Target acquisition, locating and tracking system

• US 5,268,698 A
• Filed: 07/31/1992
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry D. Ritch, Louis P. Smith Jr, Louis P. Smith Sr
• Original Assignee: Harry D. Ritch, Louis P. Smith Jr, Louis P. Smith Sr
• Inventors: Smith, Louis P. Sr., Ritch, Harry D., Smith, Louis P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US07/923,848
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/454, 342/456, 342/457, 342/463, 342/27, 342/451, 364/439, 367/124, 340/552, 340/553
• US Class Current: 342/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/874 Combination of several systems for attitude determination in general G01C, control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a monitoring system that monitors and locates objects such as airplanes and other vehicles on runways, taxiways, or other preprogrammed areas. The invention utilizes a minimum of three transmitters for generating a diffusion field and two receivers which detect displacements in a diffusion field. The receivers are coupled with a computer which calculates the position of the object causing the displacement in the diffusion field. The area to be monitored is divided into grids which are programmed onto the computer, and objects moving in the monitored area cause changes in the signal received by the receivers which are conveyed to the computer and compared by the computer to the programmed grid to indicate the location of the object causing the changes.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and locating objects on a planar surface comprising:

a. at least three electromagnetic wave transmitter means for generating signals which diffuse around an object located on said planar surface, said transmitter means being located at three separate locations adjacent to said planar surface and positioned to cause the signals of at least three of said transmitter means to overlap,

b. at least two electromagnetic wave receiver means placed at separate locations adjacent to said planar surface for receiving diffusion signals from said transmitter means which diffuse around an object located on said planar surface, wherein at least two of said receiver means receive said diffusion signals from at least three of said transmitter means to triangulate the location of stationary and moving objects on said planar surface, and

c. computer means for receiving signals generated by said receiver means, said computer means having

i. grid system means in said computer for storing signals generated by said receiver means when an object is placed on said planar surface at a plurality of selected locations on said planar surface stored in said grid system,

ii. comparator means for comparing said grid system to signals generated by said two receiver means when an object is moving or stationary on said planar surface to locate the position of said object on said planar surface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means transmit signals having a wavelength of from about 2000 angstroms to about three meters.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means transmit signals having a wavelength of from about 10 centimeters to about one meter.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said system has monitor means connected to said computer means to display the location of the target.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said planar surface is an airport runway.

6. A method for locating and tracking a target on a planar surface comprising:

a. placing at least three electromagnetic wave transmitter for generating signals which diffuse around a target located on said planar surface, said transmitters being placed at three separate locations adjacent to said planar surface and positioned to cause the signals of at least three of said transmitters to overlap,

b. generating signals from said three electromagnetic wave transmitters,

c. receiving said signals by at least two electromagnetic wave receivers placed at two separate locations adjacent to said planar surface to receive said signals from said transmitters which diffuse around an object located on said planar surface, wherein at least two of said receivers receive said diffusion signals from at least three of said transmitters to triangulate the location of stationary and moving objects on said planar surface, said two receivers each generating an output signal,

d. placing an object on said planar surface at a plurality of selected locations,

e. storing the signals received from said receivers at each of said selected locations in a computer to establish a grid system,

f. placing a target on said planar surface, and

g. continuously comparing said signals received from said receivers with said grid system to locate and track said target.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the location of the target is displayed on a monitor.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said planar surface is an airport runway.

9. A method for locating and tracking a target on a planar surface comprising:

a. placing at least three electromagnetic wave transmitter for generating signals which diffuse around a target located on said planar surface, said transmitters being placed at three separate locations adjacent to said planar surface and positioned to cause the signals of at least three of said transmitters to overlap,

b. generating signals from said three electromagnetic wave transmitters,

c. receiving said signals by at least two electromagnetic wave receivers placed at two separate locations adjacent to said planar surface to receive said signals from said transmitters which diffuse around an object located on said planar surface, wherein at least two of said receivers receive said diffusion signals from at least three of said transmitters to triangulate the location of stationary and moving objects on said planar surface, said two receivers each generating an output signal,

d. receiving signals generated from said receivers by a computer, said computer having a grid system therein for storing signals generated by said receivers when an object is placed on said planar surface at a plurality of selected locations on said planar surface stored in said grid system,

e. placing a target on said planar surface,

f. comparing said grid system to signals generated by said two receiver means when an object is moving or stationary on said planar surface to locate the position of said object on said planar surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the location of the target is displayed on a monitor.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the planar surface is an airport runway.