US5375058A — Surface detection system for airports

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

A surface detection system for monitoring the positions of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, two runways having thresholds and taxiways accessing said thresholds and crossing taxiways extending between said runways, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a threshold scanner assemblage positioned for scanning the threshold of each said runway to derive first scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft; a taxiway scanner assemblage positioned for scanning select locations of said taxiways to derive second scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a said scanned aircraft; transmission means for conveying said first and second scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said first and second scan signals for accessing said aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

A surface detection system for monitoring the positions of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, two runways having thresholds and taxiways accessing said thresholds and crossing taxiways extending between said runways, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a threshold scanner assemblage positioned for scanning the threshold of each said runway to derive first scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft; a taxiway scanner assemblage positioned for scanning select locations of said taxiways to derive second scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a said scanned aircraft; transmission means for conveying said first and second scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said first and second scan signals for accessing said aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 86 words

The system of claim 1 including: a runway scanner assemblage positioned for scanning said runways at said crossing taxiways extending between said runways to derive third scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a said scanned aircraft: and said control means is responsive to said third scan signals for accessing said aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals representing the location of said scanned aircraft with respect to its location in relation to said runway and said crossing taxiway.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 74 words

The system of claim 2 in which: said control means is responsive to said first and third scan signals for deriving aircraft position and movement data therefrom and generating an alert output signal in the presence of an incipient condition for collision of said scanned aircraft and for transmitting said alert output signal to said display; and said display is responsive to said alert output signal for displaying an alert symbol in correspondence therewith.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 in which said machine readable code is a bar code and said threshold scanner assemblage includes an optical beam scanner located adjacent said threshold of each said runway.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 78 words

The system of claim 1 in which said threshold scanner assemblage is an optical beam scanner having a code output signal corresponding with said machine readable code and the position of said scanned aircraft, and includes a local processor responsive to said code output signal for deriving the identifying number of said scanned aircraft, the time of said scan, the location of said scanned aircraft and the speed and direction of movement thereof as said first scan signals.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

The system of claim 1 in which: said taxiway scanner assemblage includes a presence/absence detector responsive to the presence of an object at a predetermined region of said taxiway having no said machine readable code and deriving an unidentifiable object signal; and said control means is responsive to said unidentifiable object signal to derive a said display input signal representing said object and the location thereof.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 133 words

The system of claim 1 in which: said threshold scanner assemblage is an optical beam scanner having a beam output and responsive to an information input signal to modulate said beam output in correspondence therewith; including an optical responsive receiver mounted upon said aircraft responsive to said modulated beam output to derive received signals; a display within said aircraft responsive to said received signals to provide a visually perceptible display; said memory includes map data representing the layout of said airport facility including said runways and taxiways; and said control means is responsive to said map data, said first and second scan signals to effect said beam modulation to derive said received signals effecting display of a map of said airport facility and the display of the location of said scanned aircraft thereon.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for monitoring the position of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, a runway with a threshold and a turn-off location and taxiway surfaces accessing said threshold and turn-off location, comprising the steps of: providing a machine readable code at a predetermined location on and uniquely identifying said aircraft; accessing said aircraft bar code by carrying out the scanning of said airport surface at said threshold and turn-off location to derive scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code; providing a memory for retaining aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; accessing said memory in response to said scan signals to identify said aircraft and its position on said airport surface; and providing a visually perceptible indication of said aircraft identity and position at said control tower.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for monitoring the position of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, a runway with a threshold and a turn-off location and taxiway surfaces accessing said threshold and turn-off location, comprising the steps of: providing a machine readable code at a predetermined location on and uniquely identifying said aircraft; accessing said aircraft bar code by carrying out the scanning of said airport surface at said threshold and turn-off location to derive scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code; providing a memory for retaining aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; accessing said memory in response to said scan signals to identify said aircraft and its position on said airport surface; and providing a visually perceptible indication of said aircraft identity and position at said control tower.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 8 in which said visually perceptible indication is provided as a real time map display of said airport facility showing said aircraft by a select indicia.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 8 in which said machine readable code is provided as a bar code corresponding with the tail number of said aircraft.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 8 in which said scanning of said airport surface is carried out by optical beam scanners positioned at predetermined locations of said airport facility.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 11 in which said scanners are positioned adjacent said runway threshold and turn-off location.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 8 including the step of providing within said pilot operated aircraft an indication of said aircraft and its position as a real time map display of said airport facility showing said aircraft as a select indicia.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 8 including the step of determining the location, direction of movement and speed of two said aircraft from said scan signals and providing a perceptible alert at said control tower in the presence of an incipient condition for collision of said aircraft.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 8 including the steps of: providing a presence/absence detector at said turn-off location responsive to the presence of an object thereat having no said machine readable code by deriving an unidentifiable object signal; and providing a visually perceptible indicator of the location of said object at said control tower.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 176 words

A surface detection system for monitoring the position of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, a runway, a runway turn-off and a taxiway for accessing said runway and runway turn-off, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a runway turn-off scanner assemblage positioned for scanning said runway at said turn-off to derive first scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft; a taxiway scanner assemblage positioned for scanning select locations of said taxiway to derive second scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of said scanned aircraft; transmission means for conveying said first and second scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said first and second scan signals for accessing said aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 176 words

A surface detection system for monitoring the position of pilot operated aircraft while moving on the surface of an airport facility having a control tower, a runway, a runway turn-off and a taxiway for accessing said runway and runway turn-off, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a runway turn-off scanner assemblage positioned for scanning said runway at said turn-off to derive first scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft; a taxiway scanner assemblage positioned for scanning select locations of said taxiway to derive second scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of said scanned aircraft; transmission means for conveying said first and second scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said first and second scan signals for accessing said aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 74 words

The system of claim 16 in which said control means is responsive to said first and second scan signals for deriving aircraft position and movement data therefrom and generating an alert output signal in the presence of an incipient condition for collision of said scanned aircraft and for transmitting said alert output signal to said display; and said display is responsive to said alert output signal for displaying an alert symbol in correspondence therewith.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 16 in which said machine readable code is a bar code and said runway turn-off scanner assemblage and said taxiway scanner assemblage include an optical beam scanner respectively located adjacent said runway turn-off and adjacent said taxiway remote from said runway turn-off scanner assemblage.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 79 words

The system of claim 16 in which said runway turn-off scanner assemblage is an optical beam scanner having a code output signal corresponding with said machine readable code and the position of said scanned aircraft, and includes a local processor responsive to said code output signal for deriving the identifying number of said scanned aircraft, the time of said scan, the location of said scanned aircraft and the speed and direction of movement thereof as said first scan signals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 134 words

The system of claim 16 in which: said runway turn-off scanner assemblage is an optical beam scanner having a beam output and responsive to an information input signal to modulate said beam output in correspondence therewith; including an infrared responsive receiver mounted upon said aircraft responsive to said modulated beam to derive received signals; a display within said aircraft responsive to said received signals to provide a visually perceptible display visually; said memory includes map data representing the layout of said airport facility including said runways and taxiways; and said control means is responsive to said map data, said first and second scan signals to effect said beam modulation to derive said received signals effecting display of a map of said airport facility and the display of the location of said scanned aircraft thereon.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 156 words

A detection system for monitoring the positions of pilot operated aircraft having a lower disposed surface while airborne over and adjacent to the approach portion of a runway during a landing at an airport facility having a control towering procedure, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon said lower disposed surface and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a scanner assemblage positioned adjacent said runway in the vicinity of said approach portion for scanning generally vertically over said runway to derive scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft over said runway; transmission means for conveying said scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location and identification of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said scan signals for accessing stud aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 156 words

A detection system for monitoring the positions of pilot operated aircraft having a lower disposed surface while airborne over and adjacent to the approach portion of a runway during a landing at an airport facility having a control towering procedure, comprising: a machine readable code positioned upon said lower disposed surface and uniquely identifying said aircraft; a scanner assemblage positioned adjacent said runway in the vicinity of said approach portion for scanning generally vertically over said runway to derive scan signals corresponding with said machine readable code and the location of a scanned aircraft over said runway; transmission means for conveying said scan signals; a display at said control tower responsive to input signals for displaying the location and identification of said scanned aircraft; a memory retaining accessible aircraft identifying data corresponding with each said code; and control means responsive to said scan signals for accessing stud aircraft identifying data and generating said display input signals.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 21 in which said machine readable code is a bar code and said scanner assemblage includes an infrared beam scanner.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system of claim 21 in which said scanner assemblage is an infrared beam scanner having a code output signal corresponding with said machine readable code and the position of said aircraft, and includes a local processor responsive to said code output signal for deriving the identifying number of said scanned aircraft, the time of said scanning, the position and altitude of said scanned aircraft and the direction of movement thereof as said scan signals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-12-19	1998-06-20	1998-12-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-12-19	2002-06-20	2002-12-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-12-19	2006-06-20	2006-12-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surface detection system for airports

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