US5196847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ground proximity warning instrument using flight path modulation of glide slope alerting function
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1991-09-18
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Granted: 1993-03-23
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Expires: 2011-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A ground proximity warning system monitors the flight path angle or barometric or inertially derived descent rate of the aircraft and modulates the glide slope alerting function in accordance with flight path angle or descent rate when the aircraft is not descending rapidly even though it is below the glide slope in order to reduce nuisance warnings without compromising system sensitivity. Alternatively, the repetition rate of the alert may be varied as a function of the flight path angle or descent rate to provide less frequent alerts when the aircraft is not descending rapidly.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles D. Bateman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:51
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/04; G05D1/06; G05D1/0607; G05D1/0615; G05D1/0653; G05D1/0676
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a glide slope alert when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount according to a predetermined set of criteria; and means for reducing nuisance warnings, including means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined set of criteria as a function of the flight path of the aircraft to increase said predetermined amount when the aircraft is descending at less than a predetermined rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a glide slope alert when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount according to a predetermined set of criteria; and means for reducing nuisance warnings, including means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined set of criteria as a function of the flight path of the aircraft to increase said predetermined amount when the aircraft is descending at less than a predetermined rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a glide slope alert when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount according to a predetermined set of criteria; and means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined criteria as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, said system including means for inhibiting said alert when the aircraft is not descending.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a glide slope alert when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount according to a predetermined set of criteria; and means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined criteria as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, said system including means for inhibiting said alert when the aircraft is not descending.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flight path representative signal is a flight path angle representative signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flight path representative signal is a vertical velocity signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a periodic glide slope alert at a predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount; and means for reducing nuisance warnings, including means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined repetition rate as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, said nuisance warning reducing means including means for reducing said predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft is descending at less than a predetermined rate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a periodic glide slope alert at a predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount; and means for reducing nuisance warnings, including means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined repetition rate as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, said nuisance warning reducing means including means for reducing said predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft is descending at less than a predetermined rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 5, wherein said repetition rate is relatively greater when the aircraft is descending than when it is not descending.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a periodic glide slope alert at a predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount; and means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined repetition rate as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, wherein said repetition rate is relatively greater when the aircraft is descending than when it is not descending, said system including means for inhibiting said alert when the aircraft is not descending.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
A glide slope warning system for aircraft responsive to a signal representative of the deviation of an aircraft from a glide slope radio beam and to a signal representative of the flight path of the aircraft, comprising: means responsive to said glide slope deviation signal for generating a periodic glide slope alert at a predetermined repetition rate when the aircraft descends below the glide slope by a predetermined amount; and means responsive to said flight path representative signal for altering said predetermined repetition rate as a function of the flight path of the aircraft, wherein said repetition rate is relatively greater when the aircraft is descending than when it is not descending, said system including means for inhibiting said alert when the aircraft is not descending.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 6, wherein said flight path representative signal is a flight path angle representative signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 6, wherein said flight path representative signal is a vertical velocity signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 1, wherein said altering means includes means for gradually increasing said predetermined amount in response to reduced descent rates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A glide slope warning system as recited in claim 5, wherein said altering means includes means for gradually reducing said repetition rate in response to reduced descent rates.
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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) | 1996-03-22 | 1996-09-21 | 1997-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-22 | 2000-09-21 | 2001-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-22 | 2004-09-21 | 2005-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |