Air traffic display apparatus

Claim 2

A traffic information display format (20), situated in an own craft, for observing traffic in a volume about said own craft, having at least one view grid (22, 24), characterized by: a) a first set of approximately parallel grid lines (32) spaced so as to represent different values of altitude relative to said own craft; b) a second set of approximately parallel grid lines (34), overlapping said said first set of grid lines (32), wherein each of said first set of grid lines (32) is approximately perpendicular to each of said second set of grid lines (34), said second set of grid lines spaced so as to represent different values of azimuth relative to a heading of said own craft; c) a reference symbol (26, 28) on said view grid (22, 24), situated at one intersection of one of said first set of grid lines (32) and one of said second grid lines (34), representing a location of said own craft on said view grid (22, 24); and d) at least one traffic symbol (30) representing a traffic entity, said symbol (30) located on said view grid (22, 24) at a location so as to indicate altitude and azimuth of the traffic entity relative to said own craft, and having a first dimension (38) approximately parallel to said first set of grid lines (32), that indicates distance of the traffic entity from said own craft, and having a second dimension (36) approximately parallel to said second set of grid lines (34), that indicates whether the traffic entity is ascending, descending or remaining constant in altitude relative to own craft or has an unknown altitude.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that: a) said first set of grid lines (32), having an approximately straight middle line horizontal relative to a viewer of said view grid (22, 24) and said middle line representing an altitude of said own craft, is cylindrically shaped in a fashion that the remaining lines, closest to the middle line at an azimuth of the reference symbol (26, 28), gradually disperse in directions slightly away from the middle horizontal line of said view grid (22, 24); and b) said reference symbol (26, 28) is situated on the middle horizontal line.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that: a) the first dimension (38) of said traffic symbols is a width of the symbol (30), greater width indicating closer distance of the traffic entity to said own craft and narrower width indicating farther distance of the traffic entity from said own craft; b) the second dimension (36) of said traffic symbol (30) being variable in that an extension of the second dimension (36) in one direction indicates an ascending in altitude of the traffic entity and that an extension of the second dimension (36) in another direction indicates a descending of the traffic entity; and c) said traffic symbol (30) is variable in shape in that one shape indicates the traffic entity to have a known altitude and another shape indicates the traffic entity to have an unknown altitude.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, characterized in that said traffic symbol (30) is variable in color in that a particular color indicates a level of threat or a particular status or identity of the traffic entity.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that: a) a first grid (22), consisting of said firs (32) and second set of approximately parallel grid lines (34) represents a forward view from said own craft; b) a second grid (24) is provided representing a rearward view from said own craft, comprising: c) a first set of approximately parallel grid lines (32) spaced so as to represent different values of altitude relative to said own craft; d) a second set of approximately parallel grid lines (34), overlapping said said first set of grid lines, wherein each of said first set of grid lines (32) is approximately perpendicular to each of said second set of grid lines (34), and each of said second set of grid lines (34) is spaced so as to represent a particular value of azimuth relative to a heading of said own craft; e) a reference symbol (28) on said second grid, situated at one intersection of one of said first set of grid lines (32) and one of said second grid lines (34), representing a location of said own craft on said second grid (24); and f) at least one traffic symbol (30) representing a traffic entity, said symbol located on said second grid (24) at a location so as to indicate altitude and azimuth of the traffic entity relative to said own craft, and having a first dimension (38) approximately parallel to said first set of grid lines (32), that indicates distance of the traffic entity from said own craft, and having a second dimension (36) approximately parallel to said second set of grid lines (34), wherein the second dimension (36) in combination with the first dimension (38) forms the symbol (30) having a particular shape and orientation that indicates whether the traffic entity is ascending, descending or remaining constant in altitude relative to own craft or has an unknown altitude; g) said first sets of grid lines (32), each first set having a middle line horizontal relative to a viewer of said view grids and representing an altitude of said own craft, are cylindrically shaped in a fashion that the remaining lines gradually disperse in directions slightly away from the middle horizontal lines of said view grids (22, 24); h) said reference symbols (26, 28) are situated on the respective middle horizontal lines; i) the first dimension (38) of each of said traffic symbols (30) is a width of each said symbol, greater width indicating closer distance of the traffic entity to said own craft and narrower width indicating farther distance of the traffic entity from said own craft; j) the second dimension (36) of each of said traffic symbols (30) being variable in that an extension of the second dimension (36) in one direction indicates an ascending in altitude of the traffic entity and that an extension of the second dimension in another direction indicates a descending of the traffic entity; k) each of said traffic symbols (30) is variable in shape in that one shape indicates a known altitude of the traffic entity and another shape indicates an unknown altitude of the traffic entity; l) each of said traffic symbols (30) is variable in color in that a particular color indicates a particular status of the traffic entity.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that said traffic symbol (30) exhibits a characteristic in shape that indicates whether the represented traffic entity is approaching towards or receding from said own craft.

Claim 8

Apparatus of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: a) location of each of said traffic symbols (30) relative to said first set of grid lines (32), indicates an altitude of the respective traffic entity relative to said own craft, wherein each grid line (32) represents a particular altitude value; and b) location of each of said traffic symbols (30) relative to said second set of grid lines (34), indicates an azimuth of the respective traffic entity relative to said own craft, wherein each grid line (34) represents a particular azimuth value.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that each of the second set of grid lines (34) is straight and equidistant to another grid line.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: a) each geometrically-shaped figure (36) having a first color indicates a resolution alert; and b) each geometrically-shaped figure (36) having a second color indicates a traffic alert.