Pilot's traffic monitoring system

• US 4,197,538 A
• Filed: 06/02/1978
• Issued: 04/08/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Godfrey H. Stocker
• Original Assignee: Godfrey H. Stocker
• Inventors: Stocker, Godfrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/911,992
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6.5 LC, 343/5 EM
• US Class Current: 342/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/06 Cathode-ray tube displays or other two dimensional or three-dimensional displays

Abstract

A pictorial display system in which continuously updated images of `other ship` aircraft within a specified airspace envelope are superimposed on a map display along with the pilot'"'"'s `own ship` position, whereby collision threats are avoided by taking corrective flight action. This information is displayed, independently of and without interfering with ground facilities operations and communications, as a response to a low-powered signal transmitted from an onboard FM transceiver-multiplexer unit in which the response in terms of positions and altitudes of other aircraft in electrical form, is received, demodulated and then transformed into digital form. Such digital information along with "own ship" position and altitude in digital form, are fed into an altitude discriminator synchronizer unit. The "own ship" altitude data from existing on-board equipment, is synchronized in digital form with other aircrafts'"'"' altitude data; and likewise, the "own ship" navigational data, obtained through existing navigational equipment, is also converted to digital form and is synchronized. All of this synchronized digital information is then applied to a function generator which formats it into a form compatible with the requirements of the pictorial display. This display presents the data to the pilot who is then able to properly manuever the aircraft to achieve safe control thereof in relation to other aircraft, or take the necessary collision avoidance action relative to another aircraft, as the case may be.

Claims

1. A system apparatus for monitoring the movement of at least one "other ship" comprising in combination,

means for receiving a signal on the position and altitude of the "other ship" within a transmit-receive duty cycle,

means operatively connected to said receiving means for demodulating its signal,

first means for converting into a Cartesian or like coordinate reference frame a signal representing "own ship" position,

second means for discriminating against a signal representing the altitude of an "other ship" not within a preselected band of "own ship" altitude,

third means for synchronizing an altitude signal and converted position signal of "own ship" and a signal of the "other ship" not discriminated against and within such preselected band of altitude,

means for graphically displaying "own ship" and "other ship" relative positions operatively connected to said synchronizing means,

whereby a representation of "other ship" lying within the preselected band of altitude about "own ship" is visually observed on said display means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a means for receiving "own ship" navigational position, said receiving "own ship" navigational position means being operatively connected to said first means,

whereby the signal representing such navigational position is converted by said first means into Cartesian or the like coordinates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for encoding the signal representing the altitude of "own ship", said encoding means operatively connected to said second means, such signal thereafter being combined in said third means with the converted signal representing "own ship" geographical position data and thereafter such combined data being passed on to said display means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a means for receiving "other ship" navigation position, said receiving "other ship" navigational position means being operatively connected to said second means,

whereby the signal representing such navigation position is either accepted or rejected by said second means.

5. A method of monitoring the movement of at least one "other ship" in relation to "own ship" comprising in combination,

converting the navigation position signal of "own ship" into a Cartesian or the like coordinate reference frame,

combining such converted signal with the altitude signal of "own ship",

receiving an incoming like-converted signal on an "other ship" position and on its altitude,

demodulating the incoming like-converted signal,

discriminating against the incoming like-converted signal, such discrimination representing the altitude of the "other ship" not within a preselected band of "own ship" altitude,

synchronizing the "own ship" combined signal and the incoming like-converted signal not discriminated against, and

displaying in suitable graphic presentation the output signals developed by said synchronizing step, such signals representing "other ship" position and the converted navigational "own ship" position.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of receiving the "own ship" altitude signal which is then combined with the "own ship" converted navigational position signal.

7. The method of claim 5 including the step of receiving the "own ship" navigational position signal which is then converted as set forth.

8. The method of claim 7 including the step of receiving the "own ship" altitude signal which is then combined with the "own ship" converted navigational position signal.

9. A system apparatus for monitoring the movement of at least one "other ship" comprising in combination,

a transmitting means for broadcasting a signal on the position and altitude of an "own ship" over a transmit-receive duty cycle,

means for receiving a signal on the position and altitude of the "other ship" within the transmit-receive duty cycle,

means operatively connected to said transmitting and receiving means for accomplishing such a cycle therebetween,

means operatively connected to said transmitting and receiving means for respectively modulating and demodulating their signals,

first means for converting into a Cartesian or like coordinate reference frame a signal representing "own ship" position,

second means for discriminating against a received signal in which the altitude of an "other ship" is not within a preselected band of "own ship" altitude,

third means for synchronizing an altitude signal and converted position signal of "own ship" and a received signal of the "other ship" not discriminated against and within such preselected band of altitude,

said synchronizing means being operatively connected to said modulating means whereby the "own ship" signal on its position and altitude is broadcast through said transmitting means, and

means for graphically displaying "own ship" and "other ship" relative positions operatively connected to said synchronizing means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for receiving "own ship" navigational position, said receiving "own ship" navigational position means being operatively connected to said first means.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 including means for encoding the signal representing the altitude of "own ship", said encoding means being operatively connected to said second means.

12. The apparatus off claim 11 including a means for receiving "own ship" navigational position, said receiving "own ship" navigational position means being operatively connected to said first means.