Abstract: A system for providing a manipulatable graphical display comprising a user input device responsive to a user input, a cursor control device operably coupled to the user input device, and a menu engine operably coupled to the cursor control device. The cursor control device is further configured to process an output received from the user input device and generate a cursor image positioned on a display in response to the user output suitable for locking onto and tracing a path on the display.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing a visual indicator which indicates functions of multi-purpose controls in a current cursor location context. The method includes providing a current cursor location context. The method further includes providing a visual indicator based on the current cursor location context. The visual indicator indicates a function of a multi-purpose control. The multi-purpose control is configured for allowing a user to interact with a cursor at the cursor's current location within the current cursor location context. Further, indicating the function of the multi-purpose control includes, prior to activation of the multi-purpose control, providing information regarding an interaction to take place with the cursor when the multi-purpose control is activated.

Abstract: A cursor positioning system for a computer display system includes a coarse positioning subsystem and a fine positioning subsystem. The coarse positioning subsystem provides a coarse positioning signal to a cursor control and rendering subsystem of a computer display system. The coarse positioning subsystem includes a voice recognition system. The coarse positioning signal provides coarse positioning of a cursor to a region of interest (ROI) on a computer display of the computer display system. The fine positioning subsystem is operatively associated with the coarse positioning subsystem for providing a fine positioning signal to the cursor control and rendering subsystem. The fine positioning signal provides fine positioning of the cursor within the ROI on the computer display. The fine positioning subsystem is operatively associatable with a cursor control device.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing a depiction of an approach path to a landing area and of terrain proximal to the landing area via a flight deck situational awareness system of an aircraft. The method may include providing a vertical reference graphical indicator for indicating a glide path for the landing area. The method may further include providing a plurality of extended graphical indicators which extend from the vertical reference graphical indicator and intercept the depicted terrain. The method may further include connecting the plurality of extended graphical indicators via a horizontal reference graphical indicator which forms an extension of a centerline of the landing area onto the depicted terrain. The vertical reference graphical indicator, the extended graphical indicators, and the horizontal reference graphical indicator may form boundaries of a plurality of transparent panes, which collectively form a transparent approach curtain.

Abstract: A system for providing crosswind component information to a pilot of an aircraft is disclosed. The system is comprised of a navigation system; datalink system; devices for manual input of data; a crosswind component module consisting of, in part, a processor and database; and an indicating system consisting of, in part, a tactical display unit system of an aircraft. A navigation system may provide flight parameters for measured and intended flight data as inputs. Other data may also be provided from manual input devices and a datalink system as inputs. The processor of the crosswind component module receives the data, retrieves runway direction data, and determines the data of the crosswind components. An indicating system receives the data of the crosswind components and displays this information.

Abstract: A system for providing taxi navigation information to a pilot of an aircraft is comprised of a navigation system; a taxi navigation module consisting of, in part, a processor and database; and an indicating system consisting of, in part, a tactical display unit system (e.g., a primary flight director (“PFD”), and head-up display (“HUD”) of an aircraft. A navigation system may provide aircraft position data of the aircraft while it is on the ground. A processor receives the aircraft position data, retrieves taxi navigation symbology based upon the aircraft position data from a taxi navigation database, and provides this data to the indicating system. The indicating system generates the display of taxi navigation information on a display unit which, in turn, provides the pilot with an egocentric view of airport signage using colored aviation signage symbology.

Abstract: A head worn head up display (HUD) system providing an enhanced head down view in an environment including a head worn device including a vision tracking device and a dynamic head down display. The head worn HUD system includes a computational platform for receiving vision tracking device signals from a vision tracking device of a head worn device and for generating head down display signals associated with a dynamic head down display. The computational platform processes and utilizes the vision tracking device signals and the generated head down display signals to provide output signals to the head worn device for output by the head worn device as superimposed visual steering cues to the operator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the graphical selection of objects. A selection indicator, one or more object indicators, and a position indicator are presented on a display. The selection indicator may be manipulated to indicate object indicators by rotating the selection indicator until an object indicators is within the area of the selection indicator and to select an object indicator which has been indicated. The selection indicator may be rotated so a portion overlaps with the location occupied by a portion prior to rotation. A menu indicator is also presented on the display. The menu indicator comprises a selector icon and a list of representations of the object indicators indicated by selection indicator. The selector icon may be manipulated to indicate a single representation of an object indicator and to select the object indicator represented by the representation of the indicated object indicator.

Abstract: An information magnification system for providing enhanced display information for a display system for a vehicle. The display system is of a type that includes a first display and a second display. The information magnification system includes a user interface for providing the capability for a user to select a magnification zone of interest on the first display of the vehicle. An information magnification electronics subsystem is associated with the user interface and with the first and second displays to enable the selected magnification zone to be presented on the second display appearing to be behind the physical surface of the second display at a selected distance, thus providing the capability for the user to maintain a far field of focus.

Abstract: A vehicle operator interface is disclosed. The vehicle operator interface comprises a visual display device. A first indicator which is representative of a vehicle energy target, a second indicator representative of a vehicle energy vector and a third indicator representative of a vehicle capability zone are on the display.

Abstract: An avionics system includes a dynamic grammar definition subsystem configured to receive and analyze dynamic, current aircraft state data and provide an enhanced set of recognizable current grammar data based on the aircraft state data. A voice recognition subsystem is configured to receive the current grammar data from the dynamic grammar definition subsystem and utilize the current grammar data to provide commands in response to a user's voice input based on the aircraft's dynamic, current state.

Abstract: A current path display indicator for a display device of a vehicle. The current path display indicator includes a flight path indicator (FPI) and a visual cue associated with the FPI to indicate relative direction from the vehicle's current path to a desired path. The visual cue may be embodied in possibly a number of different ways. For example, it may be embodied as an arrow extending from a circular portion of the FPI; a highlighted segment superimposed on the circular portion of the FPI; a triangle extending from the circular portion; or, a pie-shaped marker contained within the circular portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manipulating a computer cursor in harsh environments which uses a movable grip device disposed about a stationary member where movement of the movable grip is limited by controllable resistance as a function of force applied to said movable grip.