Paul D Gibbs

US Patent:

40370860, Jul 19, 1977

Filed:

Jun 5, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/476514

Inventors:

George B. Foster - Worthington OH
Paul Douglas Gibbs - Blacklick OH

Assignee:

Air Data, Inc. - Worthington OH

International Classification:

G06F 1550
G01C 2120

US Classification:

23515022

Abstract:

There is disclosed a vertical guidance computer for general aviation aircraft operating in conjunction with an area navigation system to convert data representing the range from the aircraft to a runway or other target into a measure of the altitude at which the aircraft should be for a given descent rate. Means are provided for adding a correction representing the mean sea level altitude of the runway, and for pre-establishing an adjustable minimum descent altitude. When the range corresponding to the minimum descent altitude is reached, an appropriate warning is given. The system utilizes a time analog of range data and a scaling of the basic system clock in accordance with the desired glide slope or descent rate. The scaling is such that the number of cycles of the scaled clock directly represents the command altitude in feed above mean sea level.

US Patent:

D2709015, Oct 11, 1983

Filed:

Dec 17, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/217382

Inventors:

George B. Foster - Worthington OH
Paul D. Gibbs - Blacklick OH
Michael A. Smyser - Galena OH

Assignee:

Foster Airdata Systems, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

D1007

US Classification:

D10 74

US Patent:

40694127, Jan 17, 1978

Filed:

Jun 5, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/476513

Inventors:

George B. Foster - Worthington OH
Paul Douglas Gibbs - Blacklick OH

Assignee:

Air Data, Inc. - Worthington OH

International Classification:

G06G 778

US Classification:

364448

Abstract:

There is disclosed an area navigation system including signal averaging and lag compensation circuits to overcome VOR signal propagation instabilities and a meter sensitivity control circuit which decreases the sensitivity of a track angle deviation left-right needle display as the aircraft approaches a waypoint. Means are also provided for digitally displaying the aircraft bearing to the waypoint.

US Patent:

44133227, Nov 1, 1983

Filed:

Dec 17, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/217417

Inventors:

George B. Foster - Worthington OH
Paul D. Gibbs - Blacklick OH
Michael A. Smyser - Galena OH

Assignee:

Foster Airdata Systems Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G06F 1550

US Classification:

364448

Abstract:

An area navigation device automatically establishes waypoints along an RNAV course line intersecting with the four cardinal radials of VORTAC stations. For a given VORTAC station, the pilot selects any of the four cardinal radials and is automatically provided with the distance from the VORTAC station, along that cardinal radial, as the intersection with his selected RNAV course line. Thus, a pilot can quickly sequence through the cardinal radials and quickly ascertain the availability of waypoints along that radial. After an automatically generated cardinal waypoint is selected, it is automatically entered into memory dedicated to that waypoint for later recall and conventional use in area navigation.