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US 2008/0164411 A1Published application
Assessing runway visibility to airborne infrared vision devices
AssigneeMaz-Viz, Inc.
InventorJ. Richard Kerr
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMaz-Viz, Inc.
InventorJ. Richard Kerr
Estimating the term…
A technique for assessing runway visibility to airborne infrared vision devices (EVS) determines the range performance of airborne infrared EVS sensors at a given destination and in real time by extending the modern RVR philosophy to the infrared spectrum. The technique measures extinction coefficients at the infrared sensor wavelengths of interest through deployment of ground-based infrared transmissometer systems. These infrared extinction coefficients are used with computational algorithms that are analogous to those used at visible wavelengths to determine the respective distances at which the background scene and runway lights are discernible using infrared cameras with appropriate image processing. In this technique, infrared sensors replace the human eye as a basic mechanism of sensing through the atmospheric path. The algorithms also account for the image processing and cockpit display functions, in accordance with the ultimate discernment by the pilot's eye when viewing an appropriate display device.
A method of permitting dispatch of pilot-operated, enhanced vision system (EVS)-equipped transport aircraft to a destination and, upon arrival of the aircraft at the destination, permitting operations below conventional operating minima for the EVS-equipped transport aircraft and destination equipage, the EVS performing image processing and including infrared sensors that operate at wavelengths and are characterized by range performance, the aircraft having a display device and performing cockpit display functions, and the destination characterized by a background scene and aircraft runway lights, comprising:
A ground-based infrared visibility measurement system for monitoring ground level fog extinction in the vicinity of an airport runway illuminated by runway lights, the system predicting the quality of an image of the airport runway as produced by an enhanced vision system (EVS) imager of EVS equipment of a transport aircraft approaching the airport runway, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.