System for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that may be encountered by aircraft landing or taking-off
First Claim
1. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occur at close proximity to an airport runway, where said aircraft hazardous incidents include microbursts which are vertically displayed in the correct position and in proportion to their size in relation to the size of the runway, thunderstorms, tornadoes, the wake turbulence of aircraft, and flying aircraft, said system comprising:
- A. a ground based system having means for;
a) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) that provides signals pertaining to;
(1) the geographical location of said TDWR by latitude and longitude,(2) the altitude of said TDWR above means sea level (MSL) or below sea level,(3) meteorological phenomena within the range of said TDWR,(4) a magnetic north reference-point,(5) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena,(6) the degrees referenced from magnetic north to the meteorological phenomena, andb) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that provides updated signals pertaining to;
(1) the geographical location of said ASRS by latitude and longitude,(2) the altitude of said ASRS above means sea level (MSL) or below sea level,(3) aircraft flying within the range of said ASRS,(4) a magnetic north reference-point,(5) the distance in nautical miles from said ASRS to the flying aircraft,(6) the degrees from magnetic north to the flying aircraft,(7) the altitude of the flying aircraft above mean sea level,c) an airport-data base system that provides updated signals pertaining to;
(1) the latitude and longitude of the airport landing runway entrance and exit as referenced from the centerline of the airport landing runway,(2) the length and width of the landing runway,(3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level,(4) a scaled reference line for measurement purposes,(5) indicia pertaining to the landing runway,(6) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and(7) the glide slope angle toward the horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights,d) a main processor that receives and processes the signals from;
(1) said TDWR,(2) said ASRS, and(3) said airport data base system, and(4) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system fop further processing, andB. an aircraft based system having means for receiving the transmitted signals corresponding to said aircraft-hazardous incidents and processing the signals for further application to a display, that displays to the pilot of said aircraft said aircraft hazardous incidents.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting and viewing aircraft hazardous incidents such as flying aircraft and meteorological phenomena which includes microbursts, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and the wake turbulence of aircraft. The aircraft hazardous incidents are positionally and horizontally displayed to the pilot on a display, that is located in the aircraft cockpit, in relation to the flight path of the aircraft. The timely displaying of any of the aircraft hazardous incidents permits the pilot to take evasive action to avoid a potentially dangerous incident.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occur at close proximity to an airport runway, where said aircraft hazardous incidents include microbursts which are vertically displayed in the correct position and in proportion to their size in relation to the size of the runway, thunderstorms, tornadoes, the wake turbulence of aircraft, and flying aircraft, said system comprising:
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A. a ground based system having means for; a) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) that provides signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said TDWR by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said TDWR above means sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) meteorological phenomena within the range of said TDWR, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena, (6) the degrees referenced from magnetic north to the meteorological phenomena, and b) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said ASRS by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said ASRS above means sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) aircraft flying within the range of said ASRS, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said ASRS to the flying aircraft, (6) the degrees from magnetic north to the flying aircraft, (7) the altitude of the flying aircraft above mean sea level, c) an airport-data base system that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the latitude and longitude of the airport landing runway entrance and exit as referenced from the centerline of the airport landing runway, (2) the length and width of the landing runway, (3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (4) a scaled reference line for measurement purposes, (5) indicia pertaining to the landing runway, (6) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and (7) the glide slope angle toward the horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights, d) a main processor that receives and processes the signals from; (1) said TDWR, (2) said ASRS, and (3) said airport data base system, and (4) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system fop further processing, and B. an aircraft based system having means for receiving the transmitted signals corresponding to said aircraft-hazardous incidents and processing the signals for further application to a display, that displays to the pilot of said aircraft said aircraft hazardous incidents.
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2. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occur at close proximity to an airport runway, where said aircraft hazardous incidents include microbursts which are vertically displayed in the correct position and in proportion to their size in relation to the size of the runway, thunderstorms, tornadoes, the wake turbulence of aircraft, and flying aircraft, said system comprising:
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A. a ground based system comprising; a) a plurality of ground detection devices dispersed near and around the vicinity of the airport runway where said ground detection devices detect and provide signals corresponding to wind velocity, wind direction, wind azimuth, and the wake turbulence produced by flying aircraft, b) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said TDWR by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said TDWR above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) the meteorological phenomena that occurs within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena, (6) the degrees referenced from magnetic north to the meteorological phenomena, and c) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said ASRS by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said ASRS above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) aircraft flying within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said ASRS to the flying aircraft, (6) the degrees from magnetic north to the flying aircraft, (7) the altitude of the flying aircraft above mean sea level, (8) an altitude scale ranging from 1000 feet to at least 32,000 feet above ground level, d) an airport-data base system that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the latitude and longitude of the airport landing runway entrance and exit as referenced from the centerline of the airport landing runway, (2) the length and width of the landing runway, (3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (4) a scaled reference line for measurement purposes, (5) the length of the non-usable portion of the landing runway, (6) indicia pertaining to the landing runway, (7) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and (8) the glide slope angle toward the horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights, e) a main processor that receives and processes the signals from; (1) said ground detection devices via a pre-processor, (2) said TDWR, (3) said ASRS, and (4) said airport data base system, and (5) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system for further processing, and B) an aircraft based system having means for receiving the signals corresponding to said aircraft-hazardous incidents and processing the signals for further application to a display, that displays to the pilot of said aircraft said aircraft hazardous incidents.
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3. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occurs at close proximity to an airport runway, where said aircraft hazardous incidents include microbursts which are vertically displayed in the correct position and in proportion to their size in relation to the size of the runway, thunderstorms, tornadoes, the wake turbulence of aircraft, and flying aircraft, said system comprising:
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A. a ground based system comprising; a) a plurality of ground detection devices dispersed near and around the vicinity of the airport runway where said ground detection devices detect and provide signals corresponding to wind velocity, wind direction, wind azimuth, and the wake turbulence produced by flying aircraft, b) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said TDWR by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said TDWR above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) the meteorological phenomena that occurs within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena, (6) the degrees referenced from magnetic north to the meterological phenomena, and c) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said ASRS by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said ASRS above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) aircraft flying within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said ASRS to the flying aircraft, (6) the degrees from magnetic north to the flying aircraft, (7) the altitude of the flying aircraft above mean sea level, (8) an altitude scale ranging from 1000 feet to at least 32,000 feet above ground level, d) an airport-data base system that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the latitude and longitude of the airport landing runway entrance and exit as referenced from the centerline of the airport landing runway, (2) the length and width of the landing runway, (3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (4) a scaled reference line for measurement purposes, (5) the length of the non-usable portion of the landing runway, (6) indicia pertaining to the landing runway, (7) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and (8) the glide slope angle toward the horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights, e) a main processor that receives and processes the signals from; (1) said ground detection devices via a pre-processor, (2) said TDWR, (3) said ASRS, and (4) said airport data base system, and (5) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system for further processing, and B) an aircraft based system having means for receiving the signals corresponding to said aircraft-hazardous incidents and processing the signals for further application to a display, that displays to the pilot of said aircraft said aircraft hazardous incidents, wherein said aircraft based system comprises; a) a transceiver that receives all signals transmitted by said transmitter located in said ground based system, b) an aircraft processor that receives the signals transmitted by said transceiver as well as signals from; (1) a distance measuring equipment (DME) that supplies a signal corresponding to the distance of the landing aircraft to the landing runway, (2) an attitude indicator that supplies a signal corresponding to the artificial horizon line, (3) an altimeter that supplies a signal corresponding to the altitude of the approaching aircraft mean sea level (MSL), (4) a slaved compass that supplies a signal corresponding to correct magnetic north, and (5) a global positioning system (GPS) that in combination with a set of satellites supplies signals corresponding to the geographical location by latitude and longitude of said approaching aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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4. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occurs at close proximity to an airport runway, where said aircraft hazardous incidents include microbursts which are vertically displayed in the correct position and in proportion to their size in relation to the size of the runway, thunderstorms, tornadoes, the wake turbulence of aircraft, and flying aircraft, said system comprising:
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A. a ground based system comprising; a) a plurality of ground detection devices dispersed near and around the vicinity of the airport runway where said ground detection devices detect and provide signals corresponding to wind velocity, wind direction, wind azimuth, and the wake turbulence produced by flying aircraft, b) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said TDWR by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude of said TDWR above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) the meteorological phenomena that occurs within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena, (6) the degrees referenced from magnetic north to the meteorological phenomena, and c) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the geographical location of said ASRS by latitude and longitude, (2) the altitude or said ASRS above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (3) aircraft flying within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (4) a magnetic north reference-point, (5) the distance in nautical miles from said ASRS to the flying aircraft, (6) the degrees from magnetic north to the flying aircraft, (7) the altitude of the flying aircraft above mean sea level, (8) an altitude scale ranging from 1000 feet to at least 32,000 feet above ground level, d) an airport-data base system that provides updated signals pertaining to; (1) the latitude and longitude of the airport landing runway entrance and exit as referenced from the centerline of the airport landing runway, (2) the length and width of the landing runway, (3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, ( (4) a scaled reference lime for measurement purposes, (5) the length of the non-usable portion of the landing runway, (6) indicia pertaining to the landing runway, (7) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and (8) the glide slope angle toward horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights, e) a main processor that receives processes the signals from; (1) said ground detection devices via a pre-processor, (2) said TDWR, (3) said ASRS, and (4) said airport data base system, and (5) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system for further processing, and B) an aircraft based system having means for receiving the signals corresponding to said aircraft-hazardous incidents and processing the signals for further application to a display, that displays to the pilot of said aircraft said aircraft hazardous incidents, wherein said aircraft based system comprises; a) a transceiver that receives all signals transmitted by said transmitter located in said ground based system, b) an aircraft processor that receives the signals transmitted by said transceiver as well as signals from; (1) a flight management system (FMS) that incorporates a distance measuring equipment (DME) and a global positioning system (GPS), and (2) an inertial reference system (IRS) that incorporates a glide slope, an altimeter, a slaved compass and a GPS, and c) an attitude indicator that supplies a signal corresponding to the artificial horizon line. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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14. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft-hazardous incidents that occur at close proximity to an airport runway, where said airport runway with corresponding indicia is viewed on a display located in the cockpit of an approaching aircraft and is developed by signals provided by said system which comprises:
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a) a ground based system that further comprises an airport data-base system that produces and transmits signals pertaining to; (1) the latitude and longitude of the entrance and exit of the runway as referenced to the centerline of the runway, (2) the length and width of the runway, (3) the altitude of the landing runway above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (4) a scaled reference line for measurement purposes, (5) the length of the non-usable portion of the landing runway, (6) indicia pertaining to the landing runway, (7) two geographical points corresponding to the latitude and longitude of the VASI or PAPI lights, and (8) the glide slope angle toward the horizon of the VASI or PAPI lights, and b) a main processor that receives and processes the signals from said airport data-base system, and c) a transmitter that transmits the processed signals from said main processor to an aircraft based system for further processing, d) an aircraft based system comprising an aircraft processor that receives and processes the signals transmitted by said ground based system and; (1) generates two market dots that correspond to the latitude and longitude centerline of the runway, where knowing the length and width of the runway a scaled rectangular runway is developed by said aircraft processor, (2) places the indicia pertaining to the runway on the developed runway, (3) adjusts the altitude of the runway with respect to the altitude of the approaching aircraft, and (4) in combination with a global positioning system (GPS) generates two illuminated dots, corresponding to the latitude and longitude of a pair of VASI or PAPI lights, and places the dogs adjacent to the left side of the displayed runway, (5) in combination with an attitude indicator on board said approaching aircraft produces an artificial horizon line, (6) in combination with said GPS establishes the geographic location of the approaching aircraft with reference to the closest marker dot which corresponds to the entrance of the runway, and c) where said aircraft processor then provides a display signal that allows the image of the completed runway together with the indicia, said VASI or PAPI lights, and the artificial horizon line to be proportionally displayed on said display.
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15. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft hazardous meteorological phenomena that occur at close proximity to an aircraft runway and which include microbursts, thunderstorms, tornadoes and the wake turbulence of other aircraft, where said meteorological phenomena is viewed on a display located in the cockpit of an approaching aircraft and is developed by signals provided by said system which comprises:
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a) a ground based system that comprises; (1) a plurality of ground detection devices which produce and transmit wind velocity, wind direction, wind azimuth and the wake turbulence produced by other aircraft, (2) a terminal doppler weather radar (TDWR) which provides signals pertaining to; (a) the geographical location and the altitude of said TDWR above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level, (b) an altitude scale ranging from 1000 feet to at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (c) a magnetic north reference-point, (d) the distance in nautical miles from said TDWR to the meteorological phenomena, and (e) the degrees as referenced from magnetic north to said meteorological phenomena and to said approaching aircraft, b) an aircraft based system comprising; (1) an aircraft processor that receives and processes the signals transmitted by said ground based system and aligns the signals which are referenced to the magnetic north reference-point with the magnetic north of a slaved compass, (2) an altimeter which provides said aircraft processor with an altitude signal that is adjusted to correspond with the runway altitude above or below mean sea level (MSL), and (3) said aircraft processor further (a) in combination with a slaved compass established the heading of said approaching aircraft, (b) in combination with a global positioning system (GPS) establishes the geographic location of said approaching aircraft, (c) in combination with an altimeter establishes the altitude of said approaching aircraft, (d) provides a horizontal and a vertical field of view, each consisting of at least a 50°
arc as referenced from the aircraft heading, and(e) provides a display signal that allows the meteorological phenomena to be displayed on said display in correct proportion to their size in relation to the size of said runway.
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16. A system for detecting and viewing aircraft flying in the vicinity of an airport runway,.where said flying aircraft are viewed on a display located in the cockpit of an approaching aircraft and are developed by signals provided by said system which comprises:
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a) a ground based system that comprises; (1) an airport surveillance radar station (ASRS) that transmits signals pertaining to; (a) the geographical location by latitude and longitude, and the altitude above mean sea level (MSL) or below sea level of said ASRS to the flying aircraft, (b) the location and altitude MSL of aircraft flying within an area of at least 32 nautical miles and an altitude of at least 32,000 feet above ground level, (c) a magnetic north reference-point, (d) the distance in nautical miles and the direction in degrees as referenced from magnetic north, of the flying aircraft from said ASRS, (e) an altitude scale signal ranging from 1000 feet to at least 32,000 feet above ground level, b) an aircraft based system comprising; (1) an aircraft processor that receives and processes the signals from said ground based system and aligns the signals which are referenced to the magnetic north reference-point, with the magnetic north of a slaved compass, (2) an altimeter which provides said aircraft processor with an altitude signal that is adjusted to correspond with the runway altitude, and where said aircraft processor; (a) in combination with a scaled compass establishes the heading of the approaching aircraft, (b) in combination with a global positioning system (GPS) establishes the geographical location of said approaching aircraft, (c) in combination with an altimeter establishes the altitude MSL of said approaching aircraft, (d) provides a horizontal field of view consisting of an arc of at least 50° and
a vertical field of view also consisting of an arc of at least 50°
, where the arcs are referenced from the approaching aircraft heading, and(e) provides a display signal that further produces a set of illuminated dots that are displayed on said display, where each dot represents a flying aircraft.
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Specification