METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING EN-ROUTE VISIBLE TERRAIN DISPLAYS

Abstract

Methods and systems for displaying an en-route visible terrain display for an aircraft are provided. The method includes representing each pixel of a terrain display using a geographical location and an elevation above the location, each pixel further represented using at least one of a color value and a grayscale value, receiving a minimum elevation value, setting the at least one of a color value and a grayscale value of the pixels represented by an elevation value less than the received minimum elevation value to a uniform value, and displaying the en-route visible terrain display such that pixels representing terrain that includes an elevation value less than the minimum elevation value are displayed with the uniform value such that non-terrain-impacted, primary-navigation areas of the display are more easily readable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a forward perspective view of an exemplary aircraft cockpit display panel that includes at least one display screen in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a terrain image of an exemplary area of the earth's surface;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary en-route chart display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of generating an en-route visible terrain display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an en-route visible terrain display for an aircraft comprising: representing each pixel of a terrain display using a geographical location and an elevation above the location, each pixel further represented using at least one of a color value and a grayscale value;receiving a minimum elevation value;setting the at least one of a color value and a grayscale value of the pixels represented by an elevation value less than the received minimum elevation value to a uniform value; anddisplaying the en-route visible terrain display such that pixels representing terrain that includes an elevation value less than the minimum elevation value are displayed with the uniform value such that non-terrain-impacted, primary-navigation areas of the display are more easily readable.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying a en-route visible terrain display for an aircraft comprises displaying the en-route visible terrain display for the aircraft during a flight planning mode.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving a minimum elevation value comprises receiving a minimum elevation value selected by a user.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving a minimum elevation value comprises receiving a minimum elevation value determined from a flight plan.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving a minimum elevation value comprises receiving a minimum elevation value determined from a flight plan such that a route of intended travel by the aircraft is within an area of pixels displayed with the uniform value.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a flight plan includes a route of intended travel by the aircraft comprising a plurality of segments and wherein receiving a minimum elevation value comprises receiving a minimum elevation value determined from a flight plan such that a next segment of a route of intended travel by the aircraft is within an area of pixels displayed with the uniform value.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying a plurality of chart symbols superimposed on the en-route visible terrain display.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying a plurality of aeronautical chart symbols superimposed on the en-route visible terrain display.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying the en-route visible terrain display comprises selecting the uniform value based on a current time of day.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying the en-route visible terrain display comprises selecting the uniform value based on a current cockpit illumination.

11. A display system for an aircraft comprising: an en-route visible terrain display screen configured to display a en-route visible terrain display representative of an area being traversed by the aircraft; anda monochromatic overlay on the en-route visible terrain display screen displayed in areas of the en-route visible terrain display representative of an elevation less than a selectable minimum elevation value.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said monochromatic overlay comprises a plurality of pixels having a color value substantially equal to a color value of each other pixel in the monochromatic overlay.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said monochromatic overlay comprises a plurality of pixels having a grayscale value substantially equal to a grayscale value of each other pixel in the monochromatic overlay.

14. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said monochromatic overlay comprises a plurality of pixels having at least one of a grayscale value and a color value that is selectable by a user.

15. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said minimum elevation value is selectable by a user.

16. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said minimum elevation value is determined from a flight plan.

17. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein monochromatic overlay comprises a plurality of pixels having at least one of a uniform color value and a uniform grayscale value, said uniform value selected based on a current time of day.

18. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein monochromatic overlay comprises a plurality of pixels having at least one of a uniform color value and a uniform grayscale value, said uniform value selected based on a current cockpit illumination.

19. A situational awareness system including an en-route visible terrain display comprising: a database for storing data relating to a digital elevation model of a portion of the earth's surface, said model comprising a plurality of pixels, said digital elevation model including a location coordinate and an elevation value associated with each pixel; anda processor coupled to the database, the processor configured to: receive the location coordinate and an elevation value associated with at least one pixel;receive a minimum elevation value for at least one pixel displayed on the en-route visible terrain display;determine at least one of a color value and grayscale value of the at least one pixel based on a comparison of the elevation value and the received minimum elevation value; anddisplay a shaded terrain map comprising a plurality of the at least one pixels on the en-route visible terrain display using the location coordinate and the determined at least one of a color value and grayscale value.

20. A situational awareness system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the plurality of pixels form areas of uniform color or grayscale.

21. A situational awareness system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said processor is further configured to display a navigation chart symbol on the en-route visible terrain display.