System for warning aircraft pilot of potential impact with a power line and generating time-to-time impact signal

• US 5,252,912 A
• Filed: 06/06/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William E. Merritt
• Original Assignee: William E. Merritt
• Inventors: Johnson, Joel, Merritt, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, GLENN WARNER
• Application Number:
  US07/711,921
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 324/72, 324/72.5, 324/457, 73/178 R, 340/903, 102/212, 364/460, 364/461, 364/427, 342/13, 342/68, 342/127, 342/495, 342/351, 342/394, 342/400, 342/417, 342/425
• US Class Current: 324/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/085 for detecting presence or location of electric lines or cables fault detection G01R31/50; fault location G01R31/08

Abstract

A detector for use on board an aircraft traveling along a path of movement to detect a power line comprises an antenna for sensing the electric field associated with the power line and producing an electric field signal, and a signal processor for receiving the electric field signal and generating a time-to-impact signal representative of the time for the aircraft to reach the power line if it continues on its path of movement. Sensors are used to determine the direction of the power line.

Claims

1. A detector for use on board a vehicle traveling along a path of movement to detect an object having an electric field associated therewith, comprising:

a first antenna for sensing the horizontal component of the electric field associated with the object and producing a horizontal component electric field signal,

a second antenna for sensing the vertical component of the electric field associated with the object and producing a vertical component electric field signal, and

signal processing means for receiving at least one of said electric field signals and generating a time-to-impact signal representative of the time for the vehicle to reach the object if it continues on its path of movement.

2. A detector according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means receive both the horizontal component electric field signal and the vertical component electric field signal and generate respective time-to-impact signals therefrom.

3. A detector according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means receive both the horizontal component electric field signal and the vertical component electric field signal, compare the horizontal component electric field signal with the vertical component electric field signal, and provide a warning signal when the vertical component electric field signal is equal to or greater than the horizontal component electric field signal.

4. A detector for use on board an aircraft having first and second opposite sides and including conductive material between the first and second sides, to detect an object having an electric field associated therewith, said detector comprising:

antenna means for sensing the electric field associated with the object and producing an electric field signal,

signal processing means for receiving the electric field signal and generating a time-to-impact signal representative of the time for the aircraft to reach the object if it continues on its path of movement.

a first conductive element at the first side of the aircraft,

a second conductive element at the second side of the aircraft, and

means for measuring current between said conductive material and the first and second conductive elements respectively and generating a signal representing the direction of the object from the aircraft.

5. A method for determining the direction of an electric field source relative to an aircraft'"'"'s heading, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two dissimilar conductive elements aboard the aircraft at predetermined relative positions,

(b) placing the conductive elements in a first orientation relative to the aircraft heading and in capacitively coupled relationship with the field source,

(c) observing difference in charge induced on the conductive elements in said first orientation relative to the aircraft heading,

(d), placing the conductive elements in a second orientation relative to the aircraft heading and in capacitively coupled relationship with the field source,

(e) observing difference in charge induced on the conductive elements in said second orientation relative to the aircraft heading, and

(f) comparing the difference observed in step (c) with the difference observed in step (e).

6. A detector for use on board a vehicle having first and second opposite sides and including conductive material between the first and second sides, to detect an object having an electric field associated therewith, said detector comprising:

first antenna means at the first side of the vehicle for sensing the electric field and producing a first electric field signal,

second antenna means at the second side of the vehicle for sensing the electric field and producing a second electric field signal, and

signal processing means for receiving the electric field signals and generating a time-to-impact signal representative of the time for the vehicle to reach the object if it continues on its path of movement, and for comparing the first and second electric field signals and generating a signal representing the direction of the object from the vehicle.

7. A method for determining the direction of an electric field source relative to an aircraft'"'"'s heading, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning two dissimilar conductive elements in capacitively coupled relationship with the field source and in a first orientation relative to the aircraft heading,

(b) observing the difference in charge induced on the two conductive elements in the first orientation,

(c) positioning the conductive elements in a second orientation relative to the aircraft heading without changing their positions relative to each other,

(d) observing the difference in charge induced on the two conductive elements in the second orientation, and

(e) comparing the difference observed in step (b) with the difference observed in step (d).

8. A detector for use on board an aircraft for detecting the direction of an electric field source, comprising:

two dissimilar conductive elements,

means for mounting the conductive elements aboard the aircraft so that the orientation of the conductive elements relative to the aircraft can be changed without changing the positions of the conductive elements relative to each other, and

means for observing the difference in charge induced on the conductive elements in at least two different orientations relative to the aircraft.