System, method, and apparatus for obtaining information of a visually acquired aircraft in flight

• US 8,599,066 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Wessels
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Wessels
• Inventors: Wessels, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALT, CASSI J
• Application Number:
  US12/568,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.52
• US Class Current: 342/357.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for obtaining information about an aircraft sighted from the ground. The system includes a communication device for determining an estimated location of the visually acquired aircraft, a flight database for determining information about a specified aircraft based on a provided location, and a network allowing communication between the communication device and the flight database. The communication device provides the estimated location of the sighted aircraft to the flight database and the flight database provides information on the sighted aircraft to the communication device.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining information about a visually acquired airborne aircraft dynamically moving, the system comprising:

a communication device, the communication device having means for determining an estimated location of the visually acquired aircraft, the aircraft being airborne and dynamically changing location;

wherein the means for determining an estimated location includes;

an optical aiming mechanism configured to visually acquire the aircraft;

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver configured to determine a location of the communication device and current time;

an accelerometer configured to determine an elevation angle, α

, from a horizon between the communication device and the aircraft;

a compass configured to determine a bearing, β

, between the communication device and the aircraft; and

a processor configured to compile information determined by the GPS receiver, accelerometer, and compass, and to use said information and an assumed altitude between 30,000 and 40,000 feet to derive an estimated location of the aircraft;

a flight database configured to determine information about a specified dynamically moving aircraft based on a location, the flight database having continually updated location information on a plurality of moving aircraft in a specific area; and

a network allowing communication between the communication device and the flight database;

the communication device having means for communicating with the flight database through the network;

wherein the communication device is configured to provide the estimated location of the aircraft to the flight database and the flight database is configured to provide information on the aircraft.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the compass is a digital compass providing a magnetic bearing, β

, from the communication device to the aircraft.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the accelerometer is a solid-state accelerometer.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the communication device includes a display for displaying information received from the flight database.

4. The system according to claim wherein the estimated location is provided in longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.

6. A method of obtaining information about a visually acquired airborne aircraft dynamically moving, the method comprising the steps of:

sighting an airborne aircraft dynamically changing location through an optical aiming mechanism of a communication device;

determining an estimated location of the aircraft by the communication device;

wherein the step of determining an estimated location of the aircraft includes the steps of;

determining a location of the communication device and current time using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver of the communication device;

determining an elevation angle, α

, from a horizon between the communication device and the aircraft using an accelerator of the communication device;

determining a bearing, β

, between the communication device and the aircraft using a compass of the communication device; and

using a processor to compile information determined by the GPS receiver, accelerometer, and compass, and to determine the estimated location of the aircraft using said information and an assumed altitude between 30,000 and 40,000 feet;

sending the estimated location of the aircraft to a flight database;

determining, by the flight database, an identity and information on the aircraft based on the estimated location, the flight database having continually updated location information on a plurality of moving aircraft in a specific area; and

sending the identity and information on the aircraft to the communication device.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the compass is a digital compass providing a magnetic bearing, β

, from the communication device to the aircraft.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the accelerometer is a solid-state accelerometer.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the estimated location is provided in longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.

10. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of displaying information received from the flight database on the communication device.

11. An apparatus for obtaining information about a visually acquired airborne aircraft dynamically moving, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining an estimated location of the visually acquired aircraft, the aircraft being airborne and dynamically changing location;

wherein the means for determining an estimated location of the visually acquired aircraft includes;

an optical aiming mechanism configured to visually acquire the aircraft;

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver configured to determine a location of the apparatus and current time;

an accelerometer configured to determine an elevation angle, α

, from a horizon between the apparatus and the aircraft;

a compass configured to determine a bearing, β

, between the apparatus and the aircraft; and

a processor configured to compile information determined by the GPS receiver, accelerometer, and compass, and to use said information and an assumed altitude between 30,000 and 40,000 feet to derive an estimated location of the aircraft;

means for communicating with a flight database, the flight database determining information about a specified dynamically moving aircraft based on a location, the flight database having continually updated location information on a plurality of moving aircraft in a specific area;

wherein the apparatus is configured to provide the estimated location of the aircraft to the flight database and to receive information on the aircraft from the flight database.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the accelerometer is a solid-state accelerometer.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the estimated location is provided in longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a display for displaying information received from the flight database.