Claims
- 1. An apparatus to aid pilots in preventing aircraft wingtips from colliding with obstructions during taxi operations, comprising:
means for projecting a light pattern in the intended direction of aircraft ground travel such that reflections from obstructing surfaces as seen by the pilot aid in preventing collisions thereto.
- 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light pattern projecting means comprises:
(a) a light source configured for positioning on an aircraft wing near the wingtip; (b) said light source configured to project light along an intended direction of travel for the wing; and (c) a means for creating a pattern in said light source so that the reflection of said pattern may be easily discerned by the pilot while providing distance and positioning information in relation to the obstruction.
- 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for creating a pattern comprises an optical mask that selectively allows light to be optically transmitted.
- 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for creating a pattern comprises:
(a) an optically transmissive member; (b) said optically transmissive member directing light to the direction of aircraft travel; and (c) a non-optically transmissive pattern attached to the optically transmissive member for blocking light so that a predetermined pattern may be discerned.
- 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for creating a pattern comprises:
means for redirecting light from the light source to traverse a pattern.
- 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for redirecting light to traverse a pattern comprises an electromechanical device which is configured to modulate the direction that the light source is oriented.
- 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for redirecting light comprises an opt ical device capable of redirecting light to follow along a pattern.
- 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a laser light source.
- 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a non-collimated light source of sufficient intensity to allow discernment of the pattern when reflected from a nearby object.
- 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the light source comprises:
(a) a non-collimated light source; and (b) a collimating member configured to direct the non-collimated light through the pattern in the direction of wingtip travel.
- 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the collimating member comprises a lens.
- 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the collimating member comprises a housing which partially surrounds said light source and has an aperture through which light is partially collimated.
- 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising additional means for projecting light patterns positioned at angles to one another to provide accurate distance information to the pilot.
- 14. An apparatus for tracking the intended forward movement of the wingtips of an aircraft relative to obstructions, comprising:
(a) a light pattern projection source attached proximal to each wingtip; and (b) said light pattern projection source configured to project a beam subtending a narrow arc forward of the wingtip in the direction of travel to direct a visible pattern of light on obstructions near the path of the wingtip that pose an obstructive hazard to travel.
- 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the narrow arc subtends less than approximately 20 degrees of arc.
- 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a power activation circuit for the light pattern projection source which is connected to a source of power and is configured to activate the light pattern projection source in response to a received electrical signals from a control device.
- 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the power activation circuit further comprises a timer circuit for disengaging power from the light pattern projection source after a selected interval of time has elapsed.
- 18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the power activation circuit further comprises an airspeed sensor that is configured to deactivate the power to the light pattern projection source when an airspeed in excess of typical taxiway speeds are attained.
- 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the control device comprises a pilot accessible activation switch mechanism which is capable of generating an electrical signal to the power activation circuit.
- 20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the control device comprises an existing activation switch that is cycled in a sufficiently predetermined pattern so as to create an electrical signal to be registered by the power activation circuit.
- 21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the control device comprises a power switch that controls the activation of conventional aircraft lighting, that upon being cycled in a sufficiently predetermined pattern, creates an electrical signal to which the power activation circuit responds by activating the light pattern projection source.
- 22. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the light pattern projection source is attached proximal to each wingtip in a separate housing unit.
- 23. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the light pattern projection source is attached proximal to each wingtip in combination with existing navigation or strobe lights
- 24. An aircraft wingtip tracking device to prevent collisions with obstructions while the aircraft is being taxied, comprising:
(a) a laser light source directed along the path of travel during taxi operations for said aircraft; (b) said laser light source configured to project a pattern of illumination whose size conveys distance information and which is readily discernable from ambient lighting of an obstruction; and (c) a power activation circuit which activates said laser light source in response to the receipt of a pilot activated electrical signal.
- 25. An aircraft wingtip tracking device as recited in claim 24, wherein the pattern incorporates a circular pattern.
- 26. An aircraft wingtip tracking device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a motor for rotating the laser light source to produce said circular pattern.
- 27. An aircraft wingtip tracking device as recited in claim 24, wherein the pattern is created by an optical device selected from the group of optical device consisting of graticules, faceted lenses, and masks.
- 28. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the light pattern projection source is attached proximal to each wingtip in a separate housing unit.
- 29. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the light pattern projection source is attached proximal to each wingtip in combination with existing navigation or strobe lights
- 30. A method of detecting obstructions that may strike an aircraft wing as it is being taxied, comprising:
generating a source of illumination; patterning said illumination into a shape that allows distance to be easily discerned from pattern size and which can be readily discerned by a pilot or crewmember from ambient reflected lighting on an obstruction surface; and projecting said illumination in the direction of travel at the extremity of the aircraft object which is subject to contacting obstructions.
- 31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said illumination is generated by a laser light source.
- 32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein generating said illumination comprises:
detecting an activation signal; and converting electrical power to light energy after receipt of activation signal.
- 33. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the converting of electrical power to light energy is suspended after a predetermined period of time.
- 34. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the detecting of an activation signal comprises detecting power transitions of a predetermined timing pattern.
- 35. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the patterning of said illumination is performed by passing said illumination through an optical mask.
- 36. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein patterning of said illumination is performed by varying the direction of projection according to with a pattern.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/203,564 filed on May 11, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60203564 |
May 2000 |
US |