Precision equivalent landing system using gps and an altimeter
First Claim
1. A precision equivalent landing system comprising:
- a position determining system adapted to be coupled to an aircraft, said position determining system generating lateral position information of said aircraft with respect to a landing approach path;
an altimeter adapted to be coupled to said aircraft, said altimeter adapted to generate vertical position information of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, said altimeter adapted to provide said vertical position information without receiving second vertical position information from said position determining system; and
a graphic display adapted to be disposed within said aircraft for concurrently displaying a visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, wherein said precision equivalent landing system provides said visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path without requiring ground-based infrastructure at or near said landing approach path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precision equivalent landing system. In one embodiment, a position determining system is coupled to an aircraft. The position determining system generates lateral position information of the aircraft with respect to a landing approach path. An altimeter is also coupled to the aircraft. The altimeter generates vertical position information of the aircraft with respect to the landing approach path. A graphic display disposed within the aircraft concurrently displays a visual representation of the lateral position of the aircraft with respect to the landing approach path and the vertical position of the aircraft with respect to the landing approach path. In so doing, the present invention provides both relative position and altitude of an incoming aircraft with respect to a landing approach path. Thus, the present invention provides a precision equivalent landing system without requiring the equipment and expense associated with ILS or FAA MLS precision landing systems.
77 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A precision equivalent landing system comprising:
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a position determining system adapted to be coupled to an aircraft, said position determining system generating lateral position information of said aircraft with respect to a landing approach path; an altimeter adapted to be coupled to said aircraft, said altimeter adapted to generate vertical position information of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, said altimeter adapted to provide said vertical position information without receiving second vertical position information from said position determining system; and a graphic display adapted to be disposed within said aircraft for concurrently displaying a visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, wherein said precision equivalent landing system provides said visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path without requiring ground-based infrastructure at or near said landing approach path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A precision equivalent aircraft landing method comprising the steps of:
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generating lateral position information of an aircraft with respect to a landing approach path, said lateral position information determined by a position determining system coupled to said aircraft; generating vertical position information of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, said vertical position information generated by an altimeter coupled to said aircraft, said altimeter adapted to provide said vertical position information of without receiving second vertical position information from said position determining system; and concurrently displaying, on a graphic display disposed within said aircraft, a visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, wherein said precision equivalent aircraft landing method provides said visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path without requiring ground-based infrastructure at or near said landing approach path. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ILS equivalent aircraft landing apparatus comprising:
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a satellite-based position determining system adapted to be coupled to an aircraft, said satellite position determining system adapted to generate lateral position information of said aircraft with respect to a landing approach path; an altimeter adapted to be coupled to said aircraft, said altimeter adapted to generate vertical position information of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, said altimeter adapted to provide said vertical position information without receiving second vertical position information from said position determining system; and a graphic display for concurrently displaying a visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path, wherein said ILS equivalent aircraft landing apparatus provides said visual representation of said lateral position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path and said vertical position of said aircraft with respect to said landing approach path without requiring ground-based infrastructure at or near said landing approach path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification