The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 20, 1988
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1988
Frederick G Reinagel, Buffalo, NY (US);
Allen B Johnson, North Tonawana, NY (US);
LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A computerized flight inspection system is disclosed. The system of the present invention may be utilized to generate an accurate reference location with respect to an airport runway for an aircraft having an inertial navigation system. A selected geometric pattern having a highly unambiguous autocorrelation function is placed on at least one end of the runway. A video line scanning camera mounted to the aircraft is then utilized to scan the geometric pattern in a line generally perpendicular to the line of flight. The output of the video line scanning camera is then correlated with a stored reference pattern to generate a signal indicative of the detection of the geometric pattern on the runway. A laser altimeter is mounted to the aircraft and utilized to generate an accurate signal indicative of the aircraft altitude with respect to the runway pattern. The outputs of the correlation circuit and the laser altimeter are then utilized to correct data from the inertial navigation system.