Troy Frank Nichols

US Patent:

7209070, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Oct 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/960838

Inventors:

William R. Gilliland - Glendale AZ, US
Troy A. Nichols - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International, Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01S 13/94
G01S 13/95

US Classification:

342 26B, 342179, 342191

Abstract:

A vertical situation display (“VSD”) system according to the invention generates a terrain image that represents a profile view of terrain elevation relative to the position of an aircraft traveling above the terrain. The VSD system generates the VSD image such that the terrain image is biased toward the lower elevation region of the VSD screen, thus making efficient use of the available display area. The VSD image is also generated such that it is continuous across the lateral range of the VSD, thus ensuring that terrain is shown in the VSD at all practical times, depending upon the available range and any priority display rules.

US Patent:

7295901, Nov 13, 2007

Filed:

Sep 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/526916

Inventors:

Michael C. Little - Peoria AZ, US
Troy A. Nichols - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International, Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 16, 342 33

Abstract:

An avionics system includes a display device that is viewable by a user of an aircraft and a processor in operable communication with the display device. The processor is configured to display a digital terrain having a digital landmark thereon on the display device, the digital terrain being representative of an actual terrain and the digital landmark being representative of an actual landmark on the actual terrain, and display a plurality of position indicators over the digital terrain such that a line extending through the plurality of position indicators intersects the digital landmark, the position indicators being a fixed digital terrain distance apart as measured over the digital terrain.

US Patent:

8010245, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/241477

Inventors:

Troy Nichols - Peoria AZ, US
Michael C. Little - Peoria AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
G06G 7/70

US Classification:

701 16, 701 18, 340953, 340955, 340972

Abstract:

A display system for an aircraft includes a processing unit configured to determine a touchdown point for the aircraft and to supply display commands associated with the touchdown point; and a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render symbology representing the touchdown point.

US Patent:

8095249, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Sep 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/849450

Inventors:

Michael C. Little - Peoria AZ, US
Troy A. Nichols - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01C 23/00

US Classification:

701 3, 701 14, 701 16, 340963, 340970, 340975, 342 26 B, 342350, 349 64

Abstract:

Methods and systems for displaying a digital terrain to a user of a vehicle are provided. First, second, and third actual terrain data points are received. The third actual terrain data point is between the first and second actual terrain data points. If the third actual terrain data point is above a line interconnecting the first and second actual terrain data points, the first actual terrain data point is modified such that the third actual terrain data point is not above a line interconnecting said modified first actual terrain data point and the second actual terrain data point. A digital terrain is displayed to the user of the vehicle. The digital terrain includes a first digital terrain data point corresponding to the modified first actual terrain data point.

US Patent:

8160755, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/242202

Inventors:

Troy Nichols - Peoria AZ, US
John G. Suddreth - Cave Creek AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G08G 1/16

US Classification:

701 3, 701300, 701301, 701302, 701400, 701414, 701439, 340945, 340961, 3409951, 340435, 340436, 342 29, 342454, 342455

Abstract:

A method and system is provided for displaying aircraft symbology. The method includes displaying () a symbol () for a first aircraft in a predetermined format, processing () data related to flight conditions of the first aircraft and a second aircraft, determining () a format for the display of the second aircraft based on the processed data, and displaying () a symbol () for the second aircraft in accordance with the determined format.

US Patent:

8170729, May 1, 2012

Filed:

Aug 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/188831

Inventors:

Troy Nichols - Peoria AZ, US
Mike Little - Peoria AZ, US
Xavier Henry - Glendale AZ, US
Ivan Sandy Wyatt - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 4

Abstract:

Methods and systems for operating a display device that is viewable by a user of an aircraft are provided. A first image is caused to be displayed on the display device. The first image is at least representative of a field of view from on-board the aircraft of an actual terrain. A second image is rendered over the first image on the display device. The second image includes a vertical position indicator indicating a vertical position of the aircraft relative to a selected flight path. The vertical position indicator is moved in a pitch direction on the display device in response to the aircraft moving relative to the actual terrain. The pitch direction corresponds to a change in the pitch of the aircraft.

US Patent:

8175761, May 8, 2012

Filed:

Feb 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/372567

Inventors:

Troy Nichols - Peoria AZ, US
John G. Suddreth - Cave Creek AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
G06T 1/00

US Classification:

701 14, 345418

Abstract:

A method for displaying information on a flight deck display element of an aircraft begins by obtaining a user interface command that represents a user-entered selection of a designated target. Relevant data is accessed and processed in response to this command, including aircraft status data for the aircraft, terrain data corresponding to terrain proximate the designated target, and graphics data corresponding to the designated target. Then, a target-focused display is rendered on the flight deck display element. The target-focused display includes a real-time synthetic perspective view of the designated target and the terrain proximate the designated target, wherein content of the target-focused display is influenced by the aircraft status data, the terrain data, and the graphics data.

US Patent:

8209122, Jun 26, 2012

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/413202

Inventors:

Troy Nichols - Peoria AZ, US
Thea L. Feyereisen - Hudson WI, US
Gang He - Morristown NJ, US
Dave Pepitone - Sun City West AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G08G 5/02
G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701523, 701516, 701532

Abstract:

A flight deck display system for an aircraft or other vehicle includes a first data source of visual feature data that is indicative of visual features of a location of interest, a second data source of flight data for the aircraft, a processor architecture, and a display element. The processor architecture is operatively coupled to the first data source and to the second data source, and it is configured to process the visual feature data, process the flight data, and, based upon the visual feature data and the flight data, generate image rendering display commands. The display element receives the image rendering display commands and, in response thereto, renders a dynamic graphical representation of the location of interest using the visual feature data. The dynamic graphical representation of the location conveys an amount of visible detail that varies as a function of the flight data.