PORTABLE SELF-POWERED USER CARRIED TRANSPONDER / ADS-B OUT FOR

PARACHUTISTS AND PARAGLIDERS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[Para 1 ] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Serial Number 62/889,215 filed August 20, 2019 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[Para 2] This invention relates to improvements in providing notification to aircraft that a human is in proximity. More particularly, the present portable human carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders creates allows a parachutist or a paraglider to send notifications to powered aircraft that they are in the airspace.

BACKGROUND ART

[Para 3] When a person is skydiving or paragliding, they are sharing the airspace with powered aircraft. While a parachutist is within a jump plane the jump plane sends signals to other aircraft, airports, air traffic controllers and other receiving devises about the altitude and position. Once the parachutist leaves the jump plane or a paraglider is in the air there is a potential that an aircraft may hit them in flight because they leave no electronic signal that they are in the air, and an aircraft that is flying 100 MPH or faster can quickly contact the sky diver or paraglider as they approach. One solution has been for the jump plane to circle the sky diver as they ascend to a lower altitude. Powered flying machines are required to have ADS-B out transponders that provide continuous notifications to other aircraft and air traffic controllers in the area.

[Para 4] A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this /these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.

[Para 5] U.S. Patent Number 9,694,910 issued on July 4, 2017 to Tabber K. MacCallum et al and is titled Near-Space Operation System. This patent discloses a system enabling safe manned and unmanned operations at extremely high altitudes (above 70,000 feet). The system utilizes a balloon launch system and parachute and/or parafoil recovery. These high-altitude devices provide communication but they are not useful at altitudes where humans or organisms are guiding or descending.

[Para 6] U.S. Patent Number 9,696,797 issued on July 4, 2017 to Hamid Abdollahi and is titled Control System and Methods for head-mounted information Systems. This patent discloses a head-mounted information system is provided, the head-mounted information system comprising a frame configured to be mounted on a head of a user, a display unit coupled to the frame, a sensor unit coupled to the frame comprising one or more motion sensors, and, a processor unit coupled to the frame and connected to receive signals from the motion sensors. While this head mounted system provides information that can be used by a person skydiving it does not provide information to aircraft.

[Para 7] U.S. Patent Number 9,105,970 issued on August 11, 2015 to Joseph Mitchell Heinrich and is titled Balloon Payload with Balloon-to-Balloon Communications and Avionics on Top. This patent discloses a balloon payload with communications and avionics on positioned on top. The payload may include a chassis and an avionics system coupled to the first chassis. The payload may also include a battery coupled to the first chassis and positioned below the avionics system. The communications are from one balloon to another balloon but does not provide information to moving aircraft and the device is not configured for use on a person or living organism.

[Para 8] U.S. Patent Number 7,412,324 issued on August 12, 2008 to Charles J. Bagge et al, and is titled Flight Management System with Precision Merging. This patent discloses a flight management system with precision merging that may determine a rejoin turn location based upon a heading to allow proper spacing between an aircraft and an identified target aircraft. The flight management system may monitor for deviation from assigned airspace, winds, turn radius and desired airport speed profile for the approach to further refine a turn-back location. This patent is for flight management and is not enabled for use on a skydiver or paraglider.

[Para 9] What is needed is a transponder that can be worn by a skydiver or paraglider and can be monitored by the skydiver or paraglider to notify aircraft in the area that they are in the airspace. The proposed portable human carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders that is disclosed in this document provides the solution with a transponder that can be worn and viewed by a parachutist and paraglider. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[Para 10] It is an object of the portable self-powered transponder to for use in skydivers performing high opening, high pull (HAHO) jumps where a jumper is at an altitude of typically 5,000 to 25,000 feet above the ground. These are the altitudes where aircraft fly or where aircraft is ascending or descending. The transponder sends a continuous signal to aircraft in the area that may be flying or intend to fly. To aircraft a skydiver is nearly invisible at a distance and the transponder provides a signal that can be detected from great distances from the skydiver. While HAHO jumps are described the device can also be used in HALO, LALO,

AFF and BASE.

[Para 1 1] It is an object of the portable self-powered transponder to also be used in paragliders that can be gliding at altitudes above the ground. Because paragliders can launch from hills or mountains the random location of the paraglider can be unknown to powered aircraft. The altitude of paragliders can also change based upon wind conditions and thermals that are experienced. Most paragliders will fly below an altitude of 18,000 feet.

[Para 12] It is another object of the portable self-powered transponder to be self-contained and includes a global positioning system (GPS) that determines the location on the earth with position and altitude. The GPS can also determine rate of descent (or ascent), direction or travel and the rate of change in different directions of travel. A transponder with an altitude source that handles communication out of the transponder. The device also includes, a display that can be viewed by the skydiver or paraglider to provide information on their altitude and a unique identifier. The device will also have a transmitting antenna. The combined components would be enclosed in a manually transportable housing and include a power supply. The power supply can power the unit for an extended period of time for multiple jumps or for extended period as needed for a paraglider.

[Para 13] It is still another object of the portable self-powered transponder to have securing hardware the secures the self-contained unit onto a human use. The hardware places the display and controls in a position, essentially on the chest of a user, that is visible by the user so they can make any required changes or adjustments when they are in the air and can turn the device off when they are on the ground, low altitude or when they do not want detection.

[Para 14] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[Para 15] FIG. 1 shows a parachutist with the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

[Para 16] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

[Para 17] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

[Para 18] FIG. 4 shows the display of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

[Para 19] FIG. 5 shows an interior view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

[Para 20] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Para 21] It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.

[Para 22] Item Numbers and Description [Para 23] 19 sky diver or paraglider 20 person [Para 24] 21 cushion(s) 30 parachute [Para 25] 31 leg harness 32 strap(s) to parachute [Para 26] 33 connecting strap(s) 39 transponder strap [Para 27] 40 transponder 41 housing [Para 28] 44 bottom housing 45 top housing [Para 29] 50 Transponder with altitude source 52 antenna out [Para 30] 53 GPS 54 antenna [Para 31 ] 55 power On indicator 56 circuit breaker [Para 32] 57 power switch 58 battery [Para 33] 59 charging port 60 display [Para 34] 61 mode knob 62 code knob [Para 35] 63 VFR Button 64 function button [Para 36] 65 enter button

[Para 37] FIG. 1 shows a parachutist 20 with the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out 40 for parachutists and paragliders 19. While this figure shows a user with a parachute 30 the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out 40 could equally be placed on a person that is paragliding. With both of these types of users the use of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out 40 is limited to one or several hours and the user has no power generating engine to continuously power the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out 40. For both types of users, the person 20 has a harness that secures the person 20 that connects with straps 32 to the parachute 30 or to a paragliding harness that connects to a wing. The harness has a leg harness 31 connecting straps 33 and a strap that extends around the chest of the user. The harness extends with a transponder strap 39 that places the housing 41 in-front of the person 20.

[Para 38] Placing the transponder 40 in this orientation allows the user to look downward onto the transponder 40 to view the display and make any changes to the transponder and to turn the transponder on and off. Generally, the user will turn the transponder on prior to leaving the airplane. They can set the identification and can verify the operation of the transponder and can further verify that the signal is being properly received by the jump plane. While they are in the air, they can confirm that the transponder is still in proper operation and can turn the transponder off when they land or when they are at a low altitude. This figure shows the transponder with a mode knob 61 on top of the transponder 40 and an antenna 54 at the bottom of the transponder housing 41. The antenna 54 is flexible or is on a flexible plate that allows the antenna 54 to bend or flex to prevent injury to the user. While the transponder 40 is shown on a chest of a user, it is also contemplated that the transponder 40 can be connected to the leg harness 31 where it is on the front of a leg.

[Para 39] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders. Because the parachutists and paraglider are using the wind or wind resistance as they move through the air the transponder is powered with a battery 58. The battery 58 provides enough power to operate the transponder for about six hours, but the battery size can be adjusted to provide a longer or shorter operation time. The battery 58 is recharged with a charging port 59 that can be charged from the jump plane or on the ground. A power switch 57 is used to connect the battery to the operational components. The power from the battery will then pass through a circuit breaker 56 that can remove power from the battery 58 if there is a high drain of power that might be caused by electrical problems in the transponder equipment or from mechanical damage to the equipment in case of a hard landing. This will prevent an overload that could cause fire, heat or other damage to the user.

[Para 40] A power-On indicator 55 provides a visual indicator that the transponder components are powered and should be operating. There is a transponder with an altitude source 50. This is connected to an antenna out 52 that transmits Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS/B). A display 60 allows for the user to make changes and adjustments. The user interface for the display 60 is shown and described in other figures herein. Thee transponder with an altitude source 50 is also connected to a Global Position Sensor (GPS) 53 that has a separate antenna 54 to determine the location of the parachutists or paraglider.

[Para 41 ] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders 40 and FIG. 4 shows the display of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders 40. All of the transponder 40 components are enclosed in an enclosure having a lower housing 44 with a top housing 45 that hinges from the lower housing 44 and includes a latching or closing mechanism. While a particular enclosure is shown and described, the housing can take a variety of shapes and sizes as well as having openings at different locations where the display and controls are located. In the configuration shown the openings for the controls are places at a narrow end of the housing where they can be accessed by a user and provide minimal visual obstruction to the parachutists or paragliders. The front of the bottom housing 44 has the connection for the charging port 59, the power-on indicator 55 and the circuit breaker 56.

[Para 42] The display 60 shows the operating mode of the transponder, the reported pressure altitude, and the current squawk code and Flight ID. A reply indicator is active when the transponder replies to interrogations. The pressure altitude is displayed as a Flight Level, which is the pressure altitude in hundreds of feet. The mode selector knob 31 controls the power to the transponder and the operating mode. OFF Power is removed from the transponder. SBY The transponder is on, but will not reply to any interrogations. GND The transponder will respond to Mode S ground interrogations from surface movement radar. ON The transponder will respond to all interrogations, but altitude reporting is suppressed. ALT The transponder will respond to all interrogations. When the parachutists or paragliders is in the air, the transponder should always be set to ALT unless otherwise directed by Air Traffic Control. When the parachutists or paragliders is on the ground, the transponder should be set to GND mode.

[Para 43] The IDT bottom is used when an air traffic controller requests a user to identify them self or to squawk and identity. This activates the SPI pulse in the transponder replies for 18 seconds. IDT will appear in the display. The FN 64 is a function button that provides access to changing the Flight ID and the ADS-B position monitor and display brightness control. The VFR 63 button sets the transponder to the preprogrammed conspicuity code. Pressing the button again restores the previous squawk code. The ENT 65 button enters a digit in the code selector. The code selector 62 is used to set squawk codes and the Flight ID. The FN button selects which will be updated. Turning the knob will highlight the first digit on the display, and the digit can be changed as required. Press the ENT 65 button to advance to the next digit. When ENT 65 is pressed on the last digit, the new squawk code or Flight ID will replace the previous value. If the code entry is not completed within 7 seconds, the changes are ignored and the previous code restored. The Flight ID should correspond to the parachutists or paragliders call sign.

[Para 44] FIG. 5 shows an interior view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders 40 and FIG. 6 shows a side view of the portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders 40. All of the transponder 40 components are enclosed in an enclosure having a lower housing 44 with a top housing 45 that hinges from the lower housing 44 and includes a latching or closing mechanism. While a particular enclosure is shown and described, the housing can take a variety of shapes and sizes as well as having openings at different locations where the display and controls are located. In the configuration shown the openings for the controls are places at a narrow end of the housing where they can be accessed by a user and provide minimal visual obstruction to the parachutists or paragliders. In the embodiment shown the enclosure that has a size of about 8 inches by six inches by 4 inches.

[Para 45] The inside of the enclosure shows the display 60 with the mode knob 61 and the code knob 62 on the outside of the enclosure of the transponder 40. Within the housing is the battery 58 that powers the transponder components. The battery is rechargeable and will power the transponder for about 6 hours. The transponder with altitude source 50 is shown and connects to the display 60 and also to the antenna out 52 on side of the enclosure. At the right side of the enclosure is the GPS 53 unit and is connected to an antenna 54. In this prototype foam padding 21 is placed in and around the components. In production versions a custom form or cushion will be used to provide a cushion to the internal components to cushion the transponder when the parachutist and paraglider lands.

[Para 46] Thus, specific embodiments of a portable man carried transponder / ADS-B out for parachutists and paragliders have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[Para 47] The industrial applicability relates to notification of aircraft and control towers that a parachutists and paragliders is in the same airspace.