# US 11,113,979 B2 · Aerodrome system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,113,979 B2 - Document ID: US11113979B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/429,156 - Filed: 2019-06-03 - Published: 2020-01-02 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-28 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Inventors: Matthew Moxon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113979B2 ## CPC - G08G 5/54: for approach or landing - B64D 47/00: Equipment not otherwise provided for - B64F 1/20: Arrangement of optical beacons - B64F 1/205: {arranged underground, e.g. underground runway lighting units} - F21S 8/00: Lighting devices intended for fixed installation (F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00) - F21S 8/032: {the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement} - G08G 5/22: located on the ground - G08G 5/51: for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling - G08G 5/52: for take-off - B64D 2203/00: Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs - F21W 2111/06: for aircraft runways or the like - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G08G 5/55: for a single aircraft - G09F 9/302: characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract An aerodrome system for an aerodrome is provided. The aerodrome system comprises a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and manoeuvre; and a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display and the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate at least one runway for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements are spaced such that the controller may display the runway with a variable orientation and the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to change the orientation of the runway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerodrome system for an aerodrome, the aerodrome system comprising: a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver; and a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements to emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, wherein the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements are spaced and have a density such that the controller may display the runways with a continuously variable orientation, wherein the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the aerodrome system further comprises a plurality of tiles, wherein each of the tiles is configured to form the surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, and wherein each of the tiles comprises at least one of the light emitting elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aerodrome system of claim 2, wherein each of the tiles comprises a plurality of light emitting elements and the light emitting elements of a particular tile are configured to display different colors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The aerodrome system of claim 2, wherein each of the tiles is configured to simultaneously display multiple colors or a single color. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The aerodrome system of claim 2, wherein each tile is operatively coupled to a plurality of neighboring tiles so as to form a mesh network of tiles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The aerodrome system of claim 2, wherein a top surface of each of the tiles is flat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the runways are provided either side of a terminal for receiving aircraft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the runways are parallel with respect to each other and are spaced from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the aerodrome is an aerodrome for short take-off and landing aircraft and/or vertical take-off and landing aircraft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to an air traffic control system and the controller is configured to change the orientation of the runways at an appropriate time determined from flight data from the air traffic control system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aerodrome system of claim 1, wherein the aerodrome system further comprises a plurality of sensors distributable over the surface of the aerodrome so as to determine the location of aircraft on the aerodrome surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aerodrome system of claim 11, wherein the sensors are operatively coupled to the controller and the controller is configured to provide feedback to an aircraft providing positional data of the aircraft from the sensors during a landing event. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An aerodrome comprising the aerodrome system of claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aerodrome of claim 13, wherein the aerodrome is elevated above ground level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The aerodrome of claim 13, wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so as to form a circular perimeter of the surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The aerodrome of claim 13, wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so as to surround a terminal for receiving aircraft. ### Claim 17 A method of displaying an aerodrome, the method comprising: displaying and demarcating a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land using a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, the light emitting elements emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, and wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, the light emitting elements being spaced and having a density such that the runways have a continuously variable orientation; and controlling the light emitting elements so as to change the image displayed by the display and dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction. ### Claim 18 A controller for controlling display of an aerodrome, the controller being configured to: display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land using a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver, the light emitting elements emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, and wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, the light emitting elements being spaced and having a density such that the runways are displayed with a continuously variable orientation; and control the light emitting elements so as to change the image displayed by the display and dynamically change the orientation of the runways and realign the runways in response to a wind direction. ### Claim 19 An aerodrome system for an aerodrome, the aerodrome system comprising: a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and maneuver; and a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements to emit light of a first color in a first direction along a runway and light of a different color in an opposite direction, wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display, wherein the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate a pair of runways for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements are spaced such that the controller may display the runways with a variable orientation, wherein the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to dynamically change the orientation of the runways and to realign the runways in response to a wind direction, the runways being differently oriented by the light emitting elements illuminating, turning off or changing color, with each of the runways having distinct light emitting elements controlled by the controller.