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Laser beacon and optical detector system for aircraft collision hazard determination

  • US 4,277,170 A
  • Filed: 11/01/1979
  • Issued: 07/07/1981
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An aircraft collision hazard determination system comprising:

  • laser beacon means mountable on a first aircraft including a laser light source which emits a polarized beam of light, expanding means for optically expanding said beam into a vertically diverging and horizontally collimated fan-shaped beam, means for sweeping said fan-shaped beam 360°

    in azimuth while simultaneously rotating said beam 360°

    in polarization; and

    ,a pair of optical detection means mountable on a second aircraft for detecting light from said laser beacon means including means for detecting different polarized components of the light and converting said components into electronic signals proportional thereto, means for electronically processing said polarized components to produce a signal indicative of the polarization of the light, and means for comparing the detected polarization from each of said optical detection means to verify the consistency of the polarization of the light thereby reducing false signals.

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