Abstract: In order to provide a high contrast, wide angle, color, liquid crystal display, the pixel elements each have subpixel color cells fabricated with a thickness of liquid crystal material through which light perpendicular to the display panel is transmitted that is less than the liquid crystal thickness for minimizing optical transmission when the subpixel cell is in an off-state. Using a thickness less than the thickness of liquid crystal material for minimizing off-state optical transmission on the axis perpendicular to the plane of the display panel (and component subpixel color cells) results in the minimum optical transmission at an off-axis viewing angle. By permitting a small amount of off-state optical transmission along the axis of the display (as a result of using a liquid crystal thickness less than the thickness required for minimizing undesired transmittance), a relatively small undesired transmittance of light for the liquid crystal cell display can be achieved over wide viewing angle.

Abstract: A system has at least one output device, the output device having a first set of output terminals connected to a corresponding field device. Each output device has a corresponding redundant output device having a corresponding first set of output terminals connected to the same corresponding field device as the corresponding output device. The output device and the redundant output device each have a second set of output terminals corresponding to the first set of output terminals, the second set of output terminals being connected to an apparatus for controlling the information outputted from the first set of output terminals. The apparatus comprises a plurality of switching elements, having a set of first and second contact points. Each of the second set of output terminals of the output device being connected to a corresponding first contact point, and the second set of output terminals of the redundant output device being connected to the corresponding second contact point.

Abstract: Aircraft/engine performance is determined by the method of the present invention, wherein the performance characteristics are defined by learned performance parameters. The method includes the steps of learning the performance parameters of the aircraft/engine combination, for a given flight, using previously learned performance parameters and current observations. Then, based on the performance parameters learned from the learning step, a prediction is made of the performance of the aircraft/engine combination for subsequent flights.

Abstract: A protective cover for a flight instrument filter glass mounted in a cockpit instrument panel having a display screen mounted in the display unit. The display unit includes a chassis and a frame-like bezel mounted on the chassis in front of the filter glass. The bezel masks the peripheral interface between the filter glass and the display unit opening. The bezel includes a front surface adjacent to the front of the filter glass and a rear edge spaced from the front surface and adjacent to the instrument panel. The protective cover comprises a faceplate portion having a sidewall and a lip spaced from the faceplate and extending from the sidewall in a direction parallel to the plane of the faceplate. The space between the lip and faceplate being approximately equal to the space between the front surface of the bezel and rear edge of the bezel for retaining the faceplate in spaced relationship from the filter glass.