US3882501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for determining speed and heading of airborne equipment with rectilinear coordinate positions
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-11
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for determining air speed, ground speed and direction of airborne equipment by use of the X and Y rectilinear coordinate positions for such equipment, without utilization of air speed transducers. The ground speed and direction is obtained by summing a signal representing the rate of change of the X coordinate with a signal representing the rate of change of the Y coordinate after phase shifting one of these coordinate signals with respect to the other of the coordinate signals. The air speed is obtained by summing the vector of the ground speed and direction with externally introduced information regarding wind speed and wind direction. The heading or direction of the airborne equipment is obtained by comparing the previously derived heading and direction with a reference oscillator signal in a phase detector, operating in conjunction with a closed loop servo-system.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Allen Botzum
- 👤 Charalampos Koufidakis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/50; G01S13/58; G01S13/60; G01S1/00; G01S1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction and speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said apparatus comprising: a. input means for receiving first and second signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. rate of change means operatively associated with said input means to determine the rates of change of said first and second signals with respect to time, c. phase shift means operatively connected to said rate of change means for receiving signals representative of the rate of change of said first and second signals and phase shifting one of the first and second signals with respect to the other of said signals, d. summing means operatively connected to said phase shift means for summing the rate of change of the first signal with respect to the rate of change of the second signal, to determine the amplitude of the summed signal which is proportional to speed of the airborne equipment and the phase of the summed signal which is proportional to the direction of the airborne equipment, e. speed indicative means operatively connected to said summing means for receiving the summed signal and which speed indicative means is responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal to determine the speed of the airborne equipment, and f. direction determination means operatively connected to said summing means for receiving the summed signal and which direction determination means is responsive to the phase of the summed signal to determine the direction of the airborne equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction and speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said apparatus comprising: a. input means for receiving first and second signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. rate of change means operatively associated with said input means to determine the rates of change of said first and second signals with respect to time, c. phase shift means operatively connected to said rate of change means for receiving signals representative of the rate of change of said first and second signals and phase shifting one of the first and second signals with respect to the other of said signals, d. summing means operatively connected to said phase shift means for summing the rate of change of the first signal with respect to the rate of change of the second signal, to determine the amplitude of the summed signal which is proportional to speed of the airborne equipment and the phase of the summed signal which is proportional to the direction of the airborne equipment, e. speed indicative means operatively connected to said summing means for receiving the summed signal and which speed indicative means is responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal to determine the speed of the airborne equipment, and f. direction determination means operatively connected to said summing means for receiving the summed signal and which direction determination means is responsive to the phase of the summed signal to determine the direction of the airborne equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 1 further characterized in that chopping means is operatively interposed between said rate of change means and said phase shift means to chop the signals Representative of rate of change of the first and second signals to a predetermined cycle rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 1 further characterized in that the speed of the airborne equipment as determined is the ground speed of the airborne equipment, said apparatus further comprising wind direction resolving means to determine a vector equivalent to direction of the wind in which the airborne equipment exists, air speed determining means operatively connected to said direction resolving means to generate a signal in which the amplitude is proportional to the air speed of said airborne equipment, and air speed indicative means operatively connected to said air speed determining means and to said summing means and which is responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal to determine the air speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 1 further characterized in that said direction determination means comprises an airborne equipment direction resolver and a phase detecting means operatively connected to said airborne equipment direction resolver for comparison with a reference signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 4 further characterized in that said direction determination means also comprises a reference oscillator circuit for generating and operatively introducing a reference signal to said airborne equipment direction resolver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 4 further characterized in that said direction determination means comprises a closed loop servosystem which is operatively connected across said airborne equipment direction resolver and phase detecting means to drive the airborne equipment direction resolver based on the output of said phase detecting means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for tracking airborne equipment and determining the location, speed and direction of such airborne equipment, said system comprising: a. antenna means detecting the presence of such airborne equipment and generating a signal representative of its presence, b. coordinate computing means operatively associated with said antenna means to generate first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the location of said airborne equipment, c. position indicative means operatively connected to said coordinate computing means to determine the location of said airborne equipment, d. speed and direction determining means operatively connected to said coordinate computing means and receiving the first and second rectilinear coordinate signals, e. a ground speed determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining means to determine and sum the rates of change of said first and second coordinate signals with respect to time and thereby determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment, f. a direction determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining means and being operatively connected to said speed determination dircuit, and being responsive to the phase of the summed signal to thereby determine the direction of said airborne equipment, and g. an air speed determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining circuit for generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and thereby determine the speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for tracking airborne equipment and determining the location, speed and direction of such airborne equipment, said system comprising: a. antenna means detecting the presence of such airborne equipment and generating a signal representative of its presence, b. coordinate computing means operatively associated with said antenna means to generate first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the location of said airborne equipment, c. position indicative means operatively connected to said coordinate computing means to determine the location of said airborne equipment, d. speed and direction determining means operatively connected to said coordinate computing means and receiving the first and second rectilinear coordinate signals, e. a ground speed determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining means to determine and sum the rates of change of said first and second coordinate signals with respect to time and thereby determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment, f. a direction determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining means and being operatively connected to said speed determination dircuit, and being responsive to the phase of the summed signal to thereby determine the direction of said airborne equipment, and g. an air speed determination circuit forming part of said speed and direction determining circuit for generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and thereby determine the speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system for tracking airborne equipment of claim 7 further characterized in that means is provided in said speed and direction determining means to externally introduce signals representative of wind direction and wind speed, and which last named signals are introduced into said air speed determination circuit to determine air speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
The system for tracking airborne equipment of claim 7 further characterized in that said ground speed determination circuit comprises: a. rate of change means for determining the rates of change of said first and second coordinate signals with respect to time, b. summing means operatively connected to said rate of change means for summing the rates of change of the first and second coordinate signals, and c. ground speed indicative means operatively connected to said summing means and being responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal to thereby determine the speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system for tracking airborne equipment of claim 7 further characterized in that said air speed determination circuit comprises: a. direction resolving means to determine a vector equivalent to direction of the wind in which the airborne equipment exists, b. air speed determining means operatively connected to said direction resolving means to generate a signal in which the amplitude is proportional to the air speed of said airborne equipment, c. and air speed indicative means operatively connected to said air speed determining means and which is responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal to determine the air speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system for tracking airborne equipment of claim 7 further characterized in that said direction determination circuit comprises an airborne equipment direction resolver and a phase detecting means operatively connected to said airborne equipment direction resolver for comparison with a reference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said apparatus comprising: a. input means for receiving first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. rate of change-summating means operatively connected to said input means to determine the rate of change of the first and second signals with respect to time and to sum the resultant rate of changes of the signals to form a summed signal, c. ground speed indicative means operatively connected to said last named means to receive the combined signal and determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal, d. phase detecting means operatively connected to said rate of change-summating means and being responsive to the phase of the summed signal and comparing the summed signal with a reference signal, e. airborne equipment direction resolving means operatively connected to said phase detecting means and being operable thereby to provide indication of the direction of the airborne equipment, f. air speed direction resolving means responsive to external wind direction conditions in which the airborne equipment exists and generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and, g. air speed indicative means operatively connected to said air speed direction resolving means and determining the air speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said apparatus comprising: a. input means for receiving first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. rate of change-summating means operatively connected to said input means to determine the rate of change of the first and second signals with respect to time and to sum the resultant rate of changes of the signals to form a summed signal, c. ground speed indicative means operatively connected to said last named means to receive the combined signal and determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal, d. phase detecting means operatively connected to said rate of change-summating means and being responsive to the phase of the summed signal and comparing the summed signal with a reference signal, e. airborne equipment direction resolving means operatively connected to said phase detecting means and being operable thereby to provide indication of the direction of the airborne equipment, f. air speed direction resolving means responsive to external wind direction conditions in which the airborne equipment exists and generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and, g. air speed indicative means operatively connected to said air speed direction resolving means and determining the air speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
The apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment of claim 12 further characterized in that said rate of change-summating means comprises a rate of change means operatively connected to the input means to determine the rate of change of the first and second signals with respect to time, and a summing means for summing the rate of change of the first signal with respect to the rate of change of the second signal, and phase shift means operatively interposed between said rate of change means and said summing means to phase shift one of the first or second signals with respect to the other of said first and second signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment of claim 12 further characterized in that a reference oscillator circuit is operatively associated with said airborne equipment direction resolving means and said phase detecting means for generating and introducing a reference signal to said airborne equipment direction resolving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment of claim 12 further characterized in that a closed loop servosystem is operatively connected across said airborne equipment direction resolving means and said phase detecting means to drive the airborne equipment direction resolving means based on the output of said phase detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus for determining at a remote site the direction air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment of claim 12 further characterized in that means is provided for said air speed direction resolving means to externally introduce signals representative of wind direction and wind speed and which last named signals are effective to aid in the determination of air speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining at a remote site the direction and speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said method comprising: a. receiving first and second signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. determining the rates of change of said first second signals with respect to time, c. phase shifting one of the first and second signals with respect to the other of said signals after determining the rate of change of said first and second signals, d. summing the rate of change of the first signal with respect to the rate of change of the second signal, e. determining the amplitude of the summed signal which is proportional to speed of the airborne equipment, f. determining the phase of the summed signal which is proportional to the direction of the airborne equipment, g. determining the speed of the airborne equipment in response to the amplitude of the summed signal, and h. determining the direction of the airborne equipment in response to the phase of the summed signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining at a remote site the direction and speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said method comprising: a. receiving first and second signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. determining the rates of change of said first second signals with respect to time, c. phase shifting one of the first and second signals with respect to the other of said signals after determining the rate of change of said first and second signals, d. summing the rate of change of the first signal with respect to the rate of change of the second signal, e. determining the amplitude of the summed signal which is proportional to speed of the airborne equipment, f. determining the phase of the summed signal which is proportional to the direction of the airborne equipment, g. determining the speed of the airborne equipment in response to the amplitude of the summed signal, and h. determining the direction of the airborne equipment in response to the phase of the summed signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 17 further characterized in that the signals representative of rate of change of the first and second signals are chopped to a predetermined cycle rate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for determining the direction and speed of the airborne equipment of claim 17 further characterized in that the method includes comparing the summed signal with a reference signal and operating an airborne equipment direction resolver thereby through a closed loop servosystem.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for tracking airborne equipment and determining the position, speed and direction of such airborne equipment, said method comprising: a. detecting the presence of such airborne equipment, b. generating a signal representative of the presence of such airborne equipment, c. generating first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the location of said airborne equipment, d. determining the location of said airborne equipment based on said coordinate signals, e. determining the rates of change of the first and second rectilinear coordinate signals, f. summing the rates of change of said first and second coordinate signals with respect to time to produce a summed signal and thereby determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment, g. determining the direction of said airborne equipment responsive to the phase of the summed signal, and h. generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment, and i. determining the speed of the airborne equipment from said last named signal.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for tracking airborne equipment and determining the position, speed and direction of such airborne equipment, said method comprising: a. detecting the presence of such airborne equipment, b. generating a signal representative of the presence of such airborne equipment, c. generating first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the location of said airborne equipment, d. determining the location of said airborne equipment based on said coordinate signals, e. determining the rates of change of the first and second rectilinear coordinate signals, f. summing the rates of change of said first and second coordinate signals with respect to time to produce a summed signal and thereby determine the ground speed of the airborne equipment, g. determining the direction of said airborne equipment responsive to the phase of the summed signal, and h. generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment, and i. determining the speed of the airborne equipment from said last named signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for tracking airborne equipment of claim 20 further characTerized in that the method comprises externally introducing signals representative of wind direction and wind speed, and which last named signals are introduced to determine air speed of the airborne equipment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for tracking airborne equipment of claim 20 further characterized in that said method comprises determining the speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said method comprising: a. receiving first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. determining the rate of change of the first and second signals with respect to time, c. summing the resultant rate of changes of the signals to form a summed signal, d. determining the ground speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal, e. detecting the phase of the summed signal, f. comparing the phase of the summed signal with a reference signal, g. providing indication of the direction of the airborne equipment based on the phase of the summed signal and comparison with the reference signal, h. generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and which is also responsive to external wind direction conditions in which the airborne equipment exists, and i. determining the air speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment from rectilinear coordinate location information, said method comprising: a. receiving first and second rectilinear coordinate signals representative of the respective first and second rectilinear coordinates of the airborne equipment, b. determining the rate of change of the first and second signals with respect to time, c. summing the resultant rate of changes of the signals to form a summed signal, d. determining the ground speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of the summed signal, e. detecting the phase of the summed signal, f. comparing the phase of the summed signal with a reference signal, g. providing indication of the direction of the airborne equipment based on the phase of the summed signal and comparison with the reference signal, h. generating a signal in which the amplitude thereof is proportional to the air speed of the airborne equipment and which is also responsive to external wind direction conditions in which the airborne equipment exists, and i. determining the air speed of the airborne equipment responsive to the amplitude of said last named signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method for determining at a remote site the direction, air speed and ground speed of airborne equipment of claim 23 further characterized in that the method comprises externally introducing signals representative of wind direction and wind speed and which last named signals are effective to aid in the determination of air speed of the airborne equipment.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |