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US 11,142,340 B1Granted
System and method for radar sensing runway approach and taxi lights
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsCarlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood, David L. Flanders, Lu Bai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus interfaces with a light stanchion associated with a runway. The apparatus can include a first interface for attaching to the light stanchion, second interface for attaching to runway light, and a radar reflective member. The radar reflective member can be a corner reflector. The radar reflector can be part of set of reflectors arranged in accordance with visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications.
Claims13
An apparatus comprising:
- a set of radar reflectors, wherein each of the radar reflectors comprises;
- a first interface configured to be attached to a light stanchion in a fixed fashion;
- a second interface configured to be attached to a light in a fixed fashion;
- and
- a radar reflective member configured to provide a radar return in response to a radar beam from a radar system of an airplane, the radar reflective member including a shape or an orientation such that the radar return includes a power level with a magnitude corresponding to an angular direction of the radar beam striking the radar reflective member, the angular direction of the radar beam corresponding to a glide slope of the airplane;
- wherein the set of radar reflectors are arranged such that the radar returns from the radar reflective members of the set of radar reflectors provide for visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications based on the power level of the radar return such that a below glide slope condition or an above glide slope condition is indicated by the radar return, wherein the visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications are in a pattern, the pattern including at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the below glide slope condition, the pattern including at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the above glide slope condition, wherein the at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the below glide slope condition include a power level greater than the at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the above glide slope condition.
3 more elements
A runway lighting system, comprising:
- a plurality of radar reflectors each including a radar reflective member, the radar reflective member configured to provide a radar return in response to a radar beam from a radar system of an airplane, the radar reflective member including a shape or an orientation such that the radar return includes a power level with a magnitude corresponding to an angular direction of the radar beam striking the radar reflective member, with the angular direction of the radar beam corresponding to a glide slope of the airplane,
- wherein the plurality of radar reflectors are arranged such that the radar reflective member of each of the plurality of radar reflectors provide for visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications based on the power level of the radar return such that a below glide slope condition or an above glide slope condition is indicated by the radar return, wherein the-visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications are in a pattern associated with a visual approach slope indication or precision approach path indication light pattern, the pattern including at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the below glide slope condition, the pattern including at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the above glide slope condition, wherein the at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the below glide slope condition include a power level greater than the at least four received radar returns when the airplane is in the above glide slope condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.