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Patent US3665198A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3665198A
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US
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Aircraft landing guidance system using collimated fan shaped radiation beams
Assignee: NORWEGIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH EST
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Filing: 1969-02-28
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1989-02-28
Abstract
Abstract The identification of flight paths by means of forming plural coded groups of beams which intersect desired flight paths and define a corridor of flight. The beams are formed by pairs of radiation sources placed on opposite sides of the flight corridor, or by a single source under the corridor or to the side thereof. Each source is masked to form flat collimated diverging beams of radiation which are non-intersecting and which form a code group. The masks are configured so that each code group provides a different digital or analog code for each flight path. The digital code is provided by the presence or absence of beams at periodic distances along any flight path intersecting a different grouping or digital code of the code group. The analog code is provided by angularly positioning certain of the beams in a code group and having others the intersection of which is planes along the flight direction are parallel. With the distances between parallel beams as a reference, the distance along any flight path between a parallel beam and the angularly positioned beam is unique for each flight path within the flight corridor. By generating identical code groups positioned all along the corridor, an entire flight path to touchdown can be defined.
Inventors
- 👤 Gotfred E B Barstad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for generating beams of radiation defining a flight corridor and flight paths within said corridor comprising; first and second radiation generation means foR generating a first and second plurality of flat diverging collimated radiation beams which are shaped to intersect different deviation flight paths within said corridor with unique combinations of said first plurality of beams; said first and second plurality of beams being positioned so that said beams intersect said corridor but not each other, wherein said first and second generating means generate additional pluralities of flat collimated radiation beams, each of said pluralities being the same with respect to flight path intersections within said corridor, and, wherein said first generating means comprises a first source of radiation having a mask which forms said radiation into flat collimated beams, said mask having a periodic pattern to cause the formation of corresponding groups of beams within each of said plurality of beams, and said second generating means comprises a second source of radiation having a mask which forms said radiation into flat collimated beams, said mask having a periodic pattern to cause the formation of the remaining corresponding groups of beams within each of said plurality of beams; said first and second sources being located on opposite sides of an imaginary plane which is parallel to said flight paths and substantially perpendicular to the earth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for generating beams of radiation defining a flight corridor and flight paths within said corridor comprising; first and second radiation generation means foR generating a first and second plurality of flat diverging collimated radiation beams which are shaped to intersect different deviation flight paths within said corridor with unique combinations of said first plurality of beams; said first and second plurality of beams being positioned so that said beams intersect said corridor but not each other, wherein said first and second generating means generate additional pluralities of flat collimated radiation beams, each of said pluralities being the same with respect to flight path intersections within said corridor, and, wherein said first generating means comprises a first source of radiation having a mask which forms said radiation into flat collimated beams, said mask having a periodic pattern to cause the formation of corresponding groups of beams within each of said plurality of beams, and said second generating means comprises a second source of radiation having a mask which forms said radiation into flat collimated beams, said mask having a periodic pattern to cause the formation of the remaining corresponding groups of beams within each of said plurality of beams; said first and second sources being located on opposite sides of an imaginary plane which is parallel to said flight paths and substantially perpendicular to the earth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system claimed in claim 1 further comprising additional pairs of radiation sources placed on opposite sides of said imaginary plane along a direction of said desired flight path and forming radiation beam patterns substantially similar to that formed by said first and second sources, said additional pairs positioned to direct flat diverging beams toward said desired flight path and transverse thereto at angles with respect to the earth which decrease in a direction along said flight path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said additional pairs are positioned at decreasing distances from pair to pair in the direction of said flight path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising means for generating a pair of non-diverging parallel flat radiation beams positioned one behind the other and in front of said pluralities of diverging beams with respect to the direction of said flight path, whereby the relative distance between said non-diverging beams and said first pair of diverging collimated flat beams along any given flight path within said corridor is an indication of the altitude of said given flight path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising: a. means for generating a beam of radiation in a direction parallel to said flight path and directed from the ground upwards on the right-hand side of said corridor defining the right-hand lateral edge of said corridor, and b. means for generating a beam of radiation in a direction parallel to said flight path and directed from the ground upwards on the left-hand side of said corridor defining the left-hand lateral edge of said corridor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
318 words
A system for generating beams of radiation defining a flight corridor and a desired flight path within said corridor comprising: a. a first source of radiation placed on one side of an imaginary plane which includes said desired flight path and intersects the earth substantially perpendicularly, b. a second source of radiation placed on the opposite side of said imaginary plane with respect to said first source, c. a first masking means in combination with said first source of radiation for generating repeated first groups of collimated flat radiation beams transversely intersecting said desired flight path, each of said first groups including first and second parallel diverging beams and a third diverging beam directed angularly within a horizontal plane with respect to said first and second beams whereby the relative distance between said first and second beams and said second and third beams measured along any given flight path in said corridor is an indication of the angular position of said flight path with respect to said first soUrce, d. a second masking means in combination with said second source of radiation for generating a repeated second group of collimated flat radiation beams transversely intersecting said desired flight path, each of said second groups including diverging flat collimated beams one of which is parallel in a horizontal plane to the parallel beams in said first group and the other of which is angular in a horizontal plane to said parallel beam whereby the relative distance between any two parallel beams and said beams in said second group measured along any given flight path in said corridor is an indication of the angular position of said flight path with respect to said second source, e. the combination of relative distances between adjacent first and second groups of beams being unique for every flight path within said corridor, said adjacent first and second groups forming a code group of beams.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
318 words
A system for generating beams of radiation defining a flight corridor and a desired flight path within said corridor comprising: a. a first source of radiation placed on one side of an imaginary plane which includes said desired flight path and intersects the earth substantially perpendicularly, b. a second source of radiation placed on the opposite side of said imaginary plane with respect to said first source, c. a first masking means in combination with said first source of radiation for generating repeated first groups of collimated flat radiation beams transversely intersecting said desired flight path, each of said first groups including first and second parallel diverging beams and a third diverging beam directed angularly within a horizontal plane with respect to said first and second beams whereby the relative distance between said first and second beams and said second and third beams measured along any given flight path in said corridor is an indication of the angular position of said flight path with respect to said first soUrce, d. a second masking means in combination with said second source of radiation for generating a repeated second group of collimated flat radiation beams transversely intersecting said desired flight path, each of said second groups including diverging flat collimated beams one of which is parallel in a horizontal plane to the parallel beams in said first group and the other of which is angular in a horizontal plane to said parallel beam whereby the relative distance between any two parallel beams and said beams in said second group measured along any given flight path in said corridor is an indication of the angular position of said flight path with respect to said second source, e. the combination of relative distances between adjacent first and second groups of beams being unique for every flight path within said corridor, said adjacent first and second groups forming a code group of beams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: a. a plurality of additional pairs of radiation sources, said additional pairs being spaced along the ground in the direction of said flight path, and b. masking means associated with each additional pair of sources for generating a pattern of flat collimated radiation beams which intersect said corridor to form code groups of beams substantially identical to the code groups formed by said first pair of sources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first beam generated by each pair of radiation sources has a width which is a substantial deviation from the width of the other generated beams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system as claimed in claim 8 further comprising: a. means associated with each pair of radiation sources for generating a pair of non-diverging parallel collimated flat radiation beams transverse to said desired flight path, whereby the time between intersection by an aircraft traveling in said corridor of said pair of non-diverging beams is an indication of aircraft ground velocity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said patterns generated by said pairs of radiation sources have an overall dimension in the direction of said desired flight path which decreases with each of said pairs in a direction towards a desired landing point, said dimensions of any pattern being proportional to the desired velocity of an aircraft flying through said corridor at the time it intersects a given pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system as claimed in claim 10 comprising: a. means for generating a beam of radiation in a direction parallel to said flight path and directed from the group upwards on the right-hand side of said corridor defining the right-hand lateral edge of said corridor, and b. means for generating a beam of radiation in a direction parallel to said flight path and directed from the group upwards on the left-hand side of said corridor defining the left-hand lateral edge of said corridor.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for defining flight paths within a flight corridor comprising, first and second sources of radiation positioned on opposite sides of said corridor to direct radiation which crosses said corridor transverse to said flight paths, masking means placed on said radiation sources for confining the radiation in said corridor into at least one coded group of flat collimated diverging beams, said masks being configured to provide within said coded group at least a pair of flat collimated diverging beams which are parallel in a horizontal plane and at least one flat collimated diverging beam from each of said sources which is disposed angularly within a horizontal plane with respect to said parallel beams, whereby the relative distances between said parallel beams, any parallel beam and the angular beam from said first source and any parallel beam and the angular beam from said second source are unique for every flight path within said corridor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for defining flight paths within a flight corridor comprising, first and second sources of radiation positioned on opposite sides of said corridor to direct radiation which crosses said corridor transverse to said flight paths, masking means placed on said radiation sources for confining the radiation in said corridor into at least one coded group of flat collimated diverging beams, said masks being configured to provide within said coded group at least a pair of flat collimated diverging beams which are parallel in a horizontal plane and at least one flat collimated diverging beam from each of said sources which is disposed angularly within a horizontal plane with respect to said parallel beams, whereby the relative distances between said parallel beams, any parallel beam and the angular beam from said first source and any parallel beam and the angular beam from said second source are unique for every flight path within said corridor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said masks are configured to provide a plurality of said coded groups of beams positioned one behind the otheR in a direction parallel to said flight paths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said masks are configured to cause the first beam within each coded group to have a width which is a substantial deviation from the width of the other generated beams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising additional pairs of radiation sources, each pair being masked in a manner substantially identical to said first pair of radiation sources, each of said additional pairs being positioned along said corridor displaced from all other pairs to intersect said corridor with the coded groups of beams from said pair whereby a given flight path throughout the entire corridor intersects each coded group at the same combination of relative distances between beams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said masks are configured to cause the first beam within each coded group to have a width which is a substantial deviation from the width of the other generated beams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said radiation is gamma radiation.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for generating beams of radiation giving information and defining paths for an aircraft in a flight corridor and along a runway and taxiway comprising a plurality of radiation means positioned on the ground and axially aligned with said paths wherein each of said radiation means comprises a source of radiation, a first means for deriving from said source a first plurality of collimated diverging radiation beams, said first plurality of radiation beams being shaped to intersect said paths transversely such that the pattern formed by the intersection with each of said paths is different and additional means for deriving from said source additional pluralities of collimated diverging radiation beams wherein the pattern formed by the intersection of each of said additional plurality of beams with each flight path is the same as the pattern formed by said first plurality.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for generating beams of radiation giving information and defining paths for an aircraft in a flight corridor and along a runway and taxiway comprising a plurality of radiation means positioned on the ground and axially aligned with said paths wherein each of said radiation means comprises a source of radiation, a first means for deriving from said source a first plurality of collimated diverging radiation beams, said first plurality of radiation beams being shaped to intersect said paths transversely such that the pattern formed by the intersection with each of said paths is different and additional means for deriving from said source additional pluralities of collimated diverging radiation beams wherein the pattern formed by the intersection of each of said additional plurality of beams with each flight path is the same as the pattern formed by said first plurality.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said first means and said additional means for deriving from said source said pluralities of beams comprises a mask means over said source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said radiation means is located in axial alignment with the center of said flight corridor, runway and taxiway.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said radiation means is located axially aligned with and to the side of said flight corridor runway and taxiway.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system claimed in claim 19 further comprising additional radiation means located at the ground along the flight corridor, runway and taxiway, said additional radiation means having masking means for deriving pluralities of collimated diverging beams which do not intersect each other and which form repeated patterns along said path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as claimed in claim 22 further arranged so that said pluralities of radiation beams forming said patterns of radiation beams contain coded information through the absolute and relative distances between the said beams and identified by the absolute and relative width of the beams measured along the flight path, whereby information is obtained therefrom.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said pluralities of collimated diverging beams contain a first and a second flat collimated diverging beam which are parallel in a horizontal plane and transverse to the direction of flight, the distance between said beams in the direction of flight being proportional to the altitude in relation to the level of said radiation means, whereby the altitude both in the landing operation as well as ''''take-off'''' operation by multiplication of a time interval with the ground speed aircraft and a constant factor dependent on the given angle between the first and second beam can be calculated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
131 words
A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said pluralities of flat collimated diverging beams have a third diverging beam directed angularly within a horizontal plane with respect to said first and second beAms whereby the relative distance between said first and second beams and said second and third beams measured along any of said paths is an indication of the lateral angular position of said path with respect to said radiation means and a detector in the aircraft, passing with constant speed along said path, by detecting the corresponding time intervals between said beams will get the lateral angular position of the detector in the aircraft with respect to said radiation means and the level of the source, which together with the altitude gives the absolute position of the aircraft.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
157 words
A system as claimed in claim 25 comprising pluralities of collimated flat diverging radiation beams transversely intersecting said flight paths each of said pluralities including a first, second and third diverging beam all said beams being parallel in a particular plane along the flight direction whereby assuming substantially constant ground speed and flight direction of the aircraft when passing through the said beams, in any given flight path, the quotient of the distances between the said first and second beam and the said second and third beam will be substantially the same and can be used to give information to the aircraft about the altitude to a predetermined level which might be a middle reference level; and by changing the quotient of corresponding radiation beams in the next plurality of said pluralities of beams, a new altitude for the said reference level will be obtained according to desired change in corridor reference level along the flight corridor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said first, second and third diverging beams are parallel in a horizontal plane.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said quotients indicate levels above or below which the aircraft should preferentially fly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the quotient of distances between the said first and second beam and the said second and third beam being substantially the same in any given path, the quotient can be used to give information to the aircraft about the distance from one vertical beam perpendicular in relation to the said paths and to the threshold of the runway and any other desired reference point in the flight corridor, runway and taxiway.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system as claimed in claim 29 wherein similar quotients can be used to give information to the aircraft about the magnitude of a characteristic in the system, as: a. the height of the site of the radiation source in relation to runway level, b. the lateral displacement of the site of the radiation source in relation to a middle point underneath the flight paths, c. the number of the approach corridor, runway and taxiway, d. the radius of curvature and direction of curvature for curved approach paths, and e. magnitude of obstacles.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as claimed in claim 29 wherein the aircraft, when obtaining the information about the distances to a reference point from two different perpendicular vertical beams and the time interval between the passage of the said beams can derive the average ground speed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein each plurality of collimated diverging beams contain one first and one second flat collimated diverging beam, said two diverging beams arranged so that the said beams are parallel in a given plane and knowing the ground speed of the aircraft for any chosen path through the beams the time intervals between passage of the said first and second beams are proportional to the distance from a plane through the radiation means parallel with the said given plane and to the position of the path element of the path between the said two diverging beams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said masking means varies the angular width of particular beams in discrete values in relation to each other along any of said paths for obtaining identification of the particular beams.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein additional Particular radiation beams are positioned in a reference position to at least two particular radiation beams in such a way that the relative distances between one of said additional particular radiation beams and any two of said particular radiation beams are the same along all the said paths and said additional particular beams can be used as reference beams in relation to the other beams in said pluralities of beams thereby improving the reliability of code identification when passing along any path inside the said flight corridor and on the said runway and taxiway.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the additional pluralities of collimated radiation beams and the beam pattern of said groups of beams is arranged for a given lay-out in a certain sequence along the flight path thereby improving the reliability of code identification when passing along any path inside the said flight corridor and on said runway and taxiway in landing as well as ''''take off'''' operations.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are gamma rays from radioactive sources.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are X-rays from X-ray equipment.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are untraviolet.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are visual rays.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are infrared rays.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the collimated diverging beams of radiation are radiowaves preferably in the range of microwaves.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein collimated diverging beams of radiation of different types are used in different parts of the system and parallel along the same part of the system whereby means of a detector which can discriminate between the different types of rays and detect them separately, the signals from the different beams of radiation can be detected separately.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a first beam detector is positioned in the front and a second beam detector in the rear of the aircraft so that the time interval of passage of the two said detectors through a vertical beam can be measured, and knowing the distance between said detectors, the ground speed is obtained as said distance divided by the time interval.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
105 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein a first beam detector is positioned in the front and a second beam detector in the rear of an aircraft in flight and obtaining the information of the positions of the paths of said detectors the attitude of the main axis of the said aircraft in relation to the flight corridor and thereby the so-called pitch and heading of the aircraft will be derived, and by means of a third detector positioned to the side of the axis of said first and second detectors the roll-angle will be derived and thereby the full attitude of the aircraft.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as claimed in claim 44 wherein collimated diverging beams of radiation of different types are used in different parts of the system and parallel along the same part of the system whereby means of at least detectors, each sensitive for a particular type of rays, the signals from the different beams of radiation can be detected separately.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |