Remotely triggered collision avoidance strobe system

• US 6,294,985 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Railhead Corporation
• Original Assignee: Jeffery M. Simon
• Inventors: Simon, Jeffery M.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/368,655
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/539, 340/825.49, 340/825.36, 116/28.R, 116/209, 116/173
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

Disclosed is an aircraft collision avoidance system having remote triggering means, multicolored lamp display, audible alarm, and a stroboscopic light for providing adequate early warning to an aircraft tug operator and other surrounding individuals that a possible emergency situation may exist. The system comprises four assemblies: (1.) a portable unit; (2.) a tug unit; (3.) a station unit; and, (4.) one or more hand wand transmitters. The station unit comprises a strobe light mounted to a building or gate and is positioned so as to be visible by a tug operator and flightcrew. The tug unit comprises an audible alarm mounted within the tug vehicle which is audible to the tug operator when triggered and a highly visible strobe light. The portable unit comprises an audible alarm that sounds when triggered and a highly visible strobe light. The portable unit may be utilized in place of the tug unit or may be utilized in conjunction with the tug unit at other positions, depending on the degree of warning needed. Each watch person carries a hand wand transmitter which he manually activates in case of impending collision or other emergency. The hand wand transmitter generates a radio frequency signal that is detected by a receiving circuitry contained within the portable unit, the tug unit and the station unit, thereby activating the respective alarming systems of each unit to warn the tug operator and others that an emergency situation exists and that all movement should cease.

Claims

1. A remotely triggered collision avoidance system for ground-based aircraft traffic control operations, comprising:

(a.) a hand unit comprising an aircraft marshalling hand wand for carrying by an operator proximate to the traffic control operations, said hand unit being additionally capable of generating and broadcasting a signal in response to an emergency situation upon activation by the operator, said hand unit further comprising an elongated casing, a power source, a signal transmitter circuit, an antenna, and, a means for activating said signal transmitter circuit;

(b.) means for detecting said signal; and

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(c.) means cooperatively associated with said detection means for warning individuals near said warning means of a possible collision, wherein said warning means is responsive to said detection means.

2. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

3. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises an audible alarm.

4. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises a stroboscopic light.

5. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said warning means comprises an audible alarm and a stroboscopic light.

6. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein said signal generating means generates an encoded radio frequency signal and broadcasts said encoded radio frequency signal a distance over the airwaves surrounding said signal generating means.

7. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 6, wherein said signal detection means receives said encoded radio frequency signal and generates a second signal in response to said detection, and wherein said warning means is responsive to said second signal.

8. A remotely triggered collision avoidance system for ground-based aircraft traffic control operations, comprising;

(a.) a hand unit comprising an aircraft marshalling hand wand for carrying by an operator proximate to the traffic control operations, said hand unit being additionally capable of generating and broadcasting a signal in response to an emergency situation upon activation by the operator, said hand unit further comprising an elongated casing, a power source, a signal transmitter circuit, an antenna, and, a means for activating said signal transmitter circuit;

(b.) means for detecting said signal;

(c.) an alarm cooperatively associated with said detection means; and

,

(d.) an optional means for producing a stroboscopic light cooperatively associated with said detection means;

wherein said alarm and said optional stroboscopic light means are responsive to said signal.

9. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 8, wherein said signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

10. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 9, wherein said signal generating means generates an encoded radio frequency signal and broadcasts said encoded radio frequency signal a distance over the airwaves surrounding said signal generating means.

11. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 10, wherein said signal detection means receives said encoded radio frequency signal and generates a second signal in response to said detection, and wherein said alarm and said optional stroboscopic light means are responsive to said second signal.

12. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 8, wherein said stroboscopic light means comprises an amplifying circuit, an oscillating circuit and a flash tube connected together, wherein said signal is amplified via said amplifying circuit and said amplified signal is pulsed via said oscillating circuit thereby rapidly charging and discharging said flash tube.

13. A remotely triggered collision avoidance system for providing warning to flight crew within ground -based aircraft traffic control operations, comprising:

(a.) a hand unit comprising an aircraft marshalling hand wand for carrying by an operator proximate to the traffic control operations, said hand unit being additionally capable of generating and broadcasting a signal in response to an emergency situation upon activation by the operator, said hand unit further comprising an elongated casing, a power source, a signal transmitter circuit, an antenna, and, a means for activating said signal transmitter circuit; and

,

(b.) a station unit, said station unit comprising means for receiving said signal and means for warning the flight crew in response to said signal that an impending collision is possible and that all movement should cease.

14. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 13, wherein said signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

15. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 14, wherein said radio frequency signal generating and broadcasting means encodes said signal and randomly selects from a plurality of codes on each transmission.

16. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 13, wherein said signal generating means generates an encoded radio frequency signal and broadcasts said encoded radio frequency signal a distance over the airwaves surrounding said signal generating means.

17. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein said signal receiving means receives said encoded radio frequency signal and generates a second signal in response to said receipt, and wherein said warning means is responsive to said second signal.

18. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 13, wherein said warning means of said station unit comprises a red light and an optional stroboscopic lighting means.

19. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 18, wherein said warning means of said station unit further comprises a manually activated yellow and green light, wherein if all is clear, said green light is activated and if caution is needed, said yellow light is activated.

20. A remotely triggered collision avoidance system for providing warning to a tug operator within ground-based aircraft traffic control operations, comprising:

(a.) a hand unit comprising an aircraft marshalling hand wand for carrying by an operator proximate to the traffic control operations, said hand unit being additionally capable of generating and broadcasting a signal in response to an emergency situation upon activation by the operator, said hand unit further comprising an elongated casing, a power source, a signal transmitter circuit, an antenna, and, a means for activating said signal transmitter circuit; and

,

(b.) a tug unit, said tug unit comprising means for receiving said signal and means for warning the tug operator in response to said signal that an impending collision is possible and that all movement should cease.

21. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 20, wherein said signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

22. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 21, wherein said radio frequency signal generating and broadcasting means encodes said signal and randomly selects from a plurality of codes on each transmission.

23. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 21, wherein said signal generating means generates an encoded radio frequency signal and broadcasts said encoded radio frequency signal a distance over the airwaves surrounding said signal generating means.

24. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 23, wherein said signal receiving means receives said encoded radio frequency signal and generates a second signal in response to said receipt, and wherein said warning means is responsive to said second signal.

25. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 20, wherein said warning means of said tug unit comprises an alarm and an optional stroboscopic lighting means.

26. A remotely triggered collision avoidance system for providing warning to a Lug operator within ground-based aircraft traffic control operations, comprising:

(a.) a hand unit comprising an aircraft marshalling hand wand for carrying by an operator proximate to the traffic control operations, said hand unit being additionally capable of generating and broadcasting a signal in response to an emergency situation upon activation by the operator, said hand unit further comprising an elongated casing, a power source, a signal transmitter circuit, an antenna, and, a means for activating said signal transmitter circuit; and

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(b.) a portable unit, said portable unit comprising means for receiving said signal and means for warning a tug operator in response to said signal that an impending collision is possible and that all movement should cease.

27. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 26, wherein said signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

28. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 27, wherein said radio frequency signal generating and broadcasting means encodes said signal and randomly selects from a plurality of codes on each transmission.

29. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 27, wherein said signal generating means generates an encoded radio frequency signal and broadcasts said encoded radio frequency signal a distance over the airwaves surrounding said signal generating means.

30. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 29, wherein said signal receiving means receives said encoded radio frequency signal and generates a second signal in response to said receipt, and wherein said warning means is responsive to said second signal.

31. The remotely triggered collision avoidance system of claim 26, wherein said warning means of said portable unit comprises an alarm and an optional stroboscopic lighting means.