US4217486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital flight guidance system
Assignee: Bendix Corp
•
Filing: 1979-01-31
•
Granted: 1980-08-12
•
Expires: 1999-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A digital flight guidance system includes a pair of processors, each with its own memory means and arranged with common input and output means for providing monitored guidance of an aircraft when the craft is in cruise modes or when the craft is performing a critical maneuver such as landing, terrain following, or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Tawfik
- 👤 Jerry Doniger
- 👤 Donald J. Porawski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:06
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/0055; G05D1/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A digital system for guiding the flight of an aircraft, comprising: a pair of processors; a pair of memory means, each of which is associated with a corresponding processor; system input means commonly associated with the processors and their corresponding memory means; means for sensing outer loop flight guidance conditions; means for sensing inner loop flight guidance conditions; the system input means connected to the outer loop condition sensing means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing an outer loop condition output, and connected to the inner loop condition sensing means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing an inner loop condition output; one of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the outer loop condition output and means responsive to the inner loop condition output for providing a first system output for outer loop and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft; and the other of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the inner loop condition output for providing a second system output for inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A digital system for guiding the flight of an aircraft, comprising: a pair of processors; a pair of memory means, each of which is associated with a corresponding processor; system input means commonly associated with the processors and their corresponding memory means; means for sensing outer loop flight guidance conditions; means for sensing inner loop flight guidance conditions; the system input means connected to the outer loop condition sensing means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing an outer loop condition output, and connected to the inner loop condition sensing means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing an inner loop condition output; one of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the outer loop condition output and means responsive to the inner loop condition output for providing a first system output for outer loop and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft; and the other of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the inner loop condition output for providing a second system output for inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system as described by claim 1, wherein: each of the memory means includes means for comparing the system output therefrom to the system output from the other of the memory means and for providing a compared system output; and the system includes output means connected to one of the memory means and responsive to the system output therefrom for providing a command output, and connected to the comparing means included in each of the memory means and responsive to the compared system output therefrom for providing a corresponding monitoring output.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as described by claim 1, wherein: the memory means associated with the one processor includes comparator means for comparing the first system output provided by said memory means to the second system output provided by the memory means associated with the other of the processors and for providing a first compared output; and the memory means associated with the other of the processors includes means for comparing the second system output provided by said memory means to the first system output provided by the memory means associated with the one processor and for providing a second compared output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as described by claim 3 including: system output means having first means connected to the comparator means in the memory means associated with the one processor and responsive to the first compared output therefrom for providing a first logic output, and second means connected to the comparator means in the memory means associated with the other of the processors and responsive to the second compared output therefrom for providing a second logic output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as described by claim 3, including: system output means having first means connected to the comparator means in the memory means associated with the one processor and responsive to the first compared output therefrom for providing a first logic output, and second means connected to the comparator means in the memory means associated with the other of the processors and responsive to the second compared output therefrom for providing a second logic output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as described by claim 1, including; system output means having means connected to the memory means associated with the one processor and responsive to the first system output therefrom for providing a command output; and aircraft control surface actuating means connected to the means connected to the memory means associated with the one processor and responsive to the command output therefrom for actuating an aircraft control surface for the outer loop and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
A digital system for guiding the flight of an aircraft comprising: a pair of processors; a pair of memory means, each of which is associated with a corresponding processor; system input means commonly associated with the processors and their corresponding memory means; first means for sensing outer loop flight guidance conditions; second means for sensing corresponding outer loop flight guidance conditions; the system input means connected to the first and second means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing first and second outer loop condition outputs; one of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the first outer loop condition output for providing a first system output for outer and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft; and the other of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the second outer loop condition output for providing a second system output for outer loop and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
A digital system for guiding the flight of an aircraft comprising: a pair of processors; a pair of memory means, each of which is associated with a corresponding processor; system input means commonly associated with the processors and their corresponding memory means; first means for sensing outer loop flight guidance conditions; second means for sensing corresponding outer loop flight guidance conditions; the system input means connected to the first and second means and responsive to the sensed conditions therefrom for providing first and second outer loop condition outputs; one of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the first outer loop condition output for providing a first system output for outer and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft; and the other of the processors and its associated memory means connected to the input means, said associated memory means including means responsive to the second outer loop condition output for providing a second system output for outer loop and inner loop guidance of the flight of the aircraft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system as described by claim 7, wherein: each of the memory means includes means for comparing the system output therefrom to the system output from the other of the memory means and for providing a compared system output; and the system includes output means connected to one of the memory means and responsive to the system output therefrom for providing a command output, and connected to the comparing means included in each of the memory means and responsive to the compared system output therefrom for providing a corresponding monitoring output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as described by claim 7, wherein: the memory means associated with the one processor includes comparator means for comparing the first system output provided by said memory means to the second system output provided by the memory means associated with the other of the processors and for providing a first compared output; and the memory means associated with the other of the processor includes means for comparing the second system output provided by said memory means to the first system output provided by the memory means associated with the one processor and for providing a second compared output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as described by claim 7 including: system output means having means connected to the memory means associated with one of the processors and responsive to one of the first and second system outputs for providing a command output; and aircraft control surface actuating means connected to the means connected to the memory means associated with the one processor and responsive to the command output therefrom for actuating an aircraft control surface for the outer loop and inner loop guidance of the aircraft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3517174A
Cited
DE2108836A1
Cited
US3688099A
Cited
US3770948A
Cited
US4032757A
Cited
US4030074A
Cited
US4115847A
Cited
US4035705A
Cited
US4130241A
Cited
US4096989A
Cited
US4101958A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |