Method and apparatus for an air traffic control system

• US 5,181,027 A
• Filed: 07/12/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Shafer, Tom R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/729,112
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/961, 340/706, 340/712, 364/461, 364/439, 364/440, 342/29, 342/36, 342/41, 342/182, 342/455, 244/76 R, 244/191, 244/194
• US Class Current: 340/961
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

An improved air traffic control (ATC) system which utilizes traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) as a component together with a flight control computer of an aircraft autopilot, a data radio and an interactive touch screen display device to produce a system for allowing easy trailing of another aircraft on trans-oceanic flights and to reduce landing delays at busy airports under IFR conditions.

Claims

1. An improved air traffic control system for use on trans-oceanic flights of a protected aircraft having a state of operation, equipped with TCAS, the system comprising:

means for determining the relative positions of a plurality of intruding aircraft situated in space about the protected aircraft;

a display means, having a viewing surface having a center region, for graphically representing the relative positions of each of said plurality of intruding aircraft with respect to said protected aircraft, the protected aircraft being represented on said viewing surface by a fixed reference character disposed in said center region, each of the plurality of intruding aircraft being represented by a different signal reference mark on said viewing surface;

a pressure sensitive touch screen interactive display device disposed about said viewing surface so that, a selection signal is generated when a human finger is pressed against one of said reference marks on said viewing surface, said one of said reference marks corresponding directly to one of said plurality of said intruding aircraft;

means for altering said one of said reference marks on said viewing surface in response to said selection signal;

means for receiving data relating to said one of said plurality of intruding aircraft in response to said selection signal; and

means for manipulating the state of operation of the protected aircraft in response to said selection signal so that said protected aircraft maintains a predetermined distance from said one of said intruding aircraft.