# US 7,412,324 B1 · Flight management system with precision merging

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,412,324 B1
- Document ID: US7412324B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/236,992
- Filed: 2005-09-28
- Granted: 2008-08-12
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-28
- Assignees: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
- Inventors: Charles J. Bagge; Donald J. Whalen; Bechara J. Mallouk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412324B1

## CPC

- G01C 23/00: Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
- G08G 5/21: located onboard the aircraft
- G08G 5/25: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft
- G08G 5/54: for approach or landing
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- 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})

## Abstract

The present invention is a flight management system with precision merging that may determine a rejoin turn location based upon a heading to allow proper spacing between an aircraft and an identified target aircraft. The flight management system may monitor for deviation from assigned airspace, winds, turn radius and desired airport speed profile for the approach to further refine a turn-back location. Advantageously, a delay in landing of the target aircraft may not affect the landing approach of other aircraft. This may result in more accurate spacing between aircraft which are closer to the allowed separation minima and may provide an increase in capacity especially in high-density areas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for creating space between an aircraft and a target aircraft; comprising:
identifying a target aircraft and a time of arrival of said target aircraft at a waypoint, said target aircraft beginning a landing approach after passing said waypoint, said time of arrival at said waypoint being determined from information received from said target aircraft across an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link, said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including position, speed, heading and altitude information of said target aircraft;
receiving a heading for said aircraft from air traffic control;
retrieving spacing information between said target aircraft and said aircraft from at least one of air traffic control or said aircraft, said spacing information referring to a period of time;
determining a location for a rejoin turn to said waypoint;
navigating said rejoin turn to said waypoint automatically when said aircraft arrives at said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, said aircraft beginning said landing approach after passing said waypoint; and
displaying said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, wherein said location of rejoin turn to said waypoint causing aircraft to reach said waypoint after said target aircraft by a delay of said spacing information, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link is a direct link between said target aircraft and said aircraft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said time of arrival of said target aircraft is based upon distance between said target aircraft and said waypoint and a speed of said target aircraft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location is a distance to be traveled by said aircraft proceeding on said heading.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location is a time measurement proceeding on said heading.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising verifying a heading change at said waypoint is within a desired range.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location is determined based upon a turn radius of said aircraft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising indicating when said aircraft is proceeding on an unacceptable flight path angle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location is recalculated as said aircraft proceeds on said heading and is adjusted to compensate for a difference for said time of arrival of said aircraft at said waypoint.

### Claim 9

A flight management system; comprising:
means for identifying a target aircraft and a time of arrival of said target aircraft at a waypoint, said target aircraft beginning a landing approach after passing said waypoint, said time of arrival at said waypoint being determined from information received from said target aircraft across an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link, said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including position, speed, heading and altitude information of said target aircraft;
means for receiving a heading for said aircraft from air traffic control;
means for retrieving a spacing information between said target aircraft and said aircraft from at least one of air traffic control or said aircraft, said spacing information referring to a period of time;
means for determining a location for a rejoin turn to said waypoint;
means for navigating said rejoin turn to said waypoint automatically when said aircraft arrives at said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, said aircraft beginning said landing approach after passing said waypoint; and
displaying said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, wherein said location of rejoin turn to a waypoint causing aircraft to reach said waypoint after said target aircraft by a delay of said spacing information, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link is a direct link between said target aircraft and said aircraft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including distance information to said waypoint.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The flight management system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including distance information to said waypoint.