System for avoidance of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle
First Claim
1. A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, characterised in that it comprises:
- a multi-part tubular mast having a fixing device on one side face for a solar panel and a fixing device at an upper end for a radar antenna;
an elongate radar antenna arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction and having a plurality of antenna panels and provided with an environment-protective casing, which radar antenna is in communication with radar electronics to form a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area;
a central processing unit in communication with the synthesized radar detection radar system for processing information from the radar system, which information includes at least one indication of direction and several indications of distance or at least one indication of direction, one indication of distance and one indication of speed, and for identifying a radar system detected aircraft that is in a zone of the radar coverage area computed by the central processing unit as a collision danger area on the basis of the information;
a high-intensity light system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a high-intensity light warning signal, the light system being activatable activated by the central processing unit upon the detection of an aircraft in the collision danger zone;
at least one of a VHF orand UHF radio transmitter system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a radio signal modulated by an audible warning signal, the at least one of the VHF orand UHF radio transmitter system being activatableactivated by the central processing unit upon the detection of an aircraft in the collision danger zone; and
an electric power supply system comprising a solar panel secured to a fixing device, a chargeable back-up battery and a power supply control for power supply to the radar system, the central processing unit, the high-intensity light system and the VHF or UHF radio transmitter system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, comprises a multi-part tubular mast having devices for fixing a solar panel and a radar antenna; an elongate radar antenna in an environment-protective casing, which, with an electronics unit, forms a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area; a central processing unit for identifying on the basis of information from the radar system an aircraft which is in a zone of the radar coverage area and which on the basis of radar information such as direction, distance and/or speed computes a collision danger area; and a high-intensity light system and radio transmitter system that can be activated by the central processing unit upon detection of an aircraft in a collision danger area. The radio transmitter system may be a VHF or UHF radio transmitter system for providing a radio signal modulated by an audible warning signal, preferably a voice warning signal, whilst the light system preferably comprises a stroboscope light system. The field unit is arranged for communication with other similar field units for remote activation of light or audio warnings in a neighbouring field unit.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, characterised in that it comprises:
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a multi-part tubular mast having a fixing device on one side face for a solar panel and a fixing device at an upper end for a radar antenna;
an elongate radar antenna arranged vertically in the longitudinal direction and having a plurality of antenna panels and provided with an environment-protective casing, which radar antenna is in communication with radar electronics to form a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area;
a central processing unit in communication with the synthesized radar detection radar system for processing information from the radar system, which information includes at least one indication of direction and several indications of distance or at least one indication of direction, one indication of distance and one indication of speed, and for identifying a radar system detected aircraft that is in a zone of the radar coverage area computed by the central processing unit as a collision danger area on the basis of the information;
a high-intensity light system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a high-intensity light warning signal, the light system being activatable activated by the central processing unit upon the detection of an aircraft in the collision danger zone;
at least one of a VHF orand UHF radio transmitter system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a radio signal modulated by an audible warning signal, the at least one of the VHF orand UHF radio transmitter system being activatableactivated by the central processing unit upon the detection of an aircraft in the collision danger zone; and
an electric power supply system comprising a solar panel secured to a fixing device, a chargeable back-up battery and a power supply control for power supply to the radar system, the central processing unit, the high-intensity light system and the VHF or UHF radio transmitter system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A field unit for warning a target of an obstacle comprising:
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a radar antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, which radar antenna is in communication with radar electronics to form a radar system for synthesized radar detection of a target in a radar coverage area;
a central processing unit in communication with the synthesized radar detection radar system for processing information from the radar system, which information includes at least one indication of direction and several indications of distance or at least one indication of direction, one indication of distance and one indication of speed, and for identifying a target that is within a first and second warning zone of the radar coverage area computed by the central processing unit on the basis of the information;
a light system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a light warning signal, the light system being activated by the central processing unit upon the detection of the target in the first warning zone;
a radio transmitter system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a radio frequency audible warning signal, the radio transmitter system being activated by the central processing unit upon the detection of the target in the second warning zone; and
an electric power supply system for providing power supply to the radar system, the central processing unit, the light system and the radio transmitter system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of warning a target of an obstacle comprising:
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providing a field unit capable of detecting and warning a target of an obstacle;
monitoring a coverage area in the vicinity of an obstacle for a target using the field unit;
detecting when the target has entered the coverage area;
determining information about the target including speed, direction, and height of the target;
calculating first and second warning zones based on the information;
providing a first warning to the target, when the target enters the first warning zone;
providing a second warning to the target, when the target enters the second warning zone, wherein the second warning is different than the first warning. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A field unit for warning a target of an obstacle comprising:
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a radar antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, which radar antenna is in communication with radar electronics to form a radar system for synthesized radar detection of a target in a radar coverage area;
a central processing unit in communication with the synthesized radar detection radar system for processing information from the radar system, which information includes at least one indication of direction and several indications of distance or at least one indication of direction, one indication of distance and one indication of speed, and for identifying a target that is within at least one warning zone of the radar coverage area computed by the central processing unit on the basis of the information;
a light system connected to and controlled by the central processing unit for providing a light warning signal, the light system being activated by the central processing unit upon the detection of the target in at least one of the warning zones, wherein the light system is in a sleep mode until activated by the central processing unit and desists from providing warnings when the target remains inside the warning zone; and
,an electric power supply system for providing power supply to the radar system, the central processing unit, and the light system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of warning a target of an obstacle comprising:
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providing a field unit capable of detecting and warning a target of an obstacle;
monitoring a coverage area in the vicinity of an obstacle for a target using the field unit;
detecting when the target has entered the coverage area;
determining information about the target including speed, direction, and height of the target;
calculating at least a first warning zone based on the information;
providing a first warning to the target, when the target enters the first warning zone; and
,desisting from providing warnings to the target, when the target remains inside the first warning zone. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification