Communications: electrical – Aircraft alarm or indicating systems – Flight alarm
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-08
2002-09-17
Swarthout, Brent A. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Aircraft alarm or indicating systems
Flight alarm
C340S961000, C340S979000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452511
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application relates to an application entitled “TERRAIN AWARENESS SYSTEM HAVING NUISANCE ALARM FILTER FOR USE DURING APPROACH” by Wallace Kelly and Serdar Uckun, and also relates to another application entitled “CONDITIONAL HAZARD ALERTING DISPLAY”, by the same inventors, both of said applications being filed concurrently herewith and assigned to a common assignee, said applications being incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to avionics, and more particularly relates to ground proximity warning systems, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for early notification of potential controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, much effort has been expended in reducing CFIT accidents. Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) have been used in the industry which combine some of the features of early “ground prox” systems with GPS positioning and terrain databases.
While these EGPWSs have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. These EGPWSs still are reactive systems in the sense that they react to the current heading, velocity, altitude, and position of the aircraft. They do not anticipate that the aircraft might make an abrupt change in heading during flight, which would then trigger an alarm, but would not provide sufficient advance warning for the pilot to make a well-reasoned corrective action.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for providing advance warnings of potential CFIT situations in an efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing advance warning of potential CFIT situations in an efficient manner.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize an algorithm in terrain awareness warning systems (TAWS) which anticipates that a pilot might make a course change at some point along a projected flight plan.
It is another feature of the present invention to anticipate both planned and errant course changes.
It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency providing advanced warning of potential CFIT situations.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing advanced warning of potential CFIT situations, 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 an “untimely warning-less” manner in a sense that the potential for warnings to be issued without sufficient time for the pilot to make a well-reasoned response has been greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including an algorithm which considers potential future course changes when generating terrain awareness warnings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4224669 (1980-09-01), Brame
patent: 4646244 (1987-02-01), Bateman et al.
patent: 4862373 (1989-08-01), Meng
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patent: 5086396 (1992-02-01), Waruszewski, Jr.
patent: 5631640 (1997-05-01), Deis et al.
patent: 6317690 (2001-11-01), Gia
Kelly Wallace E.
Uckun Serdar
Eppele Kyle
Jensen Nathan O.
Rockwell Collins, Inc.
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