Aircraft landing systems

Claim 2

An instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway comprising: first means disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, each pair of said radiation signals forming said coordinate system appearing to come from different predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach eXtending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, said modulation of said radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; and second means disposed in said aircraft for detecting said modulation of those of said radiation signals intercepted by said aircraft to provide a first indication of the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and a second indication of the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point; said first means including a first antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points for radiating a vertical modulated radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach; and a second antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points for radiating a slanted modulated radiation signal, the angle of said slanted radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach being equal to a value greater than 5* but less than 90*.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein said angle of said slanted radiation signals is equal to 45*.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second antennas radiate a fan beam.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second antennas are disposed along one side of said runway and said approach.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first antennas is disposed along one side of said runway and said approach, and each of said second antennas is disposed along the other side of said runway and said approach.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1, wherein said first means further includes in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points: a first source of distance information signal to provide the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point, a second source of a first carrier signal having a first frequency, a third source of a second carrier signal having a second frequency different than said first frequency, third means coupled to said first source, said second source and said first antenna to modulate said first carrier signal with said distance information signal and to coupled said modulated first carrier signal to said first antenna for radiation therefrom as said vertical modulated radiation signal, and fourth means coupled to said first source, said third source and said second antenna to modulate said second carrier signal with said distance information signal and to couple said modulated second carrier signal to said second antenna for radiation therefrom as said slanted modulated radiation signal.

Claim 8

An instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway comprising: first means disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, each pair of said radiation signals forming said coordinate system appearing to come from different predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, said modulation of said radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; and second means disposed in said aircraft for detecting said modulation of those of said radiation signals intercepted by said aircraft to provide a first indication of the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and a second indication of the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point; one of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated vertically with respect to said runway and said approach, the other of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals iS radiated at an angle A with respect to said runway and said approach, angle A having a value greater than 5* but less than 90*, and said second means includes third means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals is radiated, fourth means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals, is radiated, fifth means coupled to said third means and said fourth means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals and to multiply the resultant difference by the value of the tangent of said angle A to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, sixth means coupled to said fifth means responsive to said output signal to display the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, and seventh means coupled to said third means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 9

An instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway comprising: first means disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, each pair of said radiation signals forming said coordinate system appearing to come from different predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, said modulation of said radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; and second means disposed in said aircraft for detecting said modulation of those of said radiation signals intercepted by said aircraft to provide a first indication of the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and a second indication of the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point; one of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated vertically with respect to said runway and said approach, the other of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals iS radiated at an angle A with respect to said runway and said approach, angle A having a value greater than 5* but less than 90*, and said second means includes third means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals is radiated, fourth means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals, is radiated, fifth means coupled to said third means and said fourth means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals and to multiply the resultant difference by the value of the tangent of said angle A to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, sixth means coupled to said fifth means responsive to said output signal to display the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, and seventh means coupled to said third means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 10

An instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway comprising: first means disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, each pair of said radiation signals forming said coordinate system appearing to come from different predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, said modulation of said radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said second spaced points from said touchdown point; and second means disposed in said aircraft for detecting said modulation of those of said radiation signals intercepted by said aircraft to provide a first indication of the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and a second indication of the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point; one of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated vertically with respect to said runway and said approach, the other of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated at an angle of 45* with respect to said runway and said approach, and said second means includes: third means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals is radiated, fourth means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals, is radiated, fifth means coupled to said third means and said fourth means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, sixth means coupled to said fifth means responsive to said output signal to display the height of said aircraft above said approach, and seventh means coupled to said third means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 11

An instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway comprising: first means disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, each pair of said radiation signals forming said coordinate system appearing to come from different predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, said modulation of said radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said second spaced points from said touchdown point; and second means disposed in said aircraft for detecting said modulation of those of said radiation signals intercepted by said aircraft to provide a first indication of the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and a second indication of the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point; one of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated vertically with respect to said runway and said approach, the other of said radiation signals of each of said pair of said radiation signals is radiated at an angle of 45* with respect to said runway and said approach, and said second means includes: third means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals is radiated, fourth means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from which an intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals, is radiated, fifth means coupled to said third means and said fourth means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said other of said radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach, sixth means coupled to said fifth means responsive to said output signal to display the height of said aircraft above said approach, and seventh means coupled to said third means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said one of said radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 12

In an instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to aSsist on aircraft in landing on said runway, an arrangement disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach comprising: a first antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of a plurality of predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, each of said first antennas radiating a vertical modulated radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach, each of said vertical radiation signals appearing to radiate from the associated one of said spaced points, said modulation of each of said vertical radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; and a second antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points, each of said second antennas radiating a slanted modulated radiation signal, the angle of each of said slanted radiation signals with respect to said runway and said approach being equal to a value greater than 5* but less than 90*, each of said slanted radiation signals appearing to radiate from the associated one of said spaced points, said modulation of each of said slanted radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point.

Claim 13

In an instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to aSsist on aircraft in landing on said runway, an arrangement disposed in juxtaposition to said runway and said approach to provide a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach comprising: a first antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of a plurality of predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway, each of said first antennas radiating a vertical modulated radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach, each of said vertical radiation signals appearing to radiate from the associated one of said spaced points, said modulation of each of said vertical radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; and a second antenna disposed in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points, each of said second antennas radiating a slanted modulated radiation signal, the angle of each of said slanted radiation signals with respect to said runway and said approach being equal to a value greater than 5* but less than 90*, each of said slanted radiation signals appearing to radiate from the associated one of said spaced points, said modulation of each of said slanted radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point.

Claim 14

An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said angle of said slanted radiation signals is equal to 45*.

Claim 15

An arrangement according to claim 9, further including in juxtaposition to each of said spaced points: a first source of distance information signal to provide the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point; a second source of a first carrier signal having a first frequency; a third source of a second carrier signal having a second frequency different than said first frequency; first means coupled to said first source, said second source and said first antenna to modulate said first carrier signal with said distance information signal and to couple said modulated first carrier signal to said first antenna for radiation therefrom as said vertical modulated radiation signal; and second means coupled to said first source, said third source and said second antenna to modulate said second carrier signal with said distance information signal and to couple said modulated second carrier signal to said second antenna for radiation therefrom as said slanted modulated radiation signal.

Claim 16

In an instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway having a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, said coordinate system being provided by radiation of a vertical modulated radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach from each of a plurality of predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway and by radiation of a slanted modulated radiation signal from each of said spaced points, the angle A of each of said slanted radiation signals with respect to said runway and said approach being greater than 5* but less than 90*, said modulation of each of said vertical and slanted radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point, an arrangement disposed in said aircraft to display the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point comprising: first means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point from which an intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals is radiated; seCond means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point from which an intercepted one of said slanted radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals, is radiated; third means coupled to said first means and said second means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said slanted radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals and to multiply the resultant difference by the value of the tangent of said angle A to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach; fourth means coupled to said third means responsive to said output signal to display said height of said aircraft; and fifth means coupled to said first means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 17

In an instrument landing system for a runway and an approach to said runway to assist an aircraft in landing on said runway having a non-orthogonal coordinate system of modulated radiation signals over said runway and said approach, said coordinate system being provided by radiation of a vertical modulated radiation signal with respect to said runway and said approach from each of a plurality of predeterminedly spaced points along said runway and said approach extending in the direction of said approach commencing with and including a desired touchdown point on said runway and by radiation of a slanted modulated radiation signal from each of said spaced points, the angle A of each of said slanted radiation signals with respect to said runway and said approach being greater than 5* but less than 90*, said modulation of each of said vertical and slanted radiation signals providing the distance of its associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point, an arrangement disposed in said aircraft to display the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach and to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point comprising: first means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point from which an intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals is radiated; seCond means to recover said distance of the associated one of said spaced points from said touchdown point from which an intercepted one of said slanted radiation signals, adjacent said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals, is radiated; third means coupled to said first means and said second means to subtract said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said slanted radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals and to multiply the resultant difference by the value of the tangent of said angle A to produce an output signal equal to the height of said aircraft above said runway and said approach; fourth means coupled to said third means responsive to said output signal to display said height of said aircraft; and fifth means coupled to said first means responsive to said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals to display the distance said aircraft is from said touchdown point.

Claim 18

An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said angle A is equal to 45*, and said third means only subtracts said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said slanted radiation signals from said recovered distance of said intercepted one of said vertical radiation signals to produce said output signal.