Target light for docking

• US 5,291,195 A
• Filed: 01/10/1992
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation (Cobham PLC)
• Original Assignee: H. Koch & Sons Co. (Cobham PLC)
• Inventors: Gross, H. Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/821,241
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 340/942, 340/943, 340/947, 340/951, 340/952, 340/953, 340/954, 340/955, 340/958, 340/932.2, 340/976, 244/114 R, 244/161, 244/135 A, 342/23
• US Class Current: 340/958
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/646 Docking or rendezvous systems refueling in space B64G1/4024

Abstract

A docking target (10) includes three concentric circles (C1, C2, C3) each comprising a plurality of different color light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) spaced about the circumference of each circle (C1, C2, C3). During vehicle approach, each circle appears initially as a light spot, then a continuous ring of light and finally a plurality of independent light points at defined distances of the vehicle (14) from the station (12) so that the operator can determine distance of the vehicle (14) to the target (10). The light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) on each circle, when visible, provide attitude information of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12) by the intensities of the light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) and the geometric shape produced thereby so that the operator can adjust the attitude of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12).

Claims

1. A docking target mounted on a station for providing visual information enabling determination of attitude and distance of an approaching vehicle relative to the station over a range of distances to assist in the docking of the vehicle with the station, said target comprising:

a support (50),

first position indicating means (16) mounted on support (50) for continuously emitting light of a first predetermined luminous intensity visible to the approaching vehicle (14) to enable determination of a first subrange of distances between approaching vehicle (14) and said target, characterized by including

second position indicating means (24) mounted on support (50) adjacent said first indicating means (16) for continuously emitting light of a second and lesser predetermined luminous intensity visible to approaching vehicle (14) to enable determination of a second subrange of distances less than said first range between approaching vehicle (14) and said target (10) in conjunction with said first indicating means, wherein only said first position indicating means (16) is visible at said first subrange and both said first and said second position indicating means (16,

     24) are visible at said second subrange, and further characterized by

said first position indicating means (16) and said second position indicating means (24) having geometric shapes, and being arranged with said second position indicating means (24) concentric about a common center with said first position indicating means (16).

2. A docking target as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by including third position indicating means (32) for visually indicating to the approaching vehicle (14) a third subrange of distances less than said first and second subranges between the approaching vehicle (14) and said target (10) in conjunction with said first and second indicating means, said third position indicating means (32) having a geometric shape and being arranged concentric about a common center with said first position indicating means (16) and said second position indicating means (24).

3. A docking target mounted on a station for providing visual information enabling determination of attitude and distance of an approaching vehicle relative to the station over a range of distances to assist in the docking of the vehicle with the station, said target comprising:

first position indicating means (16) for continuously emitting light of a first predetermined luminous intensity visible to the approaching vehicle (14) to enable determination of a first subrange of distances between the approaching vehicle (14) and said target, characterized by said first position indicating means (16) comprising a first plurality of light emitting means (D1) arranged about the circumference of a first circle (C1) for emitting visible light of a first color at said first luminous intensity such that said first plurality of light emitting means (D1) are visible as a solid light spot (18) of the first color at the threshold distance of said first subrange of distances, and by including

second position indicating means (24) adjacent said first indicating means (16) for continuously emitting light of a second and lesser predetermined luminous intensity visible to the approaching vehicle (14) to enable determination of a second subrange of distances less than said first range between the approaching vehicle (14) and said target (10) in conjunction with said first indicating means, wherein only said first position indicating means (16) is visible at said first subrange and both said first and said second position indicating means (16,

     24) are visible at said second subrange,

said second position indicating means having a geometric shape, and being arranged concentric with said first position indicating means (16).

4. A target as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by the first plurality of light emitting means being of such intensity as to be visible as a circle of light at a predetermined intermediate distance in said first subrange.

5. A target as set forth in claim 3, further characterized by said first indicating means appearing as a circle of firs color light at the threshold distance of said second subrange of distances, and said second position indicating means (24) comprising a second plurality of light emitting means (D2) arranged about the circumference of a second circle (C2) for emitting visible light of a second color at said second luminous intensity such that said second plurality of light emitting means (D2) are visible as a solid light spot (26) of said second color within said ring of light (20) of said first color at a first intermediate distance.

6. A target as set forth in claim 4, further characterized by the second plurality of light emitting means being of such intensity as to be visible as a circle of light within the first circle of light at a predetermined intermediate distance in said second subrange.

7. A target as set forth in claim 6, further characterized by including third position indicating means (32) for visually indicating to the approaching vehicle (14) a third subrange of distances less than said first and second subranges between the approaching vehicle (14) and said assembly (10) in conjunction with said first and second indicating means, said third position indicating means (32) having a geometric shape and being arranged concentric with said first position indicating means (16) and said second position indicating means (24).

8. A target as set forth in claim 7, further characterized by the third position indicating means comprising a third plurality of light emitting means (D3) arranged about the circumference of a third circle (C3) for continuously emitting light of a third color visible as a solid light spot (34) within the second circle of light (28) at the threshold distance of the third subrange of distances.

9. A target as set forth in claim 8, further characterized by the third plurality of light emitting means (D3) being of such intensity as to be visible as a circle of light (36) within the second circle of light (28) at a predetermined intermediate distance in said third subrange.

10. A target as set forth in claim 9, further characterized by the first plurality of light emitting means (D1) being of such number and at such spacing as to become visible as discrete points of light (22) at the threshold distance of a fourth subrange of distances.

11. A target as set forth in claim 10, further characterized by the second plurality of light emitting means (D2) being of such number and at such spacing as to become visible as discrete points of light (30) at a distant intermediate distance of the fourth subrange of distances.

12. A target as set forth in claim 11, further characterized by the third plurality of light emitting means (D3) being of such number and at such spacing as to become visible as discrete points of light (38) at a close intermediate distance of the fourth subrange of distances.

13. A target as set forth in claim 5, further characterized by each of said first plurality of light emitting means (D1) having an emission axis (A) perpendicular to the plane of the first circle for indicating attitude of the approaching vehicle (14) with respect to said assembly, each of said first plurality of light emitting means (D1) appearing to have equal luminous intensity at a predetermined vehicle attitude along said emission axis and said first plurality of light emitting means (D1) appearing to have unequal luminous intensity when the vehicle is misaligned from said predetermined docking attitude off said emission axis.

14. A target as set forth in claim 13, further characterized by each of said second plurality of light emitting means (D2) having an emission axis perpendicular to said first and second circles (C1, C2) for indicating attitude of the approaching vehicle (14) with respect to said assembly, each of said second plurality of light emitting means (D2) appearing to have equal luminous intensity at said predetermined vehicle attitude and said plurality of light emitting means (D2) appearing to have unequal luminous intensity when misaligned from said predetermined docking attitude.

15. A target as set forth in claim 9, further characterized by including fourth position indicating means 42) mounted within the third position indicating means (C2) and said fourth position indicating means (42) comprising a reflector within said third circle of light (36) of said third color for receiving and reflecting a laser beam from the approaching vehicle to indicate vehicle docking attitude.

16. A target as set forth in claim 15, further characterized by said fourth position indicating means comprising a circular disk (42)

17. A target as set forth in claim 16, further characterized by said circular disk comprising a white matte disk (44) having three concentric circles imprinted thereon.

18. A target as set forth in claim 14, further characterized by said first plurality of light emitting means (D1) comprising light emitting diodes emitting visible light at said first luminous intensity.

19. A target as set forth in claim 18, further characterized by said second plurality of light emitting means (D2) comprising light emitting diodes emitting light at said second luminous intensity.

20. A docking target for mounting to a station for visually indicating attitude and position to an approaching vehicle for the docking thereof, said assembly characterized by comprising:

support means (50);

position indicating means (16) mounted on said support means (50) for continuously emitting visible light to indicate distance and attitude of the approaching vehicle (14) to said target 10;

said position indicating means (16) comprising a plurality of light emitting means (D1) of equal luminous intensity each having a narrow cone angle of light emission arranged in a geometrical pattern in a plane (C1) mounted on said support means (50) for emitting visible light to indicate attitude of the vehicle (14) with respect to said target assembly (10), wherein said plurality of light emitting means (D1) all appear to have equal intensities when they are viewed within their cone angles at a predetermined docking attitude and to have unequal intensities when some are viewed within and some are view outside their cone angles when the vehicle (14) has deviated slightly from said predetermined docking attitude.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20, further characterized by each of said plurality of light emitting means (D1) having an emission axis (A) perpendicular to said plane (C1) for indicating attitude of the approaching vehicle (14) with respect to said target assembly, said predetermined docking attitude being along said emission axis.

22. A docking target for mounting to a station for visually indicating attitude and position to an approaching vehicle for the docking thereof, said assembly characterized by comprising:

support means (50);

position indicating means (16) mounted on said support means (50) for continuously emitting visible light to indicate distance and attitude of the approaching vehicle (14) to said target 10;

said position indicating means (16) comprising a plurality of light emitting means (D1) of equal luminous intensity each having a narrow cone angle of light emission arranged in a circular pattern in a plane (C1) mounted on said support means (50) for emitting visible light to indicate attitude of the vehicle (14) with respect to said target assembly (10), wherein said plurality of light emitting means (D1) appear to all have equal intensities when they are viewed within their cone angles at a predetermined docking attitude, appear to have unequal intensities when some are viewed within and some are viewed outside their cone angles when the vehicle (14) has deviated slightly from said predetermined docking attitude, and appear to all have diminished intensities when all are viewed outside their cone angles when the vehicle (14) has deviated further from said predetermined docking attitude.