Airborne microwave/infrared wind shear and clear air turbulence detector
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring an airborne disturbance in front of an airplane comprising:
- directing a high energy beam a distance in front of the airplane;
heating the air with the beam;
detecting an image of heated air; and
comparing the image to a profile to determine the presence of a disturbance.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system (24) for detecting an air disturbance in front of an aircraft (10) has a controller (26) that is coupled to an image detector (40). Image detector (40) generates an image signal corresponding to heated air in front of the aircraft (10). The air in front of the aircraft (10) is heated by direct high energy beams such as microwave beams (16, 18) from a respective microwave antenna (12, 14). By monitoring the image, the presence of an air disturbance may be determined. Position adjusters (30, 32) may be used to adjust the position of the beams (16, 18) by controlling the position of antennas (12, 14). The position of the beam is preferably maintained a predetermined distance (d) in front of the aircraft (10) so that an evasive maneuver may be performed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring an airborne disturbance in front of an airplane comprising:
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directing a high energy beam a distance in front of the airplane;
heating the air with the beam;
detecting an image of heated air; and
comparing the image to a profile to determine the presence of a disturbance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for detecting an air disturbance in front of an aircraft comprising:
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a high energy beam generator generating a high energy beam;
an image detector generating an image signal of heated air in front of the aircraft; and
a controller coupled to said image detector, said controller comparing the image to a profile to determine a disturbance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system for detecting an air disturbance comprising:
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an air speed detector generating an air speed signal;
a first high energy beam generator generating a first high energy beam;
a first position adjuster coupled to first high energy beam generator;
a second energy beam generator generating a second energy beam;
a second position adjuster coupled to second high energy beam generator;
an image detector generating an image signal of heated air in front of the aircraft;
an indicator; and
a controller coupled to said air speed detector, said first position adjuster, said second position adjuster and said image detector, said controller controlling the position of the first beam and the second beam to a location a distance in front of the plane as a function of the air speed signal, said controller receiving image signal and controlling the indicator when the image signal corresponds to a disturbance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification