US3714648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time to collision circuitry for collision warning system
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1971-10-22
•
Granted: 1973-01-30
•
Expires: 1991-10-22
Abstract
Abstract Circuitry for processing range, azimuth, and altitude data for determining time-to-collision (tau) between helicopters or other aircraft. Range data and azimuth data is received and stored in a fast, variable increment range register and fast azimuth registers respectively. Range data received at high rates is then transferred to two sets of slow registers in accordance with the azimuth and relative altitude of the range data. Results of successive sets of interrogations are compared to detect changes in range corresponding to a predetermined range of tau values.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bennett
- 👤 R Follen
- 👤 C Harman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06J; G06J1/00; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
In a collision warning system, apparatus for determining range/range rate comprising: a variable frequency clock; a high speed range register for receiving and storing range signals and synchronized to the variable frequency clock; first and second azimuth registers for receiving and storing azimuth signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and synchronized to the range signals and the high speed range register; an azimuth quadrant generator receiving the range signals from the range register and the azimuth signals from the azimuth registers and separating the range signals in accordance With their azimuth quadrant; means for receiving relative altitude band signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and again separating the range signals, already separated in accordance with their azimuth quadrant, in accordance with their relative altitude; a first set of low speed registers, one register for each set of twice separated range signals; a second set of low speed registers correlated to the first set; means for periodically transferring the range signals stored in each low speed register of the first set to the correlated register in the second set; means for simultaneously comparing all the range signals in the two sets of low speed registers with a predetermined set of values of range/range rate and giving an indication when a range/range rate is less than the certain set of values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a collision warning system, apparatus for determining range/range rate comprising: a variable frequency clock; a high speed range register for receiving and storing range signals and synchronized to the variable frequency clock; first and second azimuth registers for receiving and storing azimuth signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and synchronized to the range signals and the high speed range register; an azimuth quadrant generator receiving the range signals from the range register and the azimuth signals from the azimuth registers and separating the range signals in accordance With their azimuth quadrant; means for receiving relative altitude band signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and again separating the range signals, already separated in accordance with their azimuth quadrant, in accordance with their relative altitude; a first set of low speed registers, one register for each set of twice separated range signals; a second set of low speed registers correlated to the first set; means for periodically transferring the range signals stored in each low speed register of the first set to the correlated register in the second set; means for simultaneously comparing all the range signals in the two sets of low speed registers with a predetermined set of values of range/range rate and giving an indication when a range/range rate is less than the certain set of values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a collision warning system, apparatus for determining range/range rate comprising: a variable frequency clock; a high speed range register for receiving and storing range signals and synchronized to the variable frequency clock; first and second azimuth registers for receiving and storing azimuth signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and synchronized to the range signals and the high speed range register; an azimuth quadrant generator receiving the range signals from the range register and the azimuth signals from the azimuth registers and separating the range signals in accordance With their azimuth quadrant; means for receiving relative altitude band signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and again separating the range signals, already separated in accordance with their azimuth quadrant, in accordance with their relative altitude; a first set of low speed registers, one register for each set of twice separated range signals; a second set of low speed registers correlated to the first set; means for periodically transferring the range signals stored in each low speed register of the first set to the correlated register in the second set; means for simultaneously comparing all the range signals in the two sets of low speed registers with a predetermined set of values of range/range rate and giving an indication when a range/range rate is less than the certain set of values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a collision warning system, apparatus for determining range/range rate comprising: a variable frequency clock; a high speed range register for receiving and storing range signals and synchronized to the variable frequency clock; first and second azimuth registers for receiving and storing azimuth signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and synchronized to the range signals and the high speed range register; an azimuth quadrant generator receiving the range signals from the range register and the azimuth signals from the azimuth registers and separating the range signals in accordance With their azimuth quadrant; means for receiving relative altitude band signals, which are correlated with the range signals, and again separating the range signals, already separated in accordance with their azimuth quadrant, in accordance with their relative altitude; a first set of low speed registers, one register for each set of twice separated range signals; a second set of low speed registers correlated to the first set; means for periodically transferring the range signals stored in each low speed register of the first set to the correlated register in the second set; means for simultaneously comparing all the range signals in the two sets of low speed registers with a predetermined set of values of range/range rate and giving an indication when a range/range rate is less than the certain set of values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency clock comprises: an oscillator developing output pulses of a frequency f; means driven by the oscillator for developing output pulses at frequencies that are submultiples of f; means for combining the oscillator output pulses and the other pulses at submultiples of the oscillator frequency in groups of pulses of descending frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the submultiples of f are 2/3 f, 1/2 f, 1/3 f, 1/4 f, (1/6)f, 1/8 f, and 1/12f, and the pulses are combined in 8 groups with 8 pulses in each group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the azimuth registers have a predetermined number of stages which is less than those of the range register and includes means for disabling the azimuth registers after the predetermined number of range signals are received and means for shifting the azimuth registers a number of times equal to the difference if less than the predetermined number of range signals are received.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |