US6028624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for increased visibility through fog and other aerosols
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1997-12-11
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Granted: 2000-02-22
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Expires: 2017-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A system is described that uses chopped laser illumination, chopped and fered wide baseline stereo imaging, specular reflectors along the path to navigated, comparison of the two stereo images collected to determine and subtract from the images the magnitude of the backscatter field, inverse point spread filtering based on the fusion of the specular reflector pattern, and stereoscopic display for the pilot to allow navigation through fog and other aerosols. In particular, aircraft pilots will be able to land their aircraft in fog and other aerosols.
Inventors
- 👤 Wendell Watkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181; B; B64; B64D; B64D47/00; B64D47/02; B64D47/04; G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/88; G01S17/95; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/239; G01S17/89; H04N13/10; H04N13/189; H04N13/30; H04N13/332; H04N13/341; H04N13/344; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A system to aid a pilot in landing an aircraft on a runway in fog and other aerosols comprising: a first laser and a first camera mounted on the left wing of said aircraft and pointed forward; a second laser and a second camera mounted on the right wing of said aircraft and pointed forward; means for chopping the emissions from said lasers such that said first laser on the left wing of said aircraft will be illuminating the forward terrain as said second camera on the right wing is viewing the terrain, while said first camera on the left wing and said second laser on the right wing are blocked, and said second laser on the right wing of said aircraft will be illuminating the forward terrain as said first camera on the left wing is viewing the terrain, while said second camera on the right wing and said first laser on the left wing are blocked; said cameras being outfitted with narrow bandpass filters to allow only radiation with the same wavelength as said lasers to enter said cameras; said runway being equipped with specular reflection devices spaced along each side of said runway; and computer means for comparison of the two stereo images collected from said cameras to determine and subtract from the images the magnitude of the backscatter field, the inverse point spread filtering based on the fusion of the specular reflector pattern, and to provide a stereoscopic display for the pilot to allow said pilot to safely land said airplane in said fog.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
258 words
A system to aid a pilot in landing an aircraft on a runway in fog and other aerosols comprising: a first laser and a first camera mounted on the left wing of said aircraft and pointed forward; a second laser and a second camera mounted on the right wing of said aircraft and pointed forward; means for chopping the emissions from said lasers such that said first laser on the left wing of said aircraft will be illuminating the forward terrain as said second camera on the right wing is viewing the terrain, while said first camera on the left wing and said second laser on the right wing are blocked, and said second laser on the right wing of said aircraft will be illuminating the forward terrain as said first camera on the left wing is viewing the terrain, while said second camera on the right wing and said first laser on the left wing are blocked; said cameras being outfitted with narrow bandpass filters to allow only radiation with the same wavelength as said lasers to enter said cameras; said runway being equipped with specular reflection devices spaced along each side of said runway; and computer means for comparison of the two stereo images collected from said cameras to determine and subtract from the images the magnitude of the backscatter field, the inverse point spread filtering based on the fusion of the specular reflector pattern, and to provide a stereoscopic display for the pilot to allow said pilot to safely land said airplane in said fog.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said lasers are He--Ne lasers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said He--Ne lasers operate at a frequency of 632.8 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for chopping comprises a chopper operating at 60 Hz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for chopping comprises a chopper operating at 30 Hz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 further incorporating gyroscopic stabilization for said lasers and said cameras.
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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) | 2003-02-21 | 2003-08-23 | 2004-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-21 | 2007-08-23 | 2008-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-21 | 2011-08-23 | 2012-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |