US5142480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing an indication as to whether an aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination
Assignee: UPS AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1990-02-27
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Granted: 1992-08-25
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Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing an indication as to whether an aircraft can safely glide to a selected location. An electronic processor is provided with a manual data input, a Loran navigation system input, or electronic altimeter input, a memory, a display, and a processor program. Data representing the identity, location, and other features of a set of possible airport landing sites are stored in the memory. Data representing the aircraft flight performance parameters is entered manually. Based on the airport data, aircraft performance data, Loran data, and altimeter data, the program causes the processor to determine and display a predetermined number of nearest airports, the altitude required to glide to those airports from the aircraft's current location, or the difference between the distance to the airports and the distance the aircraft can glide from its current altitude, and whether the aircraft can safely glide to a selected airport.
Inventors
- 👤 James Morrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:02
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/10; G05D1/101; G05D1/105; G01; G01C; G01C23/00; G01C23/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) a radio navigation instrument on board said aircraft which provides data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) first source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) second source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight a performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (d) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said radio navigation instrument, said first source means, said second source means and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) a radio navigation instrument on board said aircraft which provides data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) first source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) second source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight a performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (d) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said radio navigation instrument, said first source means, said second source means and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means responsive to said first source means for determining whether or not said electrical signal representing current altitude is reliable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second source means comprises an electronic data storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said third source means comprises an electronical data storage device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising display means for providing a visual indication of whether said aircraft can safely glide to said target destination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising display means for providing a visual indication of the difference between the distance to said target destination and the distance that said aircraft can glide at its current altitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising display means for providing a visual indication of the minimum altitude required for said aircraft to glide to said target destination from its current location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising display means for providing a visual indication of a predetermined number of nearest landing sites from among a set of possible landing sites.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said processor means comprises programmed electronic digital data processor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data processor means is adapted to determine the difference between the distance to said target destination and the distance that said aircraft can glide at its current altitude.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said data processor means is adapted to determine the minimum altitude required for said aircraft to glide to said target destination from its current location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said data processor means is adapted to select as target destinations a predetermined number of nearest landing sites from among a set of possible landing sites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said radio navigation instrument comprises a Loran device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first source means comprises an altimeter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a radio navigation instrument on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said selected target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a radio navigation instrument on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said selected target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether said altitude data is valid and, if not, displaying the altitude required to glide to said target location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a visual display as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to said target destination.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a visual display of the difference between the distance to said target destination and the distance that said aircraft can glide at its current altitude.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said radio navigation instrument comprises a Loran device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said first source comprises an altimeter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said second source comprises an electronic data storage device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said third source comprises an electronic data storage device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising causing said electronic data processor to select as target destinations a predetermined number of nearest landing sites from among a set of possible landing sites.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
193 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) an altimeter on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) second source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said first source means, said altimeter, said second source means, and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
193 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) an altimeter on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) second source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said first source means, said altimeter, said second source means, and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
194 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely guide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) second source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) an electronic data memory on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said first source means, said second source means, said electronic data memory, and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
194 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely guide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) second source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) an electronic data memory on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said first source means, said second source means, said electronic data memory, and said third source means, for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
197 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) second source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) an electronic data memory on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said first source means, said second source means, said third source means, and said electronic data memory for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
197 words
An on-board aircraft system for providing an indication as to whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected destination, comprising: (a) first source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) second source means on board said aircraft for providing in the form of an electrical signal data representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) third source means on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the position of a selected target destination; (d) an electronic data memory on board said aircraft for providing data in the form of an electrical signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) electronic data processor means, on board said aircraft and responsive to said data from said first source means, said second source means, said third source means, and said electronic data memory for producing, based on said current location of said aircraft, said altitude of said aircraft, said position of said selected target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from an altimeter on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from an altimeter on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from an electronic data memory on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from an electronic data memory on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said selected target destination.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from an electronic data memory on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said target destination.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for determining on board an aircraft whether said aircraft can safely glide to a selected target destination, comprising: (a) providing from a first source on board said aircraft to an electronic data processor on board said aircraft an electrical data signal representing the current location of said aircraft; (b) providing from a second source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current altitude of said aircraft; (c) providing from a third source on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the current position of said target destination; (d) providing from an electronic data memory on board said aircraft to said electronic data processor an electrical data signal representing the flight performance characteristics of said aircraft; and (e) causing said electronic data processor to produce, based on said current location, said current altitude, said target destination, and said flight performance data, an indication of whether said aircraft can glide to said target destination.
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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) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |