Pictorial navigation computer

Claim 2

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface; (b) a viewing screen having a stationary mark thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (c) means for projecting a portion of the pictorial representation of the earth's surface on said screen; (d) means for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of two selected radio transmitting stations; (e) means for entering the frequency of each said selected navigation radio transmitting station to be used for reference by said calculating means; (f) means for immediately showing on said viewing screen the chart location of said station to verify that the location coordinates corresponding to the entered navigation frequency accurately locate said station; and (g) means for correcting said navigation station location by the pilot if necessary.

Claim 3

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) a plurality of film charts each defining a pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface; (b) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the coordinates of a given point on a selected one of said charts; (c) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (d) a data storage memory containing the locations of the navigational radio stations encompassed within said selected film chart; a microprocessor programmed to calculate continuously the actual position of said craft in representations of latitude and longitude coordinates from the bearing signals of the selected radio transmitting stations and data stored in said data storage memory; (e) means for utilizing the frequency of a selected navigational radio station to retrieve from said read-only memory the location of said station with respect to said selected chart; (f) means for positioning said selected chart to show the location information within said data storage memory associated with said navigational radio station relative to said reticle; (g) a computing memory connected to said microprocessor adapted to receive, store and deliver computing information; and (h) means for enabling the pilot to insert a corrected location of said station in said computing memory in the event that the station as retained in the data storage memory deviates from the actual location as shown on the chart.

Claim 4

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) a plurality of film charts each defining a pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface; (b) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the coordinates of a given point on a selected one of said charts; (c) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (d) a data storage memory containing the locations of the navigational radio stations encompassed within said selected film chart; a microprocessor programmed to calculate continuously the actual position of said craft in representations of latitude and longitude coordinates from the bearing signals of the selected radio transmitting stations and data stored in said data storage memory; (e) means for utilizing the frequency of a selected navigational radio station to retrieve from said read-only memory the location of said station with respect to said selected chart; (f) means for positioning said selected chart to show the location information within said data storage memory associated with said navigational radio station relative to said reticle; (g) a computing memory connected to said microprocessor adapted to receive, store and deliver computing information; and (h) means for enabling the pilot to insert a corrected location of said station in said computing memory in the event that the station as retained in the data storage memory deviates from the actual location as shown on the chart.

Claim 5

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts; (c) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (d) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (e) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (f) means for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing indicative signals of said radio transmitting stations; (g) means for selecting an alternate radio transmitting station during in-flight operation of said computer; (h) means for checking and pilot correction of the location coordinates of said alternate transmitting station relative to said selected one of said charts during in-flight operation of said computer; and (i) means for shifting to said alternate transmitting station without interfering with the calculating operation of the computer.

Claim 6

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts; (c) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (d) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (e) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (f) means for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing indicative signals of said radio transmitting stations; (g) means for selecting an alternate radio transmitting station during in-flight operation of said computer; (h) means for checking and pilot correction of the location coordinates of said alternate transmitting station relative to said selected one of said charts during in-flight operation of said computer; and (i) means for shifting to said alternate transmitting station without interfering with the calculating operation of the computer.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein each said chart comprises a frame in a strip of film housed in said magazine; each said film frame has identifying indicia adjacent thereto in the space between successive frames, and said magazine includes sensing devices for reading said indicia.

Claim 8

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts; (c) each said chart comprising a frame in a strip of film housed in said magazine; (d) each said film frame having identifying indicia adjacent thereto in the space between successive frames; (e) each said film frame including additional indicia on one side thereof for centering same; (f) said magazine including sensing devices for reading said indicia and additional sensing devices for reading said additional indicia; (g) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (h) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (i) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (j) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of said two selected radio transmitting stations; and (k) means for continuously driving said magazine and said selected chart to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 9

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts; (c) each said chart comprising a frame in a strip of film housed in said magazine; (d) each said film frame having identifying indicia adjacent thereto in the space between successive frames; (e) each said film frame including additional indicia on one side thereof for centering same; (f) said magazine including sensing devices for reading said indicia and additional sensing devices for reading said additional indicia; (g) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (h) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (i) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (j) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of said two selected radio transmitting stations; and (k) means for continuously driving said magazine and said selected chart to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 10

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts on a pair of film spools; (c) said magazine having a film drive comprising a pair of worm wheels on respective ones of the film spools and a pair of worms fixed in axially spaced relation on a drive shaft with their centers a greater distance apart than the distance between the axes of said worm wheels, whereby only either one of said worm wheels is driven selectively by reversing the rotation of said drive shaft; (d) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (e) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (f) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (g) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of said two selected radio transmitting stations; and (h) means for continuously driving said magazine and said selected chart to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 11

An on-board computer for movable craft comprising, in combination: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said charts on a pair of film spools; (c) said magazine having a film drive comprising a pair of worm wheels on respective ones of the film spools and a pair of worms fixed in axially spaced relation on a drive shaft with their centers a greater distance apart than the distance between the axes of said worm wheels, whereby only either one of said worm wheels is driven selectively by reversing the rotation of said drive shaft; (d) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (e) means for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (f) radio receiver means adapted to produce signals indicative of the bearing of each of two selected radio transmitting stations; (g) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of said two selected radio transmitting stations; and (h) means for continuously driving said magazine and said selected chart to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein said driving means is controlled by a counting means and the latter is operated by pulses from opto interrupters connected to said driving means.

Claim 13

An on-board computer for movable craft and adapted to derive input from radio naviagation systems, said computer comprising the combination of: (a) means defining a pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface; (b) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (c) a pair of spaced apart projection lamps adapted to be energized selectively; (d) means for projecting a portion of the pictorial representation of the earth's surface on said screen while shifting the projection axis 90 degrees between the energized one of said projection lamps and said pictorial representation means, and 90 degrees between said pictorial representation means and said screen; (e) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of two selected radio transmitting stations; and (f) means for continuously driving the pictorial representation of the earth's surface to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 14

An on-board computer for movable craft and adapted to derive input from radio naviagation systems, said computer comprising the combination of: (a) means defining a pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface; (b) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (c) a pair of spaced apart projection lamps adapted to be energized selectively; (d) means for projecting a portion of the pictorial representation of the earth's surface on said screen while shifting the projection axis 90 degrees between the energized one of said projection lamps and said pictorial representation means, and 90 degrees between said pictorial representation means and said screen; (e) means including a microprocessor for continuously calculating the actual position of said craft from the bearing signals of two selected radio transmitting stations; and (f) means for continuously driving the pictorial representation of the earth's surface to maintain the indicated position of said craft thereon in conformity with the actual position of said craft.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said projecting means comprises: (d1) a first lens mounted on one side of said pictorial representation means; (d2) a second lens mounted on the opposite side of said pictorial representation means on a common projection axis passing through the latter; (d3) a first mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said projection lamps and adjacent said first lens; (d4) means mounting said first mirror for selective adjustment at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing the energized one of said projection lamps; (d5) a second mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said second lens and said screen; and (d6) said second mirror being mounted at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing said screen.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 9, and which further comprises: (d7) a switch for selectively energizing said projection lamps; and (d8) a common actuator for said switch and said selective adjustment mounting means of said first mirror.

Claim 17

In an on-board computer for movable craft, the combination comprising: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said film charts; (c) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (d) means including a pair of axially spaced apart projection lamps for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (e) a first lens mounted on one side of said magazine; (f) a second lens mounted on the opposite side of said magazine on a common projection axis passing through said selected one of said film charts; (g) a first mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said projection lamps and adjacent said first lens; (h) means mounting said first mirror for selective adjustment at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing the energized one of said projection lamps; (i) a second mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said second lens and said screen; and (j) said second mirror being mounted at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing said viewing screen.

Claim 18

In an on-board computer for movable craft, the combination comprising: (a) means defining a plurality of film charts pictorially representing given portions of the earth's surface; (b) a magazine housing said film charts; (c) a viewing screen having a stationary reticle thereon representing the position of the craft relative to the earth's surface; (d) means including a pair of axially spaced apart projection lamps for projecting a selected one of said film charts on said screen; (e) a first lens mounted on one side of said magazine; (f) a second lens mounted on the opposite side of said magazine on a common projection axis passing through said selected one of said film charts; (g) a first mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said projection lamps and adjacent said first lens; (h) means mounting said first mirror for selective adjustment at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing the energized one of said projection lamps; (i) a second mirror disposed on said common projection axis between said second lens and said screen; and (j) said second mirror being mounted at an angle of substantially 45 degrees facing said viewing screen.

Claim 19

An on-board computer for movable craft as set forth in claim 3, and which further comprises a console containing all components thereof, together with said radio receiver means, said console being of a size adapting it to fit into an instrument panel space heretofore reserved for conventional navigation and communication radios.

Claim 20

An on-board computer for movable craft as set forth in claim 2, and which further comprises a console containing all components thereof, together with navigation radio receiver means and communication radio transmitter receiver means, said console being dimensioned to fit into an instrument panel space normally reserved for conventional navigation and communication radios.