US3716855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glideslope position detection system for use with an independent aircraft landing monitor
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-15
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-07-15
Abstract
Abstract An glideslope position detection system wherein a pair of passive reflectors are located in a spaced apart configuration at a known position adjacent an airport runway. Each of the reflectors are shaped to direct different reflection patterns in response to radar signals transmitted from an aircraft during a glideslope approach to the runway. One of the reflectors directs a reflection pattern beneath the glideslope and the other of the reflectors directs a radar reflection pattern above the glideslope, the reflection patterns providing equal amplitude radar returns to an aircraft traveling along the glideslope. The aircraft carries a radar system for detecting the relative radar return signal amplitudes from the two reflectors. Circuitry is responsive to comparison of the radar return signal amplitudes from the reflectors to generate indications of the position of the aircraft relative to the runway glideslope.
Inventors
- 👤 E Asam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/91; G01S13/913; G01S13/66; G01S13/70; G01S13/87; G01S13/876; G01S13/93; G01S13/933; G01S13/935; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; G01S7/2921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An aircraft glideslope detection system comprising: a radar system carried onboard an aircraft for detecting reflected radar signals from a plurality of reflectors spaced at different ranges from the aircraft adjacent an airport runway, each of said reflectors having reflection patterns of different angles in the elevation, range tracking means responsive to said radar system for tracking the range of said reflectors, means for sampling the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in dependence upon said range tracking means, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of the reflected radar signals of said reflectors, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating indications of the position of said aircraft with respect to the desired glideslope.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An aircraft glideslope detection system comprising: a radar system carried onboard an aircraft for detecting reflected radar signals from a plurality of reflectors spaced at different ranges from the aircraft adjacent an airport runway, each of said reflectors having reflection patterns of different angles in the elevation, range tracking means responsive to said radar system for tracking the range of said reflectors, means for sampling the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in dependence upon said range tracking means, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of the reflected radar signals of said reflectors, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating indications of the position of said aircraft with respect to the desired glideslope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
An aircraft glideslope detection system comprising: a radar system carried onboard an aircraft for detecting reflected radar signals from a plurality of reflectors spaced at different ranges from the aircraft adjacent an airport runway, each of said reflectors having reflection patterns of different angles in the elevation, range tracking means responsive to said radar system for tracking the range of said reflectors, means for sampling the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in dependence upon said range tracking means, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of the reflected radar signals of said reflectors, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating indications of the position of said aircraft with respect to the desired glideslope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
An aircraft glideslope detection system comprising: a radar system carried onboard an aircraft for detecting reflected radar signals from a plurality of reflectors spaced at different ranges from the aircraft adjacent an airport runway, each of said reflectors having reflection patterns of different angles in the elevation, range tracking means responsive to said radar system for tracking the range of said reflectors, means for sampling the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in dependence upon said range tracking means, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of the reflected radar signals of said reflectors, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating indications of the position of said aircraft with respect to the desired glideslope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 1 wherein said radar system comprises: means for transmitting and receiving radar signals from the aircraft, the transmitted radiation pattern being narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 2 and further comprising: antenna means for sweeping the transmitted radiation pattern over an azimuth angle sufficient for airport runway detection during glideslope approach.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 1 wherein said reflectors are spaced along the side of a runway, one of said reflectors directing a reflection pattern below the glideslope and another of said reflectors directing a reflection pattern above the glideslope, the amplitudes of said reflection patterns being equal along the glideslope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 1 wherein indications of the position of said aircraft with respect to the desired glideslope are not generated until said range tracking means has locked onto said reflectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of additional reflectors disposed adjacent the airport runway for directing radar return signals back to an aircraft according to a pseudorandom code to facilitate Range tracking.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A glideslope detection system comprising: at least two reflectors located in a spaced apart configuration adjacent an airport runway, one of said reflectors shaped to direct a first radar reflection pattern beneath a desired runway glideslope and the other of said reflectors shaped to direct a second radar reflection pattern above said desired runway glideslope, said first and second reflection patterns providing equal amplitude radar returns along said desired runway glideslope, a radar system carried by an aircraft including a range tracker for detecting the relative radar return signal amplitudes of said first and second reflection patterns, means responsive to said range tracker for sampling the amplitudes of said radar return signals from alternate ones of said reflection patterns, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of said radar return signals, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating an indication of the position of the aircraft relative to said glideslope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A glideslope detection system comprising: at least two reflectors located in a spaced apart configuration adjacent an airport runway, one of said reflectors shaped to direct a first radar reflection pattern beneath a desired runway glideslope and the other of said reflectors shaped to direct a second radar reflection pattern above said desired runway glideslope, said first and second reflection patterns providing equal amplitude radar returns along said desired runway glideslope, a radar system carried by an aircraft including a range tracker for detecting the relative radar return signal amplitudes of said first and second reflection patterns, means responsive to said range tracker for sampling the amplitudes of said radar return signals from alternate ones of said reflection patterns, means for comparing the sampled amplitudes of said radar return signals, and means responsive to said comparing means for generating an indication of the position of the aircraft relative to said glideslope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 7 wherein the reflector closest to the aircraft reflects said first reflection pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 8 and further comprising: additional reflectors located adjacent the runway for reflecting according to a pseudorandom code to facilitate range tracking.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The glideslope detection system of claim 7 wherein no glideslope indication is generated until said range tracker locks on to said additional reflectors.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of determining glideslope position during an aircraft landing comprising: transmitting radar signals from an aircraft during glideslope approach to an airport runway, reflecting said radar signals from at least two spaced apart locations adjacent the runway, the reflection pattern from one location being generally directed below the glideslope and the reflection pattern from the other location being generally directed above the glideslope, measuring at the aircraft the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in response to range tracking of said spaced apart locations, comparing said measured amplitudes of said reflection patterns, and generating in response to said compared measured amplitudes indications of the location of the aircraft with respect to the glideslope.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of determining glideslope position during an aircraft landing comprising: transmitting radar signals from an aircraft during glideslope approach to an airport runway, reflecting said radar signals from at least two spaced apart locations adjacent the runway, the reflection pattern from one location being generally directed below the glideslope and the reflection pattern from the other location being generally directed above the glideslope, measuring at the aircraft the amplitudes of said reflection patterns in response to range tracking of said spaced apart locations, comparing said measured amplitudes of said reflection patterns, and generating in response to said compared measured amplitudes indications of the location of the aircraft with respect to the glideslope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 and further comprising: tracking the range of the aircraft to the runway by detecting reflections from additional locations adjacent the runway which are disposed according to a pseudorandom code.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |