FR2783072A1 - COLOR CODING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SIGNALING OBSTACLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Device and method for color coding views of the environment on the display screen of a flying machine. A distinction is made between the different distance ranges to which each time a certain distance range belongs. Only in the close range, that is to say at a distance from the position of the flying machine up to the first color variation, the color red is exclusively used.

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for coding in

color for views of

  the environment on the flying device control screen.

  It is usual, as described for example in document US 5,459,824, for a navigation display.

  tion, to display image data for representation

  ter a map or represent the current position by holding

  account of an information table corresponding to a pa-

  User selected or defined letter for data

  born in color on a cathode ray tube screen.

  We can certainly modify the diagram of the

  their from the displayed image by choosing from a table, but there will be no difference between the nearby areas and

  remote areas, which makes it difficult for the pilot to

  knowledge of nearby obstacles, because in the amount of information displayed, he must in fact detect himself

the obstacles that concern him.

  This is why, the object of the present invention is

  to develop a device and a method of coding in

  their for the views of the environment on the display screen of airplanes or the like, allowing simple and rapid recognition of obstacles, in particular obstacles the

closer to the plane.

  To this end, the invention relates to a device of the type defined above, characterized in that it comprises:

  - a sensor to detect the distance data of the elements

surrounding objects or objects,

  - an installation to process remote data

  tected by the sensor, to assign different ranges of colors, to the distance data and according to the distance ranges fixed beforehand, - the display of these colors on the whole of the display screen. According to other characteristics of the invention: - each color range is defined by RGB values for the initial distance and the final distance, - it performs interpolations for the distances between the initial distance and the final distance for values RGB, - the RGB values are interpolated by applying the following linear algorithm: c = (d-dstart) / (dstop-dstart) * (Cstop-cstart) + CStart with c = calculated value of R, V, B, d = current distance between the sensor and the obstacle dstart = initial distance from the color range dstop = final distance from the color range, CStart = value R, G, B for the initial distance,

  Cstop = value of R, G, B for the final state.

  - the color red is only used in a first zone for the distance from the position of the flying machine or plane, to a first variation of color.

  The invention also relates to a charac-

terized by the following steps:

  - input of distance data for elements or objects in

turning around by a sensor,

  - processing of distance data entered by the cape-

tor,

  - allocation of distance data, range of

  their different depending on the remoteness ranges set beforehand and, - representation of these colors on the entire display screen. According to other characteristics of the process: - each color range is defined by the RGB values at the initial distance and at the final distance, - the RGB values are interpolated by the data processing

  distance detected by the sensor to move them away

  between the initial distance and the distance fi-

  nale, - we perform the RGB value interpolation by applying the following linear algorithm: C = (d-dstart) / (dstop-dstart) * (CstopCstart) + Cstart with: c = calculated value of R, G, B , d = current distance between the sensor and the obstacle dstart = initial distance from the color range dstop = final distance from the color range, CStart = R, G, B value for the initial distance,

  CStop = value of R, G, B for the final state.

  - the color red is used only in the first zone at a distance from the position of the flying machine, up to the

first variation of colors.

  Thus, in navigation, so that the pilot avoids collisions, the interpretation of the color scheme is simple since in the nearby area, that is to say in the risk area, there will be red colors, for the sky blue colors, and faded colors for other areas. The present invention will be described below from

in more detail.

  According to the invention, the device and the method will be described using the example of the symbolic elements

  distance-coded obstacle warning for a system

  display for emergency helicopters operating

whatever the weather.

  The device or method according to the invention,

  supplies the pilots of a flying machine, for example a helicopter

  coptère, with an easy-to-understand representation useful

  the distance data detected by an obstacle sensor, for example an obstacle laser from a helicopter radar. For this, with color coding, images are formed using the distance data provided by

  the obstacle sensor and which give an impression of the elements

  objects or objects surrounding the sensor. The distance image provided by the sensor is processed to be displayed on

the total image screen.

  All ranges of distances, in particular for the sky and other non-reflective surfaces such as for example

  rivers, lakes, etc., will have defined colors.

  Color coding provides maximum contrast between objects

  jets neighboring or placed one behind the other. In a representation, there are in particular different ranges of colors, and each range of colors

  is associated with a defined distance or distance range

  denies. The device or method according to the invention,

  fix the main shade of this color representation

  them using the following two points of view: - the contrast between the different color ranges must be optimized,

  - the red color must be used for signaling purposes.

  This is why, the color red will only be used in the first zone, that is to say in the close zone,

  away from the helicopter position, until the first

better variation of colors.

  Each color range is defined by the values

  their RGB for the initial distance and the final distance.

  For intervals between these limits, the RGB values are interpolated by applying the following linear algorithm: c = (d-dstart) / (dstopdstart) * (Cstop-Cstart) + CStart with: c = calculated value of R, V , B, d = current distance between the sensor and the obstacle dstart = initial distance from the color range dstop = final distance from the color range, CStart = value R, G, B for the initial distance,

  CStop = value of R, G, B for the final state.

  In a color scheme, given by way of example, of the device or method according to the invention, values are applied to the following ranges: Distance [m] Value of red Value of green Value of blue

[0-255] [0-255] [0-255]

100,000 0 0 O

2000 0 0 0

1000 200 200 200

800 226 226 108

550 30 80 30

350 252 252 20

275 60 40 73

200 200 0

255 0 0

9 45 45 110

0 45 45 110

  The device or method according to the invention

  thus considerably simplify the recognition

  obstacles for pilots. The color scheme is designed intuitively, the red hues used for the near area (risk area); blue tones are used for the sky and soft colors are used for other ranges. Thus the interpretation of the diagram does not require any particular learning and this

  diagram gives the impression of a natural environment.

RE VE N D I C AT I ON S

  1) Device for color coding views of the environment on display screens of a flying machine, characterized in that it comprises:

  - a sensor to detect the distance data of the elements

surrounding objects or objects,

  - an installation to process remote data

  tected by the sensor, to assign different ranges of colors, to the distance data and according to the distance ranges fixed beforehand, - the display of these colors on the whole of the display screen. 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each color range is defined by RGB values for

  the initial distance and the final distance.

  3) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it performs interpolations for the distances included

  between the initial distance and the final distance for values

their RGB.

  4) Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the RGB values are interpolated by applying the following linear algorithm: c = (d-dstart) / (dstop-dstart) * (Cstop- cstart) + CStart with c = calculated value of R, G, B, d = current distance between the sensor and the obstacle dstart = initial distance from the color range dstop = final distance from the color range, Cstart = value R, G, B for the initial distance,

  CStop = value of R, G, B for the final state.

   ) Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,

  characterized in that the color red is only used in a first zone for the distance comprised from the position of the flying vehicle or airplane, to a first variation of color. 6) Method for color coding views of the environment on the display screens of a flying vehicle or airplane, characterized by the following steps:

  - input of distance data for elements or objects in

turning around by a sensor,

  - processing of distance data entered by the cape-

tor,

  - allocation to distance data, range of

  their different depending on the remoteness ranges set beforehand and, - representation of these colors on the entire display screen. 7) Method according to claim 6, characterized in that each color range is defined by the RGB values at the

  initial distance and final distance.

  8) Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the RGB values are interpolated by the processing of the distance data detected by the sensor for the distances

  between the initial distance and the final distance.

  9) Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the RGB values are interpolated by applying the following linear algorithm: c = (d-dstart) / (dstop-dstart) * (Cstop-cstart) + Cstart with: c = calculated value of R, G, B, d = current distance between the sensor and the obstacle dstart = initial distance from the color range dstop = final distance from the color range, CStart = value R, V, B for the initial distance,

  cstop = value of R, G, B for the final state.

   ) Method according to one of claims 6 to 9,

  characterized in that the color red is used only in the first zone to

  distance from the position of the flying object, to the first

better variation of colors.