Solid state avionics display instrument
View Patent ↗A solid-state electronic avionics display instrument includes a needle-like display mounted within a housing in a manner that emulates the manner in which prior electro-mechanical needle indicator mechanisms have been mounted in such housings so as to indicate a value along an arcuate scale. New aircraft can be fitted with such instruments initially, while existing aircraft can be retrofitted with such instruments to replace existing electro-mechanical mechanism-based avionics instruments.
1. A replacement avionics display instrument for use in existing aircraft to replace an existing electro-mechanical instrument having an electro-mechanical display using a needle indicator, the aircraft having an instrument opening for receiving the electro-mechanical instrument and having electrical connections for supplying electrical signals to the electro-mechanical instrument, the replacement avionics display instrument comprising: an avionics housing either removed from such an aircraft or constructed to replicate such a housing, the avionics housing configured to fit in the existing instrument opening; an electronic display housed within the housing and having a display element for approximating the movement of a needle; and electronic circuitry coupled to the electronic display to allow the electronic display to be driven by the electrical input signals of the aircraft, whereby the replacement avionics display can be connected to the electrical inputs of the aircraft and installed in the existing opening in the aircraft.
2. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic display comprises an LED display.
3. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 2 wherein the LED display comprises a plurality of LED elements arranged side-by-side in an arc.
4. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of LED elements are driven in a manner in which only a selected one of the LED elements is illuminated at any one time.
5. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of LED elements are driven in a manner in which multiple ones of the LED elements can be illuminated together.
6. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic display comprises an LED display with a printed scale, the LED display operating to indicate a measurement on the printed scale.
7. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a digital display indicating a measurement using displayed digits.
8. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an indicator light for indicating an atypical condition.
9. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic display comprises an LED display including a plurality of LED elements and a diffuser lens positioned in front of the LED elements.
10. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein the diffuser lens comprises an acrylic panel clad with a film, the film having a non-smooth outer surface.
11. A replacement avionics display instrument as claimed in claim 10 wherein the diffuser film is translucent.
12. An avionics display instrument for use with an aircraft having electrical connections for supplying electrical signals, the avionics display instrument comprising: an electronic display for mimicking an electro-mechanical instrument having an electro-mechanical display using a needle indicator instrument; and an electronics subassembly for receiving the electrical signals from electrical connections of the aircraft and using the electrical input signals to activate the electronic display.
13. The avionics display instrument of claim 12 , wherein the electronic display further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes and a legend, wherein the electronic subassembly operates to indicate a measurement on the legend by activating one or more light emitting diodes.
14. The avionics display instrument of claim 13 , wherein the light emitting diodes are arranged side-by-side in the form of an arc.
15. The avionics display instrument of claim 14 , wherein a band of light emitting diodes is activated from a starting value to a sensed value.
16. The avionics display instrument of claim 14 , wherein a single light emitting diode activated.
17. The avionics display instrument of claim 14 , wherein the electronic display further comprises a light-emitting display for displaying a digital value of the measurement.
18. The avionics display instrument of claim 12 , further comprising an ambient light sensor for determining the ambient light, wherein the electronic subassembly adjusts illumination of light emitting diodes based on the value sensed by the ambient light sensor.
19. The avionics display instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a diffuser lens, wherein the diffuser lens provides a sharp transition from light to dark and blends the light emitted from a plurality of light emitting diodes together.