Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Berthing or docking
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-22
2004-03-16
Tarcza, Thomas H. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Berthing or docking
C341S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06707414
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to vessel navigation systems and more particularly to a marine navigational system for vessels that provides information including a range between the vessels and a dock or an obstacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known in the art, conventional vessels can have a primary propulsion system of two types. First, one or two propellers can be angularly fixed in a position parallel with the keel of the vessel and a rudder can be associated with each of the propellers. Alternatively, one or two propellers may be angularly movable with regard to the keel of the vessel and there may be no rudders. The term ‘secondary propulsion system’ is used herein to describe any other propulsion system on the vessel. Secondary propulsion systems are known to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide manual control of thrust at angles to the keel of the vessel for tight maneuvers. For example, bow and stem thrusters are known in the art.
As is also known, a vessel may have various forms of marine navigational equipment. Exemplary marine navigational systems include global positioning systems (GPS), magnetic compasses, gyro-compasses, marine radar systems, wind speed indicator systems, water current sensor systems, and marine speed logs.
Marine radar systems typically include an antenna mounted high on the vessel to allow the radar system to detect objects at the greatest possible range from the vessel. As is known in the art, a conventional marine radar system emits a pulsed beam of radar energy from the radar antenna and receives echoes by the radar antenna as the radar energy reflects off of objects in the path of the radar beam. The time delay between the transmitted pulse and the returned echo is used by the radar system to predict a distance from the vessel to the reflecting object. Typically, the radar beam is mechanically turned or “swept” in the azimuthal direction and the azimuthal steering of the beam is used to predict the azimuthal angle to the object. The conventional radar beam is swept azimuthally by mechanically rotating the radar antenna.
The beam width of a conventional marine radar is relatively narrow in azimuth, approximately 5 degrees, and relatively wide in elevation, approximately twenty five degrees, so as to form a vertically oriented fan shape. As with any projected energy, the fan shaped beam spreads spherically from the antenna, causing the fan shaped beam to have an outer ‘front’ edge that is curved as if to lie on a sphere that has the radar antenna at its origin.
The fan shaped azimuthally rotated beam provides sufficient range prediction accuracy for objects that are relatively far from the radar antenna. Due in part to the curved wavefront of the fan shaped beam, the conventional marine radar system range prediction accuracy is greatest at long ranges and degrades at close-in distances. Essentially, for relatively short ranges, the conventional marine radar cannot distinguish range difference between a farther tall object and a nearer short object. Both the farther tall object and the short nearer object can produce echoes with the same time delay. Thus, the conventional radar beam is not well suited for close-in docking operations. Conventional marine radars have a minimum display range that is typically hundreds of feet and display resolutions of tens of feet. For vessel docking, range accuracies and resolutions of less than plus or minus 1 foot would be desirable at vessel to dock ranges within 25 feet.
It is well known in the art that docking error can result in damage to the vessel and/or to the dock. As conditions become increasingly windy or where the water current is high, the likelihood of damage is greatest. The docking maneuver requires complex manual fore and aft thrust from the primary propulsion system or complex thrust control of the secondary propulsion system.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a system that provides accurate range data to the operator of a vessel when the vessel is in close proximity (e.g. 25 feet or less) to an obstacle, dock, or docking structure. It would be further desirable to provide a system that directly conveys to the operator of the vessel accurate relative velocity data corresponding to relative velocity between the vessel and an obstacle, dock, or docking structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a system for conveying navigational information to a vessel operator includes one or more radar systems coupled to a display processor for providing navigational information to the display processor, and a display coupled to the display processor for providing the navigational information to the vessel operator. The radar systems provide electronically steered conical beams to provide high accuracy measurements at close proximity to the vessel. The navigational information can include vessel to dock and vessel to obstacle range and relative velocity.
With this particular arrangement, the docking information system for boats of the present invention provides accurate close-in range and relative velocity information, corresponding to obstacles or a dock, to the operator of a vessel. With these characteristics, the docking information system for boats of the present invention. allows the vessel operator to both avoid obstacles and accurately dock the vessel. The likelihood of close-in obstacle collision is minimized. Similarly, the likelihood of manual docking error and resulting damage are minimized.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3594716 (1971-07-01), Waterman
patent: 3690767 (1972-09-01), Missio et al.
patent: 3707717 (1972-12-01), Frielinghaus
patent: 3754247 (1973-08-01), Hansford
patent: 3772693 (1973-11-01), Allard et al.
patent: 3772697 (1973-11-01), Ross
patent: 4063240 (1977-12-01), Isbister et al.
patent: 4216538 (1980-08-01), Tomlinson et al.
patent: 4510496 (1985-04-01), Ross
patent: 4893127 (1990-01-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5274378 (1993-12-01), O'Conner
patent: 5351055 (1994-09-01), Fujikawa et al.
patent: 5432515 (1995-07-01), O'Conner
patent: 5497157 (1996-03-01), Gruener et al.
patent: 5534872 (1996-07-01), Kita
patent: 5719567 (1998-02-01), Norris
patent: 5754429 (1998-05-01), Ishihara et al.
patent: 5872547 (1999-02-01), Martek
patent: 5995070 (1999-11-01), Kitada
patent: 6181302 (2001-01-01), Lynde
patent: 6249241 (2001-06-01), Jordan et al.
patent: WO 01/25724 (2001-04-01), None
PCT Search Report; PCT/US02/33475; PCT/ISA/220 and PCT/ISA/210.
Delcheccolo Michael Joseph
Lippert Delbert
Russell Mark E.
Van Rees H. Barteld
Woodington Walter Gordon
Alsomiri Isam
Daly, Crowley & Mofford LLP
Raytheon Company
Tarcza Thomas H.
LandOfFree
Docking information system for boats does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Docking information system for boats, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Docking information system for boats will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3266627