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Beacon docking system with visual guidance displayBeacon docking system with visual guidance display description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070210952, Beacon docking system with visual guidance display. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/506,787 filed on Aug. 21, 2006, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/820,013 filed on Apr. 8, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,314, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/394,242 filed Mar. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,635, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/139,376 filed May 7, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,063. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The instant invention relates generally to docking systems for aircraft, and more particularly to a beacon docking system for aligning one end of a passenger loading bridge to a doorway of an aircraft. BACKGROUND [0003] In order to make aircraft passengers comfortable, and in order to transport them between an airport terminal and an aircraft in such a way that they are protected from the weather and other environmental influences, passenger loading bridges are used which can be telescopically extended and the height of which is adjustable. For instance, an apron drive bridge in present day use comprises a plurality of adjustable modules, including: a rotunda, a telescopic tunnel, a bubble section, a cab, and elevating columns with wheel carriage. Of course, other types of bridges are known in the art, such as for example nose loaders, radial bridges, pedestal bridges, dual bridges and over the wing bridges. Additionally, multiple doorways along a same side or opposite sides of the aircraft may be serviced at a same time, for example using the over the wing bridge or two separate bridges. [0004] Manual, semi-automated and automated bridge alignment systems are known for adjusting the position of a passenger loading bridge relative to a doorway of an aircraft, for instance to compensate for different sized aircraft and to compensate for imprecise parking of the aircraft at an airport terminal, etc. [0005] Often, manual bridge alignment systems are preferred by the airlines because a trained bridge-operator is present and is able to observe directly the movements of the bridge relative to the doorway of the aircraft. Typically, the bridge-operator uses a control panel located within the cab section to adjust the bridge each time a flight arrives. Accordingly, the probability that the bridge will collide with an aircraft during an alignment operation is relatively small. [0006] Of secondary concern to the airlines is ensuring that the passenger loading bridge is aligned with the doorway of the aircraft as rapidly as possible, thereby minimizing the time that is required to complete passenger deplaning, cleaning, restocking etc. As such, semi-automated bridge alignment systems are known in the prior art, which systems allow the bridge to be moved rapidly to a preset position under the control of a programmable controller or embedded control system. For example, some passenger loading bridges are equipped with controls that automatically cause the height adjustment mechanism to move the cab to a predetermined height. Unfortunately, the bridge-operator must be present to press a switch for enabling the automated height adjustment. As such, the bridge-operator must arrive at the passenger loading bridge in advance of the aircraft, which wastes the time of the bridge-operator, or alternatively the bridge-operator initiates the height adjustment after the aircraft has arrived at the passenger loading bridge, which inconveniences the passengers waiting on board the aircraft. [0007] Schoenberger et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,204 discloses a semi-automated passenger loading bridge that uses video cameras in the control of the passenger loading bridge. The system maneuvers a movable end of the bridge to a position close to the doorway of the aircraft, whereupon an operator controls the bridge during the last part of its movement by looking at images recorded by the video cameras. Suggestions are made in the patent specification that the system could be arranged to operate in a fully automated manner using image-processing of the recorded images to calculate the distance between the passenger loading bridge and the aircraft. However, image-processing is time-consuming, thus making the movement based thereon slow. [0008] WO 96/08411, filed Sep. 14, 1995 in the name of Anderberg, discloses another device for controlling the movement of a passenger loading bridge. When an aircraft has landed, a central computer, such as for instance a central computer located within a terminal building, transmits information on the type or model of aircraft to a local computer of the passenger loading bridge at an assigned gate. The local computer accesses a local database and retrieves information on the positions of the doors for the type of aircraft that has landed, as well as information on the expected stopping position for the type of aircraft at the assigned gate. The retrieved information allows the local computer to determine an absolute position of the door with which the passenger loading bridge is to be aligned. The system also includes sensors for providing real-time positional data for a cab end of the bridge to the local computer. Accordingly, the passenger loading bridge is moved under computer control to a position close to the determined position of the door, for example within 2-10 meters. Optionally, the bridge is preset to this position before the aircraft has stopped moving. [0009] WO 01/34467, filed Nov. 8, 2000 also in the name of Anderberg, teaches that the above system is reliable only for movement to a position close to the aircraft. Thus, the bridge has to be operated manually during the remaining 2-10 meters of its movement. The WO 01/34467 reference also teaches an improvement to the above system, in which electromagnetic sensors are disposed along the distal end of the passenger loading bridge for transmitting a set of electromagnetic pulses in different directions and for detecting electromagnetic pulses after reflection from an aircraft. Based upon the elapsed time between transmitting and detecting the electromagnetic pulses in different directions, a profile of distance as a function of direction is obtained. From the measured distance versus direction profile and the information stored in the computer, it is then possible to maneuver the bridge to the doorway of the aircraft. Unfortunately, the local computer must be in communication with a flight information database of the airport terminal building in order to receive information relating to the type or model of aircraft that is approaching the gate. Such a database must be set up to be accessible by the local computer, and there may be serious security-related issues involved with providing widely distributed access to sensitive flight information. Furthermore, many airports around the world do not support databases that would be suitable for interfacing with a passenger loading bridge system as described by Anderberg. In those cases, the authorities considering an automated passenger bridge would demand a system capable of completely autonomous operation. [0010] Additionally, there are prior art systems for guiding the aircraft to the correct location for docking with a passenger boarding bridge. Fabriksmonteringin Trelleborg AB describe a current state of the art system. The aircraft parking and information system API++.TM. is a laser-based visual docking guidance system used to visually guide a pilot to intercept and establish an aircraft on a gate centerline, and to proceed to a stopping position at an aircraft gate. Real-time azimuth guidance is provided to the pilot by means of a unique Moire technology azimuth guidance unit. Aircraft type and series information is displayed on an alphanumeric display panel, confirming to the pilot to proceed with the docking maneuver. Aircraft closing rate and stopping position information is provided by a closing rate indicator, which starts a distance-to-go countdown when the aircraft is within close range from its correct stopping position. When interfaced to flight information display systems (FIDS), airports operations database control (AODC) or to air traffic control center (ATCC), APIS++.TM. receives notification that an aircraft has landed. Further provided to the APIS++.TM. is an automatic selection of aircraft type. Advantageously, APIS++.TM. communicates and cooperates with passenger boarding bridges during the process of docking the aircraft. A similar system is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,489, issued to Millgard, filed 29 Oct. 1999. This system, like the APIS++.TM., provides visual cues to the pilot of an aircraft to assist the pilot in correctly positioning the aircraft relative to the terminal building. The system according to Millgard also makes use of a laser mounted to a stationary fixture to identify and determine the position of the aircraft. [0011] It is a disadvantage of the prior art manual, semi-automated and automated bridge alignment systems that the alignment operation is performed on the basis of observations that are made from a location that is remote to the aircraft. If such observations are erroneous, then the bridge may be allowed to collide unintentionally with the aircraft. Examples of observations that are prone to error include: visually or electronically determining a type of the aircraft; keying in a type of the aircraft into a flight information database; judging the distance remaining between the bridge and the aircraft, etc. Of course, adverse environmental conditions, such as snow, fog, darkness, etc., will greatly increase the likelihood of an erroneous observation. [0012] It would be advantageous to provide a system that simplifies the approach of the aircraft and the docking of the passenger boarding bridge beyond the advances described with reference to the prior art. Further, it would be beneficial to provide members of the flight crew aboard the aircraft some control over the passenger boarding bridge. SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0013] According to an aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a system for aligning one end of a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft having a doorway, the doorway defined within a side-wall of the aircraft, the side-wall including an inner wall defining an interior surface of the side-wall and an outer wall defining an exterior surface of the side-wall, the inner wall and the outer wall disposed in a spaced-apart arrangement one relative to the other, so as to define at least a space therebetween, the system comprising: a transmitter disposed within the at least a space of the side-wall for providing an electromagnetic signal for use during an operation for aligning the one end of the passenger loading bridge to the doorway of the aircraft; a receiver disposed about a point having a known location relative to the one end of the passenger loading bridge, for receiving the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the transmitter, and for providing an electrical output signal relating to the electromagnetic signal; a bridge controller in electrical communication with the receiver, for receiving the electrical output signal provided from the receiver, for determining a next movement of the one end of the passenger loading bridge in a direction toward the doorway of the aircraft based upon the electrical output signal, and for providing a control signal relating to the determined next movement; and, a drive mechanism in communication with the bridge controller, for receiving the control signal therefrom, and for driving the one end of the passenger loading bridge in the determined direction toward the doorway of the aircraft. [0014] According to another aspect of the instant invention there is provided a kit for retrofitting an aircraft, the aircraft having a space contained within a side-wall thereof, the side-wall including an interior wall defining an interior surface of the side-wall and an outer wall defining an exterior surface of the side-wall, the kit comprising: a transmitter module for being fixedly mounted within the space between the interior wall and the exterior wall and for transmitting an electromagnetic signal within a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum; and, a mount for securing the transmitter within the space. [0015] According to yet another aspect of the instant invention there is provided a method of retrofitting an aircraft having a doorway, the aircraft having a space contained within a side-wall thereof, the side-wall including an interior wall defining an interior surface of the side-wall and an outer wall defining an exterior surface of the side-wall, the method comprising: providing an opening in the exterior surface of the side-wall at a point proximate the doorway, the opening sized for accepting a housing; mounting a housing within the opening; securing a transmitter module to the housing; providing an electrical connection between the transmitter module and an on-board power system of the aircraft; and, securing a cover adjacent to the opening, so as to provide a surface that is substantially continuous with the exterior surface of the side-wall. [0016] According to still another aspect of the instant invention there is provided an apparatus for aligning one end of a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft having a doorway, the doorway defined within a side-wall of the aircraft, the side-wall including an interior wall defining an interior surface of the side-wall and an outer wall defining an exterior surface of the side-wall, the aircraft having a space contained within the side-wall, the apparatus comprising: a mounting structure; and, a transmitter for being fixedly mounted, via the mounting structure, at a location within the space between the interior wall and the exterior wall, the transmitter for wirelessly providing a signal within a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the signal comprising information relating to a location of the doorway relative to the location of the transmitter. [0017] According to still another aspect of the instant invention there is provided a system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway that is disposed along a lateral surface of an aircraft, comprising: a bridge controller for aligning automatically the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge to the doorway; a control module disposed aboard the aircraft for receiving from a user aboard the aircraft an input signal that is indicative of an emergency stop request; a first transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the control module, the first transmitter for receiving from the control module a signal relating to the emergency stop request and for transmitting a control signal in dependence thereon; and, a first receiver disposed at a location that is remote from the aircraft, the first receiver in communication with the bridge controller for receiving the transmitted control signal and for automatically providing the transmitted control signal to the bridge controller. [0018] According to still another aspect of the instant invention there is provided a method of aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway that is disposed along a lateral surface of an aircraft, the method comprising: initiating an automated alignment process for aligning the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge to the doorway that disposed along the lateral surface of the aircraft; receiving from a user aboard the aircraft an input signal that is indicative of an emergency stop request; transmitting a control signal relating to the input signal using a transmitter that is disposed aboard the aircraft; receiving the control signal at a location that is remote from the aircraft; providing the control signal to a bridge controller of the passenger boarding bridge; and, stopping the automated alignment process currently in progress in response to receiving the control signal at the bridge controller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings, in which similar reference numbers designate similar items: [0020] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a passenger boarding bridge and an aircraft equipped with an automated docking system according to a first embodiment of the instant invention; Continue reading about Beacon docking system with visual guidance display... Full patent description for Beacon docking system with visual guidance display Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Beacon docking system with visual guidance display patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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