US6188330B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windshear detection system
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-01
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Granted: 2001-02-13
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Expires: 2020-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting in situ windshear on-board an aircraft that utilizes parameters provided by standard on-board Air Data, Flight Management, and Stall Detection Systems. No on-board accelerometers are required.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Howard Glover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:58
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/04; G05D1/06; G05D1/0607; G05D1/0615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said method comprising the acts of: processing the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; forming a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; determining the rate of change of the difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; combining the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear without requiring measurement of aircraft acceleration; and comparing the approximation of the current value of total windshear to a threshold to determine whether to issue a windshear alarm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said method comprising the acts of: processing the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; forming a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; determining the rate of change of the difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; combining the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear without requiring measurement of aircraft acceleration; and comparing the approximation of the current value of total windshear to a threshold to determine whether to issue a windshear alarm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
232 words
A computer program product for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon, with said computer program code comprising: computer program code for causing a computer to process the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; computer program code for causing a computer to form a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; computer program code for causing a computer to determine the rate of change of the difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; computer program code for causing a computer to combine the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear without requiring measurement of aircraft acceleration; and computer program code for causing a computer to compare the approximation of the current value of total windshear to a threshold to determine whether to issue a windshear alarm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
232 words
A computer program product for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon, with said computer program code comprising: computer program code for causing a computer to process the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; computer program code for causing a computer to form a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; computer program code for causing a computer to determine the rate of change of the difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; computer program code for causing a computer to combine the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear without requiring measurement of aircraft acceleration; and computer program code for causing a computer to compare the approximation of the current value of total windshear to a threshold to determine whether to issue a windshear alarm.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said method comprising the acts of: processing the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; forming a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; subtracting a current difference value from a delayed difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; combining the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said method comprising the acts of: processing the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; forming a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; subtracting a current difference value from a delayed difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; combining the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the acts of: high-pass filtering and low-pass filtering the difference value to eliminate the effects of turbulence on the value of the approximation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
198 words
A computer program product for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon, with said computer program code comprising: computer program code for causing a computer to process the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; computer program code for causing a computer to form a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; computer program code for causing a computer to subtract a current difference value from a delayed difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; and computer program code for causing a computer to combine the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
A computer program product for computing the magnitude of windshear experienced by an aircraft, with the method implemented by a computer on board the aircraft and with aircraft including on-board systems to obtain the current values of the true air speed, aircraft inertial groundspeed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude, said computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon, with said computer program code comprising: computer program code for causing a computer to process the true air speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft angle of attack, and aircraft pitch attitude, and aircraft roll attitude to form a current value of vertical wind shear; computer program code for causing a computer to form a difference value equal to the difference of aircraft true speed and aircraft inertial groundspeed; computer program code for causing a computer to subtract a current difference value from a delayed difference value to form an approximation of a current value of horizontal windshear; and computer program code for causing a computer to combine the current values of vertical and horizontal windshear to form an approximation of a current value of total windshear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |