Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Return signal controls external device – Aircraft guidance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-08-28
Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Return signal controls external device
Aircraft guidance
C342S063000, C342S120000, C342S195000, C701S300000, C701S301000, C340S963000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281832
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to baro altimeter and terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS), and more particularly relates to integrity monitoring of such systems, and even more particularly relates to methods and apparatuses for increasing confidence levels associated with information provided by baro altimeter and TAWS systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, baro altitude and TAWS systems have provided critical information to pilots and flight crews. Avionics engineers have routinely endeavored to provide high integrity systems with associated high confidence levels for the information they provide. One approach has been to provide independent and dual redundant TAWS and baro altitude systems on each aircraft. Independent and redundant TAWS and baro altitude systems would typically have complete duplication of equipment that exists on-board the aircraft. For example, dual GPS receivers, dual terrain databases and dual database servers would be required for an independent dual redundant TAWS system.
While these independent and dual redundant systems may have many advantages in particular uses, they also have significant drawbacks. One common drawback of these designs is that they are very expensive. Another drawback of this approach at improving system integrity is the potential for common failure modes or common error sources. For example, for the TAWS, either the two TAWS systems are required to use two independently derived and supplied terrain databases, which are very expensive, or it is required to accept the potential for database errors which are common to each independent system. Additionally, errors in GPS positioning arising from sources other than the receivers on-board the aircraft are common to a redundant TAWS system. For the baro altitude sensor, dual identical systems have potential for common errors in the quality of current local baroset values available and to pilot error in entering such information.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for improving the confidence levels in information provided by baro altitude and TAWS systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aircraft with baro altitude and TAWS systems having high confidence levels associated with the information they provide.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a radar altimeter to confirm information being generated by the TAWS system and/or the baro altimeter.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide integrity enhancement without the need for completely dual redundant systems.
It is another advantage of the present invention to detect systemic remote errors which would not be detectable with on-board dual redundant TAWS and baro altimeter systems.
It is another feature to utilize a statistical sampling method to rapidly correlate measured height above ground data, obtained from a radar altimeter, with respect to calculated or expected height above ground data from a TAWS system.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a quick and cost-effective method for detecting a TAWS system which has failed or is providing excessively erroneous information.
It is yet another feature to utilize a statistical sampling method to rapidly correlate measured height above ground data, obtained from a radar altimeter in combination with elevation of terrain information from a TAWS system, with locally corrected baro altitude information.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a quick and cost-effective method for detecting a baro altitude system which has failed or has an excessive baroset error.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for monitoring the integrity of baro altitude and TAWS systems which are designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “dual redundant-less” manner in a sense that the need to provide identical and duplicate baro altitude and TAWS hardware has been greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is an integrity monitoring system for TAWS and baro altitude systems which utilizes a radio altimeter and statistical sampling to confirm a high degree of correlation between measured height above ground with calculated height above ground and/or between corrected baro altitude and calculated height above means sea level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3706988 (1972-12-01), Bayle et al.
patent: 4144571 (1979-03-01), Webber
patent: 4520445 (1985-05-01), Keearns
patent: 5410317 (1995-04-01), Ostrom et al.
patent: 0928952 A1 (1999-07-01), None
Eppele Kyle
Gregory Bernarr E.
Jensen Nathan O.
Rockwell Collins
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