System and method of preventing aircraft wingtip ground incursion
First Claim
1. An illumination bulb module, comprising:
- a housing adapted for receiving power from a bulb receptacle into which it is inserted;
at least one solid state light emitting element joined to said housing and adapted to generate a partial or fully omni directional lighting pattern; and
a laser diode illumination source within said housing, adapted for directing a narrow beam of illumination in a predetermined direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for tracking aircraft wingtip position during taxi operations to prevent wingtip ground incursion. A patterned illumination source is attached proximal the wingtips to project a readily discernable target pattern in the direction of taxi travel. At least a portion of the target pattern is reflected off of any obstructions that lie in the straight-line direction of travel, such that the pilot can maneuver to avoid striking the obstruction. By way of example, the patterned illumination source comprises a laser module positioned with the navigation and/or strobe light of the aircraft. The device may be retrofitted to existing aircraft without additional wiring with the control of activation being selectable via power cycling of existing aircraft lighting controls. One aspect of the invention provides a tip tracking module bulb that may be retrofitted into existing light sockets to simplify system installation.
69 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An illumination bulb module, comprising:
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a housing adapted for receiving power from a bulb receptacle into which it is inserted;
at least one solid state light emitting element joined to said housing and adapted to generate a partial or fully omni directional lighting pattern; and
a laser diode illumination source within said housing, adapted for directing a narrow beam of illumination in a predetermined direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A light beacon apparatus for increasing aircraft recognition during flight comprising:
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a housing having transparent portions and configured for attachment to an aircraft;
a power connection from said housing to receive power from an aircraft to which said housing is connected;
a laser light source retained in said housing;
a power supply receiving power from said power connection for regulating the current applied to the laser element in said laser light source;
at least one substantially non-directional light source configured to generate a flashed or rotating light output in response to power received from said power connection; and
means for directing the laser or its output light beam in a circular pattern about a substantially horizontal plane. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for registering aircraft loading as an aircraft taxies, comprising:
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a plurality of weight sensors configured for application to a taxiway and oriented at multiple different angles in relation to a given compass direction; and
means for generating aircraft loading information in response to the output signals from said plurality of weight sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for dropping aircraft power in response to airspeed, comprising:
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a means for sensing airspeed;
a circuit for generating an over speed signal in response to the fast approach, or exceeding, of the aircraft VNE airspeed; and
means for dropping aircraft power in response to receipt of said over speed signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for automatically determining aircraft loading factors, comprising:
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a strain sensor configured for mounting on each of the landing gear or wheels of an aircraft;
said strain sensors configured for registering the force applied to each of said landing gear from attached tire assemblies; and
means for determining aircraft loading in response to signals received from said strain sensors. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification