Accumulating altimeter with ascent/descent accumulation thresholds
DCFirst Claim
1. An altitude accumulator for selectively accumulating altitude changes, comprising:
- receiver means for receiving a pressure signal representing atmospheric pressure;
computer means for computing altitude based upon said received pressure signal; and
accumulator means for selectively accumulating and providing an accumulated altitude signal representing accumulated altitude changes which reach a first accumulation threshold in a first direction from a reference altitude, said altitude changes being based upon said computed altitude, wherein altitude changes in a second direction which do not reach a second accumulation threshold offset subsequent altitude changes in said first direction, and further wherein altitude changes in said second direction which do reach said second accumulation threshold cause said reference altitude to change in accordance therewith.
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Abstract
An accumulating altimeter includes a programmable accumulator which selectively accumulates altitude changes from a reference altitude in accordance with accumulation thresholds. Altitude changes in the direction of interest, e.g. altitude gains, are accumulated once a non-opposing accumulation threshold has been reached. Opposing altitude changes which are less than an opposing accumulation threshold are used to offset non-opposing changes. Opposing altitude changes which are equal to or greater than the opposing accumulation threshold are used to re-establish the reference altitude, whereafter accumulation of non-opposing altitude changes resume after the non-opposing accumulation threshold has been reached.
162 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An altitude accumulator for selectively accumulating altitude changes, comprising:
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receiver means for receiving a pressure signal representing atmospheric pressure; computer means for computing altitude based upon said received pressure signal; and accumulator means for selectively accumulating and providing an accumulated altitude signal representing accumulated altitude changes which reach a first accumulation threshold in a first direction from a reference altitude, said altitude changes being based upon said computed altitude, wherein altitude changes in a second direction which do not reach a second accumulation threshold offset subsequent altitude changes in said first direction, and further wherein altitude changes in said second direction which do reach said second accumulation threshold cause said reference altitude to change in accordance therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An accumulating altimeter for selectively accumulating altitude changes, comprising:
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pressure sensor means for sensing atmospheric pressure and providing a pressure signal proportional thereto; computer means for receiving said pressure signal and computing altitude based thereon, and further for selectively accumulating and providing an accumulated altitude signal representing accumulated altitude changes which reach a first accumulation threshold in a first direction from a reference altitude, said altitude changes being based upon said computed altitude, wherein altitude changes in a second direction which do not reach a second accumulation threshold offset subsequent altitude changes in said first direction, and further wherein altitude changes in said second direction which do reach said second accumulation threshold cause said reference altitude to change in accordance therewith; and display means for receiving said accumulated altitude signal and for displaying said accumulated altitude changes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for selectively accumulating altitude changes, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a pressure signal which is proportional to atmospheric pressure; computing altitude based upon said received pressure signal; selectively accumulating altitude changes which reach a first accumulation threshold in a first direction from a reference altitude, wherein altitude changes in a second direction which do not reach a second accumulation threshold offset subsequent altitude changes in said first direction, and further wherein altitude changes in said second direction which do reach said second accumulation threshold cause said reference altitude to change in accordance therewith; and providing an accumulated altitude signal representing said accumulated altitude changes. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for measuring and selectively accumulating altitude changes, comprising the steps of:
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measuring atmospheric pressure and providing a pressure signal proportional thereto; computing a reference altitude based upon said pressure signal; computing present altitude based upon said pressure signal; selectively accumulating altitude changes which reach a first accumulation threshold in a first direction from said reference altitude; offsetting subsequent altitude changes in said first direction with altitude changes in a second direction which do not reach a second accumulation threshold; changing said reference altitude in accordance with altitude changes in said second direction which do reach said second accumulation threshold; and providing an accumulated altitude signal representing said accumulated altitude changes. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification