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. 06, 1994
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1993
Richard J Wangler, Maitland, FL (US);
Keith L Fowler, Orlando, FL (US);
Robert E McConnell, II, Longwood, FL (US);
Schwartz Electro-Optics, Inc., Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A helicopter hazardous ground object warning system has a horizontally rotating beam from a laser rangefinder which detects and measures the distance to ground objects which may present a hazard to a helicopter during hover, takeoff and landing. The rotating laser beam from the rangefinder is positioned on the fuselage of a helicopter to create a quasi-horizontal (planar) scan pattern parallel to the earth's surface. The maximum and minimum ranges which can be measured by the rangefinder to objects and to ground personnel are preset. The minimum range can be used for blanking range measurements as a function of angle from helicopter parts, such as landing skids or wheel structures. A pilot warning system for hazardous objects may include an audible or visual alarm which may include a screen positioning all objects relative to the helicopter rotors and an external audible personnel warning system alerting ground personnel in the hazardous zone.