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:
May. 27, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 30, 2004
David M. Anderson, Issaquah, WA (US);
Aydin Akdeniz, Redmond, WA (US);
David L. Banks, Bellevue, WA (US);
William J. Renton, Kent, WA (US);
Robert L. Avery, Bellevue, WA (US);
David M. Anderson, Issaquah, WA (US);
Aydin Akdeniz, Redmond, WA (US);
David L. Banks, Bellevue, WA (US);
William J. Renton, Kent, WA (US);
Robert L. Avery, Bellevue, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises systems and methods for preventing collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles. In one embodiment, a system includes a proximity detection unit and a transducer proximate to a selected structural portion of an aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the transducer and to receive reflected signals through the transducer to determine the position of an object within a ranging area adjacent to the structural portion. The system further includes an alarm device coupled to the proximity detection unit that is responsive to a signal generated by the proximity detection unit. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a distance between the ground service vehicle and a selected structural portion of the aircraft when the vehicle is positioned in a ranging area about the aircraft. The method further includes generating a proximity alarm based upon the distance.