FIELD OF THE INVENTIO

[001] This invention relates to an arrangement to assist a pilot within the cockpit of an aircraft in more correctly interpreting aircraft attitude, and more particularly to an arrangement that can utilise the peripheral vision of the pilot to improve his or her ability to correctly interpret aircraft attitude rather than relying solely on focusing on aircraft internal instrumentation.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION

[002] Most modern-day aircraft include as part of their internal instrumentation system, an attitude indicator which is designed to assist the pilot's spatial orientation to maintain the pilot's body orientation and/or posture in relation to the surrounding environment and notably to establish an artificial horizon and/or at least a reference environment so that the pilot is able to determine their orientation of the aircraft relative to the earth's horizon, notably when the aircraft increases or decreases its pitch by ascending or descending or when the aircraft is required to roll or bank as the nose of the airplane tilts to the left or right during a flight turning procedure,

[003] The causes of spatial disorientation in pilots where they lose the ability to correctly interpret aircraft attitude is well documented and it is not the purpose of this invention to go into the physiological reasons as to what creates spatial disorientation with pilots, suffice to say that spatial disorientation is a problem to which this invention intends to address and provide a solution for.

[004] Generally if visual conditions are clear and observable to the pilot the illusions created b this perceptual misjudgement can be overridden while flying.

[005] The problem of spatial disorientation becomes more problematic however when external visual conditions are not available, for example at night time or under temporary conditions when the aircraft flies into inclement weather where there is low or no visibility. It is during these kinds of scenarios when there is little or no visibility that the pilot of the aircraft is unable to rely upon the external visual horizon and the only option in order to maintain a correct sense of up and down and so forth while flying, as based on procedural training is wherein, the pilot must focus intently upon internal aircraft instrumentation, notably the attitude indicator so as to inform the pilot of the orientation of the aircraft relative to the earth's horizon.

[006] However as many pilots will confess when spatial disorientation develops and the external visual conditions are extremely low or there is no visibility, it is almost contrary to natural instinct to then focus upon a small display instrumentation in order to improve judgement of the vertical positioning of the aircraft relative to the earth's horizon.

[007] If a pilot is under the effects of disorientation and is under the control of illusory non-visual sensations during flight it would be advantageous to be able to assist the pilot in over-riding these senses and to get the pilot back into correct judgement of spatial orientation by not simply just having the pilot being forced to rely on a focusing of vision upon internal aircraft instrumentation but also be able to introduce a means in which the peripherai vision of the pilot could be aided with some means such that the pilot is able to adjust naturally and also almost instantaneously to regain their ability of body orientation and/or posture in relation to the surrounding flight environment even in conditions where the pilot is in conditions of low and/or no visibility.

[008] Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement which will be able to create conditions so that the pilot, upon being under the effects of disorientation, will be able to correctly interpret aircraft attitude by not necessarily only relying on internal instrumentation such as an attitude indicator but also through the use of their peripherai vision even in temporary flying conditions resulting from poor weather conditions with low or no visibility.

[009] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent on a complete reading of this specification. SUMMARY OF THE I VENTION

[010] In one form of the invention there is provided an aircraft externa! Sighting arrangement for improving a pilot's ability to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, said arrangement including;

[011 ] an externa! lighting fixture fastenable to the exterior of the aircraft;

[012] said external lighting fixture adapted to emit a lateral dispersible light providing an illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when a real horizon is not viewable for the pilot during reduced Sight, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather, wherein the external lighting fixture is further adapted to maintain said illuminated artificial horizon as the aircraft increases or decreases pitch and/or when the nose of the aircraft roils, banks or tilts to the left or right during turning.

[013] Advantageousl by introducing an external fighting fixture to the aircraft it is now possible to create a i!luminatabie artificial horizon created by the dispersed light coming from: the external lighting fixture that is viewable by the pilot in the cockpit when the real horizon cannot be observed such as when ther is reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

[014] If the pilot finds his or her self under the effects of disorientation even when the vertical relationshi between the nose of the aircraft and the real horizon is changing as the aircraft descends or ascends and in cases where the plane begins to roll or bank when turning left or right, as there is the continuous fixed reference of the artificial horizon created by the dispersible lateral light of the external lighting during times of reduced light, darkness, cioudiness and/or inclement weather means that the pilot can no rely upon his/her own general peripheral vision to observe the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft rather than having to potentially uncomfortably just focus upon internal instrumentation. [015] The pilot can rely upon their natural peripheral vision and observe that artificial horizon which has been illuminated outside of the aircraft to provide the appropriate fixed reference, if the pilot senses d isorientation these senses will be over-ridden and the pilot will be able to adjust promptly to correct bod orientation arid the

maintenance thereof in that the visual output of the artificial horizon provided by the dispersed lateral light coming from the lighting fixture viewable by the pilot during times of reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather makes it capable for the pilot to over-ride those illusory non-visual sensations that has led to the pilot suffering the effects of disorientation

[018] In preference the external lighting fixture is rotatable about a vertical axis and a lateral axis such that when the aircraft is increasing or decreasing pitch attitude during flight this translates to downward or upper movement respectively of the external lightning fixture about the vertical axis and wherein during turning left or right rolling of the nose of the aircraft translates to right or left movement respectively about the external lighting fixture lateral axis in order to maintain the lateral dispersible light orientation to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the real horizon is not viewable for the pilot during reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

[017] In preference the external lighting fixture fastenable to the exterior of the aircraft is a single light fitting fastenable to the nose of the aircraft.

[018] in an alternative embodiment the external lighting fixture includes a pair of light fittings each positionabie on the forward facing side of opposing wings of the aircraft,

[01 ] In preference the external lighting fixture is in communication with the internal aircraft control instrumentation so as to respond during pitching and/or rolling of the aircraft so as to translate the corresponding movement of the external lighting fixture about the vertical axis or the lateral axis to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the real horizon is not viewable, for the pilot during reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

[020] In preference the lateral dispersible light further includes light that has a visual depth.

[021] in preferenc the lateral dispersibSe light is adapted to illuminate in different colours depending on levels of reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

[022] For example, the dispersed light could have the ability to illuminate a light which is viewable to the pilot which will have a different colour depending on the time of day or night and also different light colour emissions can be projected as part of the dispersible light due to particular prevailing flight conditions such as weather, cloud cover, wind effects, temperature and so forth.

[023] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the externa! lighting fixture includes an array of light emitting units, wherein each light emitting unit is arranged in a series of rows and columns across the array wherein the array is divided into three regions, a centra! region wherein light disperses straight out from the array, a section of upwardly inclined light emitting units and a section of downwardly inclined light emitting units such that when the aircraft during flight increases or decreases pitch attitude, light will be emitted from the section of downwardly inclined light emitting unit and the section of upwardly inclined light emitting units respectively so as to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the real horizon is not viewable for the pilot during reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather,

[024] In preference the central region of light emitting units within the array provides a corresponding diagonal representation across the columns and between the rows of said array in order to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the rea! horizon is not viewable when the nose of the aircraft tilts, roils or banks during turning procedures.

[025] An advantage of such an arrangement is that rather than having an external lighting fixture which will move relative to the pitch or turning during flight of the aircraft in order to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon reference, in this instance the external lighting fixture does not move but as the externa! lighting fixture is working with control information of the aircraft about flight behaviour in scenarios where there is a change in a vertical relationship between the nose of the aircraft and the horizon, different sections or segments of the external lighting fixture made up of the array of Sight emitting units will then be activated to disperse light accordingly,

[026] For exampie during normal flight those light emitting units which are dispersing light directl out from the aircraft would remain illuminated but in the scenario where there is an increase in the pitch attitude in that the nose of the airplane points up, those light emitting units that are downwardly inclined would then be illuminated so as to maintain that continuous primary illuminated visual fixed reference between the nose of the aircraft and the artificial horizon created by the external lighting fixture which in this embodiment rather than being able to move about a vertical and lateral axis will be fixed in configuration.

[027] When the aircraft decreases the pitch attitude and the nose of the aircraft begins to point down during a descent the control arrangement operating the external lighting fixture will then see those light emitting units of the array that are inclined upwards then being responsible for emitting dtspersib!e light so as to establish and continuously maintain that primary illuminated artificial horizon visual reference for the pilot.

[028] As the array can include a series of rows of light emitting units separated by individual columns within the array as the nose of the aircraft tilts when completing a left or right turn, given the external lighting fixture will also tilt as it is fixed to the nose the dispersed light stilt is able to emitted with the appropriate artificial horizon as there is a corresponding diagonal relationshi between the light emitting units in adjacent rows and columns as you move across the array keeping the artificial horizon appropriately horizontal.

[029] Hence while the external lighting fixture is fixed to the nose of the aircraft and in itself does not move about the vertical axis or the lateral axis, as each segment of the array made up of the light emitting units have been configured in appropriate alignment the dispersed light emitted from the lighting fixture fastened to the aircraft is able to emit and provide the continuous illuminated visual reference between the nose of the aircraft and the created artificial horizon established

[030] in a further alternative embodiment of the invention the external lighting fixture includes a substantially curved profile with a flat central section, having a series of light emitting units protruding therefrom in an array divided up into columns and rows of such light emitting units such that when the aircraft increases pitch attitude, light emitting units of the array pointing downward along the curved profile of the external lighting fixture are illuminated, and wherein when the flight of the aircraft results in a decrease in the pitch attitude those light emitting units pointing upwards on the of the illuminated and wherein the aircraft has the nose of the aircraft tilting to left or right there is a diagonal illumination between adjacent rows and columns of each light emitting units within the flat section of the substantially curved profile to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the real horizon is not viewable for the pilot during reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[031] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be described with the assistance of the following illustrations.

[032] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an external lighting fixture in a preferred embodiment of the invention which is adapted to be rotatable about both a vertical and a lateral axis. [033] Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e show schematic representations of the rotatabie movement about the vertical axis and the lateral axis of the externa! lighting fixture shown in Figure 1 under various flight scenarios including general flying in Figure 2a, an increase in pitch attitude in Figure 2b, a decreasing in pitch attitude shown in Figure 2c, a tilting of the nose to the left in Figure 2d and a tilting of the nose to the right in Figure 2e.

[034] Figures 3a and 3b relate to a further preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the external lighting fixture does not rotate about the vertical and lateral axis but alternatively illumination of individual light emitting units as part of the array of the external lighting fixture shown emits and maintains the continuous primary

illuminated visual fixed reference between the nose of the aircraft and an artificial horizon regardless of the pitch or roll of the aircraft.

[035] Figure 4 is a similar schematic representation to Figure 3a however it is illustrating how the illuminated artificial horizon is maintained despite the fact that the fixed external lighting fixture tilts with the movement of the aircraft as a turn is completed.

[036] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional profile view of a further preferred embodiment of the invention not dissimilar to the representation shown in Figures 3a and 3b however in Figure 5 the lighting fixture has a substantially curved configuration and the light emitting units extending out from the Sight fixture do not necessarily need to be inclined as the inclination is provided for by the curvature of the profile of the external lighting fixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[037] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail where in Figure 1 an external lighting fixture (10.) is shown wherein the external lighting fixture includes a row of light emitting units (9).

[038] The arrangement of the light emitting units (9) is not essential to the invention nor the actual configuration of the external lighting fixture (10) per se. What is important is that the externa! lighting fixture (10) is adapted to be fasten to the exterior of the aircraft preferably about the nose of the aircraft in this preferred embodiment,

[039] The external lighting fixture (10) is able to have rotatable movement about the vertical axis shown by way of arrows (12) and (14) but also the lateral axis shown by way of arrows (16) and (18).

[040] In what will be discussed in greater detail in relation to Figure 2a through to Figure 2e, the ability of the external light fixture (10) to be able to be rotatably moveable about both the vertical and the lateral axis in response to changes in pitch or nose tilting to the left and/or right during turning, means that the external light fixture (10) is to provide and maintain the illuminated artificial horizon about the periphery of the nose of the aircraft viewable by a pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft when the real horizon is not viewable for the pilot during reduced light, darkness, cloudiness and/or inclement weather.

[041] The artificial horizon created by the externa! Sighting fixture (10) which rotates either vertically or laterally into the appropriate position depending upon the flight orientation of the aircraft whether that is descending, ascending and/or turning wherein the pilot can then rely upon this illuminated artificially created horizon by the lighting fixture (10) so that if the aircraft pilot's perception of direction does not agree with reality due to spatial disorientation, the pilot is able to rely upon their general peripheral vision and can see the artificial horizon created by the light emission from the lighting fixture (10) so as to over-ride any illusory non-visual sensations they feel.

[042] In Figure 2a the aircraft (20) is flying straight ahead and the external lighting fixture (10) has the light emitting units (9) aligned such that there is a laterally dispersed light that creates a primar illuminated visual artificial horizon which the pilot can view from the cockpit of the aircraft (20).

[043] As seen in Figure 2b the pitch of the aircraft has been altered and the relationship between the nose of the aircraft and the horizon has changed in that with the nose up there is an increase in the pitch attitude so accordingly the external light fixture (10) is able to be vertically rotated downwards shown by way of arrow (23) to maintain the primary illuminated visual artificial horizon (21) viewable by the pilot from the cockpit of the aircraft (20).

[044] In the case of Figure 2c the aircraft is decreasing in pitch attitude and with the nose down the externa! lighting fixture (10) rotates upward along the vertical axis shown by way of arrow (25) in order to maintain and display the same continuous illuminated visual artificial horizon (21).

[045] in Figures 2d and 2e examples are shown as to how the external lighting fixture (10) by way of being able to hav rotatable movement about the lateral axis can still provide the continuous primary illuminated visual artificial horizon (21) despite the fact that in Figure 2d the aircraft nose is tilting to instigate a left turn whereby the external lighting fixture then rotates laterally to the right shown by way of arrow (29) and in the case of Figure 2e wherein the aircraft (20) is instigating a right turn the externa! lighting fixture (10) rotates to the left shown by way of arrow (27) once again to maintain the illumination of the artificial horizon (21) which is viewable from the cockpit of the aircraft (20) by the pilot.

[048] As discussed in the general description of the invention this illuminated visual artificial horizon which has been established by the Sighting fixture (10) could be dispersed in different colours of light depending on the time of the day or flying conditions, such as poor weather and so forth which the aircraft is encountering.

[047] Also the illuminated visual artificial horizon created by the external lighting fixture can also have a defined depth as well as its lateral dispersion and in other preferred embodiments there can be a dispersing of light both upwards and downwards wherein these arrangements can also include colour scheming such as the light dispersing to signify colours representing the ground and other colours representing the sky and so forth.

[048] Figures 3a, 3b and Figure 4 show a further preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the external lighting fixture (30) is an array or grid of light emitting units (31) which are arranged in a series of rows (34) and columns (32). [049] Figure 3a shows that the array (30) is further divided into segments wherein the light emitting units (31) of the upper (36) section of the array have an upward inclination wherein those central have direction pointing outwards and those at the bottom of the array (30) have an incline downwards shown generally as (40).

[050] The purpose of Figures 3a, 3b and Figure 4 is to show the concept pictoriaily and it is to be appreciated that many more light emitting units (31) could be included or otherwise and the degree of inclination and arrangement and the size and configuration of each of the respective regions (38), (38) and (40) of the array (30) can all foe alterable but the purpose of illustrating this embodiment as shown in Figures 3a, 3b and Figure 4 is to show that the external lighting fixture (30) can be fixed to the nose of the aircraft and wherein the external lighting fixture (30) per se does not need to have to be rotatably moveable about a vertical axis and the lateral axis in that depending on the changing pitch or the roll of the aircraft will then correctly correlate to different patterns of illumination from the array (30) drawn from individual light emitting units (31) that are emitting tight to create the appropriate artificial horizon.

[051] For example, if the aircraft was to decrease in pitch and the nose was heading downwards the light emitting units (31) in region (36) of the array with an upward incline would illuminate thereby maintaining the primary illuminated visual artificial horizon for the pilot within the cockpit to always have within their peripheral vision so as to over-ride any effects of disorientation that they ma be experiencing.

[052] Figure 4 shows the scenario wherein if the nose of the aircraft tilts shown by way of arrow ( 1) the external lighting fixture (30) would still have to tilt also but as there is a whole array of light emitting units (31) it is still possible for the array to illuminate a series of light emitting units shown by way of the dashed line (42) so that the actual lighting fixture (30) then in its tilt position can still emit out the appropriate primary illuminated visual artificial horizon viewable from the cockpit of the aircraft so that the pilot is able to correctly interpret aircraft attitude by comfortably accepting that artificial horizon that has been created by the external lighting fixture (30) rather than having to more problematically focus on internal aircraft instrumentation such as an attitude indicator to try and over-ride and limit the effects of disorientation. [053 Figure 5 shows a further preferred embodiment of the invention, not dissimilar to the preferred embodiments shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 4 however the external lighting fixture (46) has a substantially curved profile (47) dividing up the Sight emitting units (49) into an upper regions (48), a central substantially flat region (50) and downwardly inclined region (52) wherein the natural curvature or profile (47) of the external lighting fixture array (46) upper (48) and Sower (52) curves and centra! fiat sectio (50) provides the necessary downward, upward or tilting inclination as shown by way of segments (36) and (40) in Figure 3a ₍ and segment (38) in Figure 4 in order to achieve the emission of the lights in order to establish the primar Illuminated visual artificial horizon during an increase or decrease in the pitch of the aircraft or when turning.