US3713147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Obstacle detection with crossed fan beam
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1970-12-23
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An obstacle-detecting radar system in which a special receiving antenna fixed in azimuth and positionable in elevation provides a fan-shaped receiving pattern having a wide azimuthal extent and a very narrow elevational extent for receiving reflected radiation originating in a beam transmitted by a terrain radar transmitter which is fixed in elevation and scanned in azimuth and which transmits a fan-shaped radiation pattern having a narrow azimuthal extent and a wide elevation extent to provide the effect of a pencil beam radar which sweeps across the flight path in azimuth in front of the aircraft to provide a signal which actuates an alarm or the like in response to radiation reflected by an obstacle in the flight path.
Inventors
- 👤 L Chanzit
- 👤 H Green
- 👤 H Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/933; G01S13/935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and an elevational plane including in combination means including a first antenna for transmitting energy in a pattern having a narrow azimuthal extent and a wide elevational extent, including a second antenna for receiving reflected energy in a pattern having a narrow elevational extent and a wide azimuthal extent, means mounting the first and second antennas on the aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating the first antenna in azimuth, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means responsive to reflected energy received by said second antenna for producing a first signal, a plurality of storage devices, means for sequentially coupling said first signal to said storage devices at times corresponding to respective range values, means for producing a second signal in accordance with an average of the contents of said storage devices, means for comparing the contents of the individual storage devices with the second signal, and means responsive to said comparing means for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and an elevational plane including in combination means including a first antenna for transmitting energy in a pattern having a narrow azimuthal extent and a wide elevational extent, including a second antenna for receiving reflected energy in a pattern having a narrow elevational extent and a wide azimuthal extent, means mounting the first and second antennas on the aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating the first antenna in azimuth, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means responsive to reflected energy received by said second antenna for producing a first signal, a plurality of storage devices, means for sequentially coupling said first signal to said storage devices at times corresponding to respective range values, means for producing a second signal in accordance with an average of the contents of said storage devices, means for comparing the contents of the individual storage devices with the second signal, and means responsive to said comparing means for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A radar system as in claim 1 in which said mounting means mounts said first antenna at a fixed orientation in said elevational plane and mounts the second antenna at a fixed orientation in the azimuthal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating one of said antennas in its plane of narrow extent, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating one of said antennas in its plane of narrow extent, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating said first antenna in said azimuthal plane, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating said first antenna in said azimuthal plane, means for aligning the elevational orientation of the second antenna with the flight path, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating one of said antennas in its plane of narrow extent, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle, said indicating means comprising means responsive to reflected energy received by said other antenna for producing a first signal, a plurality of storage devices, means for sequentially coupling the first signal to said storage devices at times corresponding to respective range values, and means for providing a second signal in accordance with an average of the contents of said storage devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
A radar system for an aircraft having a flight path with reference to an azimuthal plane and to an elevational plane including in combination, a first antenna providing a pattern having a wide extent in said elevational plane and having a narrow extent in said azimuthal plane, a second antenna providing a pattern having a narrow extent in said elevational plane and having a wide extent in said azimuthal plane, means mounting said first and second antennas on said aircraft such that their patterns intersect, means for oscillating one of said antennas in its plane of narrow extent, means for feeding energy to be transmitted to one antenna, and means responsive to reflected energy received by the other antenna for indicating the presence of an obstacle, said indicating means comprising means responsive to reflected energy received by said other antenna for producing a first signal, a plurality of storage devices, means for sequentially coupling the first signal to said storage devices at times corresponding to respective range values, and means for providing a second signal in accordance with an average of the contents of said storage devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A radar system as in claim 5 in which the means producing the first signal comprises a variable gain amplifier, said system including means respoNsive to the second signal for controlling the gain of said amplifier to compensate for variations in terrain reflectivity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A radar system as in claim 5 in which the indicating means further includes means for comparing the content of at least one storage device with the second signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A radar system as in claim 5 in which the indicating means further includes means providing a third signal in accordance with the maximum content of any storage device and means for comparing the second signal with a fractional portion of the third signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |