-board processor for processing aircraft functionality applications that are not available on the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor providing graphical data over fiber optics to the at least one cockpit display subsystem to be displayed by the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said at least one off-board processor including a graphics gateway sub-processor that is in communication with the at least one cockpit display subsystem, said graphics gateway sub-processor exchanging data and information with the at least one cockpit display subsystem to provide synchronization with the graphical data provided by the at least one off-board processor to the at least one cockpit display subsystem, wherein the aircraft is a military aircraft.

Description

BACKGROUND Field This disclosure relates generally to an aircraft cockpit display system and, more particularly, to an aircraft cockpit display system including an off-board graphics rendering gateway system providing additional cockpit display and other functionality. Discussion of the Related Art Aircraft manufacturers typically use commercial off the shelf (COTS) aircraft cockpit display systems (CDS) when building an aircraft, including commercial and military aircraft, to provide reduced cost, modularity, flexibility and reliability. A typical COTS CDS may not be specifically designed for military aircraft, but such CDSs can be used for such aircraft. A CDS provides a visible and audible portion of a human machine interface (HMI) that allows aircraft personnel and pilots to manage a modern glass cockpit, and thus interface with the aircraft avionics. CDSs typically include high-resolution multi-color displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), that present information relating to the various aircraft systems, such as flight management, in an integrated manner. The CDS includes integrated modular avionics (IMA) that allow for the integration of cockpit instruments and displays at the hardware and software level to be maximized. CDS software typically uses API code, such as OpenGL, to integrate the CDS with aircraft systems to access graphics drivers. This software may be written manually or with the help of COTS tools, such as GL Studio, VAPS XT, SCADE Display, etc. Various standards and protocols provide the integration of the CDS at the software level with aircraft system applications, or user applications (UA). Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) 661 is one of these standards that attempts to normalize the operation of the CDS, and the communications between the CDS and the UAs, which manage aircraft avionics functions. CDS software employs a kernel that is able to create a graphical user interface (GUI) hierarchy specified in the data frame (DF) during initialization, thus eliminating the need to be recompiled if the GUI definition changes. The ARINC 661 protocol does not suggest the use of a particular data bus structure to perform low-level communications between the CDS and UAs. For example, an ARINC 429 or Ethernet protocol, such as avionics full-duplex switched Ethernet (AFDX), also known as ARINC 664, can be used. The ARINC 664 protocol is a data network used for safety-critical applications that utilizes dedicated bandwidth while providing deterministic quality of service (QoS). The AFDX data network is based on Ethernet technology using COTS components. The AFDX data network is a specific implementation of ARINC 664 Part 7, which is a profiled version of an IEEE 802.3 network per parts 1 & 2, and which defines how COTS networking components will be used for future generation aircraft data networks (ADN). The six primary aspects of an AFDX data network include full duplex, redundancy, determinism, high-speed performance, switched network and profiled network. COTS CDSs are designed to perform very specific and basic tasks revolving around a pilot's workload and situational awareness and are not meant to be upgraded with any regularity in comparison to how quickly computing evolves. Therefore, aircraft that are going to be in service for decades are often limited with the graphics provided by the CDS installed on delivery and have no ability to display custom rendered graphics on the CDS. However, the aircraft manufacturer, or aircraft buyer, may need to add custom user applications and display graphics for a particular mission or aircraft use that are not supported by the COTS CDS when purchased. Further, as mentioned, the COTS CDS comes loaded with a number of UAs each having a particular function. It may be possible to add other UAs that interact with the CDS. However, if the added UAs require custom graphics for the CDS display, those graphics may not be supported by the CDS protocols, and CDS supported graphics would need to be used. To overcome these problems, the aircraft manufacturer or aircraft user typically add systems and devices to the cockpit that are not part of the COTS CDS when purchased that do perform the desired function. For example, pilots have been known to use tablets, such as an iPad or Samsung Galaxy, for custom applications that go beyond what is provided by the COTS CDS. ForeFlight is an electronic flight bag application built portable electronic device (PED) to assist pilots and corporate flight departments with flight planning. ForeFlight includes information about facilities such as airports, NAVAIDs, and air traffic control facilities. It also aids pilots in tasks including flight planning, weather monitoring and document management, as well as an electronic logbook to help pilots record flight time. These added systems and devices are inexpensive, used by the pilots during/before a flight, safely stowed when not in use, and upgraded whenever necessar