US5654700A — Detection system for use in an aircraft

Claim 1

Independent Claim 192 words

A detection system including means for monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, means for generating signals representative of said radiation, and processing means for determining the presence of a cloud including silicate bearing minerals on the basis of said signals, wherein said signals are representative of different predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, and said processing means is adapted to compare the signals of at least two of said predetermined wavelengths and generate a cloud warning signal if the results of the comparison indicate a cloud including silicate bearing minerals is present, wherein said warning signal is generated when said signals indicate the radiation received of a longer predetermined wavelength is less than the radiation received of a shorter predetermined wavelength, and wherein said monitoring means includes an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said predetermined wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels and said processing means generates display signals representative of the position of said cloud relative to said system on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 192 words

A detection system including means for monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, means for generating signals representative of said radiation, and processing means for determining the presence of a cloud including silicate bearing minerals on the basis of said signals, wherein said signals are representative of different predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, and said processing means is adapted to compare the signals of at least two of said predetermined wavelengths and generate a cloud warning signal if the results of the comparison indicate a cloud including silicate bearing minerals is present, wherein said warning signal is generated when said signals indicate the radiation received of a longer predetermined wavelength is less than the radiation received of a shorter predetermined wavelength, and wherein said monitoring means includes an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said predetermined wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels and said processing means generates display signals representative of the position of said cloud relative to said system on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 62 words

A detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing means executes said comparison for each of said pixels and a count is adjusted when the difference between the levels of said signals, corresponding to a respective pixel, of said longer wavelength and said shorter wavelength is negative, and said warning signal is generated when said count passes a predetermined threshold.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 50 words

A method of detecting an adverse atmospheric condition, including: monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon; generating signals representative of said radiation; and determining if an adverse atmospheric condition, comprising at least the presence of a cloud including silicate bearing minerals, is present on the basis of said signals.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 50 words

A method of detecting an adverse atmospheric condition, including: monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon; generating signals representative of said radiation; and determining if an adverse atmospheric condition, comprising at least the presence of a cloud including silicate bearing minerals, is present on the basis of said signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signals are representative of different predetermined wavelengths of said radiation and said method includes comparing the signals of at least two of said predetermined wavelengths and generating an adverse atmospheric condition warning signal if the result of said comparison indicates said adverse condition is present.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said warning signal is generated if said signals indicate radiation received of a longer predetermined wavelength is less than radiation received of a shorter predetermined wavelength.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said wavelengths fall within the range of approximately 10 to 12 μm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 197 words

A detection system, including means for monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, means for generating signals representative of predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, and processing means for determining on the basis of said signals if an adverse atmospheric condition is present and generating a warning signal when said condition is present, characterized in that: said processing means is adapted to determine on the basis of said signals if said adverse atmospheric condition, comprising a cloud including volcanic ash cloud constituents, is present, wherein said processing means determines said cloud is present if said signals indicate radiation received of a longer wavelength is less than radiation received of a shorter wavelength, wherein said predetermined wavelengths fall within the range of approximately 10 to 12 μm, and wherein said monitoring means includes an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels, and said processing means generates display signals representative of the position of said adverse atmospheric condition relative to said system on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said system.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 197 words

A detection system, including means for monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, means for generating signals representative of predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, and processing means for determining on the basis of said signals if an adverse atmospheric condition is present and generating a warning signal when said condition is present, characterized in that: said processing means is adapted to determine on the basis of said signals if said adverse atmospheric condition, comprising a cloud including volcanic ash cloud constituents, is present, wherein said processing means determines said cloud is present if said signals indicate radiation received of a longer wavelength is less than radiation received of a shorter wavelength, wherein said predetermined wavelengths fall within the range of approximately 10 to 12 μm, and wherein said monitoring means includes an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels, and said processing means generates display signals representative of the position of said adverse atmospheric condition relative to said system on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

A detection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processing means executes a comparison between said signals for each of said pixels and a count is adjusted when the difference between the levels of said signals, corresponding a respective pixel, of said longer wavelength and said shorter wavelength is negative, and said warning signal is generated when said count exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of detecting an adverse atmospheric condition, including monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, generating signals representative of predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, determining on the basis of said signals if an adverse atmospheric condition is present and generating a warning signal when said condition is present, characterized by: determining on the basis of said signals if said adverse atmospheric condition, comprising a cloud including volcanic ash cloud constituents, is present, wherein said monitoring step involves using an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels, and display signals representative of the position of said adverse condition relative to an object are generated on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said object.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of detecting an adverse atmospheric condition, including monitoring infrared radiation received from above the horizon, generating signals representative of predetermined wavelengths of said radiation, determining on the basis of said signals if an adverse atmospheric condition is present and generating a warning signal when said condition is present, characterized by: determining on the basis of said signals if said adverse atmospheric condition, comprising a cloud including volcanic ash cloud constituents, is present, wherein said monitoring step involves using an infrared detector array and said signals relate to pixels of said array, such that said signals of each of said wavelengths correspond to each one of said pixels, and display signals representative of the position of said adverse condition relative to an object are generated on the basis of said signals and position signals representative of the position of said object.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the adverse atmospheric condition also comprises the presence of a high density of sulphur dioxide gas or clear air turbulence.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10 including generating information which indicates the position of said adverse atmospheric condition so the adverse condition can be avoided.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as claimed in claim 11, including generating a display which indicates the position of said adverse atmospheric condition.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cloud is present if said signals indicate radiation received of a longer wavelength is less than radiation received of a shorter wavelength.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said wavelengths fall within the range of approximately 10 to 12 μm.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a comparison of said signals is performed for each of said pixels and a count is adjusted when the difference between the levels of said signals, corresponding to a respective pixel, of said longer wavelength and said shorter wavelength is negative, and said warming signal is generated when said count exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said longer wavelength and said shorter wavelength, which relate to the detection of a cloud including volcanic ash cloud constituents, are approximately 12 μm 10 μm respectively.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said predetermined wavelengths include approximately 9 μm which relates to the detection of sulphur dioxide.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said predetermined wavelengths include approximately 6 μm which relates to the detection of clear air turbulence.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method as claimed in claim 18, including generating a clear air turbulence warning signal, when said signals indicate a cloud is not ahead of said aircraft, on the basis of a comparison between radiation received for said 6 μm wavelength and radiation received for said 12 μm wavelength.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said display is generated when said cloud is present.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-08-04	2001-02-03	2001-08-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-08-04	2005-02-03	2005-08-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-08-04	2009-02-03	2009-08-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Detection system for use in an aircraft

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