US3671927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft vortex detection system
Assignee: XONICS TECHNOLOGY Inc 6862 HAYVENHURST AVENUE VAN NUYS CA 91405 A DE CORP
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Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A system for detection and measurement of aircraft wing tip vortices. An acoustic radar with transmitter and receiver spaced from each other in a plane perpendicular to the flight path for illuminating the vortex and picking up scattering of the transmitter signal produced by the vortex, using Doppler frequency spectrum analysis with the maximum and minimum frequencies providing a measure of vortex intensity. A plurality of receivers operating with a common transmitter providing coverage of an area of interest along a flight path.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Peter Proudian
- 👤 Martin Balser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/885; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/95; G01S13/951; G01S15/003; G01S15/02; G01S15/50; G01S15/58; G01S15/06; G01S15/42; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system, the combination of: an acoustic radar transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone; a receiver for said transmitter and spaced from said transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of said transmitter scattered by a vortex in said zone; and analyzer means having the receiver output as an input for generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system, the combination of: an acoustic radar transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone; a receiver for said transmitter and spaced from said transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of said transmitter scattered by a vortex in said zone; and analyzer means having the receiver output as an input for generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said receiver is a Doppler receiver for picking up Doppler frequency scattering by a vortex in said zone, and said analyzer includes a spectrum analyzer providing an output signal in the form of frequency and magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 2 in which said transmitter, said receiver and said zone lie in a plane generally perpendicular to the flight path of the aircraft producing the vortex so that opposing portions of the vortex are directed respectively toward and away from said receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 3 in which said spectrum analyzer provides an output signal in the form of a frequency band, and in which the width of said frequency band at a predetermined magnitude varies as a function of the intensity of the vortex in said zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitter and said receiver produce beams at said zone of a width to illuminate the entire vortex of interest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 5 in which said receiver is a Doppler receiver for picking up Doppler frequency scattering by a vortex in said zone including the maximum frequency and the minimum frequency resulting from the maximum vortex velocity in the zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system as defined in claim 6 in which said analyzer means includes a spectrum analyzer comprising a plurality of parallel signal processing channels and means for sampling the output of each of said channels and simultaneously displaying the outputs, each channel having said receiver output as an input and each channel including a band pass filter defining a narrow frequency band, and a detector and integrator for developing a channel output varying as a function of the magnitude of the receiver output in such frequency band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of additional receivers and an analyzer means for each receiver, with each receiver spaced from said transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of said transmitter scattered by a vortex in additional zones adjacent the first said zone, with all of said zones illuminated by said transmitter and with each zone covered by a different receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said radar is a continuous wave radar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which said radar is a pulse radar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3028578A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |