US3713161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft proximity warning indicator
Assignee: GEN AVIAT ELECTRONICS Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-25
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-08-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus carried aboard an aircraft to indicate the proximity of intruding aircraft equipped with transmitting air traffic control transponders. A receiver acquires the transponder signal of the intruding aircraft and relays the signal to a decoder circuit. A gating circuit within the decoder circuit opens to allow the transponder signal to pass to a pulse width discriminator which excludes all signals not having the unique pulse width of a transponder signal. A generator provides a pulse for simultaneously operating the gating circuit and suppressing the transponder and distance measuring equipment carried abroad the aircraft equipped with the proximity indicator. A time delay circuit and a coincidence circuit are connected to the pulse width discriminator and allow only signals to pass to a warning generator which have the unique time period of a transponder signal. Visual and audio indicators are connected to the warning generator for indicating the receipt by the warning generator of an air traffic control transponder signal.
Inventors
- 👤 E Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/78; G01S13/781; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder eqUipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; a suppression circuit connected to said decoder circuit, said suppression circuit temporarily blanking out signals transmitted by devices on said first aircraft, said decoder circuit operating during said blanking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder eqUipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; a suppression circuit connected to said decoder circuit, said suppression circuit temporarily blanking out signals transmitted by devices on said first aircraft, said decoder circuit operating during said blanking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 1 additionally comprising: a receiver tuned to receive said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft, said receiver being connected to said decoder circuit and conveying said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to said decoder circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 1 wherein: said decoder circuit has a gating circuit, a pulse width discriminator circuit, a time delay circuit and a coincidence circuit, said gating circuit is connected to said discriminator circuit, said gating circuit opens for a discrete time duration allowing a portion of said signal transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to pass to said discriminator circuit, said discriminator circuit is connected to said delay circuit and to said coincidence circuit, said discriminator circuit allows only signal pulses of a predetermined width from said gating circuit to pass through to said coincidence circuit and said time delay circuit, said time delay circuit is connected to said coincidence circuit, said coincidence circuit has an output signal only when said discriminator circuit and said delay circuit provides simultaneous inputs to said coincidence circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 3 wherein: said suppression circuit has a generator connected to said gating circuit, said generator provides a pulse simultaneous to said gating circuit and to said devices on said first aircraft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 4 additionally comprising: a warning indicator circuit connected to said coincidence circuit, said indicator circuit provides an indication upon receipt of said output signal of said coincidence circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 5 additionally comprising: a receiver tuned to receive said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; a pulse amplifier connected between said receiver and said gating circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 6 wherein: said receiver has a preselector, a mixer, a local oscillator, an I.F. strip and a detector connected together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 6 wherein: said receiver has an adjustable range control.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder equipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; and wherein: said decoder circuit has a gating circuit, a pulse width discriminator circuit, a time delay circuit and a coincidence circuit; said gating circuit is connected to said discriminator circuit, said gating circuit opens for a discrete time duration allowing a portion of said signal transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to pass to said discriminator circuit; said discriminator circuit is connected to said delay circuit and to said coincidence circuit, said discriminator circuit allows only signal pulses of a predetermined width from said gating circuit to pass through to said coincidence circuit and said time delay circuit; said time delay circuit is connected to said coincidence circuit; said coincidence circuit has an output signal only when said discriminator circuit and said delay circuit provides simultaneous inputs to said coincidence circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder equipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft; and wherein: said decoder circuit has a gating circuit, a pulse width discriminator circuit, a time delay circuit and a coincidence circuit; said gating circuit is connected to said discriminator circuit, said gating circuit opens for a discrete time duration allowing a portion of said signal transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to pass to said discriminator circuit; said discriminator circuit is connected to said delay circuit and to said coincidence circuit, said discriminator circuit allows only signal pulses of a predetermined width from said gating circuit to pass through to said coincidence circuit and said time delay circuit; said time delay circuit is connected to said coincidence circuit; said coincidence circuit has an output signal only when said discriminator circuit and said delay circuit provides simultaneous inputs to said coincidence circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 9 wherein: said decoder circuit has a continuously running generator connected to said gating circuit, said generator provides a series of pulses to said gating circuit for the continual opening and closing thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder equipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft in response to a ground originating interrogation command received by said transponder equipped aircraft, said decoder circuit including a gate and a continuously running generator operably connected together with said generator supplying a continuous series of gate signals each of which is of the same duration, said gate being open during each of said gate signals and closed between gate signals; and, an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A proximity warning indicator to be placed on a first aircraft for indicating the proximity of transponder equipped aircraft comprising: a decoder circuit recognizing signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft in response to a ground originating interrogation command received by said transponder equipped aircraft, said decoder circuit including a gate and a continuously running generator operably connected together with said generator supplying a continuous series of gate signals each of which is of the same duration, said gate being open during each of said gate signals and closed between gate signals; and, an indicator circuit connected to said decoder circuit and activated by said decoder circuit upon said decoder circuit recognizing said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 11 additionally comprising: a suppression circuit connected to said decoder circuit, said suppression circuit temporarily blanking out signals transmitted by devices on said first aircraft, said decoder circuit operating during said blanking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 11 additionally comprising: a receiver tuned to receive said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft, said receiver being connected to said decoder circuit and conveying said signals transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to said decoder circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 11 wherein: said decoder circuit includes a pulse width discriminator circuit, a time delay circuit and a coincidence circuit, said gate is connected to said discriminator circuit and opens for a discrete time duration allowing a portion of said signal transmitted by said transponder equipped aircraft to pass to said discriminator circuit, said discriminator circuit is connected to said delay circuit and to said coincidence circuit, said discriminator circuit allows only signal pulses of a predetermined width from said gate to pass through to said coincidence circuit and said time delay circuit, said time delay circuit is connected to said coincidence circuit, said coincidence circuit has an output signal only when said discriminator circuit and said delay circuit provides simultaneous inputs to said coincidence circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The proximity warning indicator of claim 14 additionally comprising: a warning indicator circuit connected to said coincidence circuit, said indicator circuit provides an indication upon receipt of said output signal of said coincidence circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3550129A
Cited
US3626411A
Cited
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 |