Patent ID: 7379165

Claim:
A ground vehicle collision prevention system, comprising: a proximity detection unit positioned at least proximate to an aircraft and coupled to at least one transducer proximate to at least one selected structural portion of the aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the at least one transducer and to receive reflected signals through the at least one transducer to determine the position of an object within a ranging area adjacent to the selected structural portion, wherein the ranging area is subdivided into at least a first field region adjacent to the at least one selected structural portion, and the proximity detection unit is operable to generate a first alarm signal characteristic when the object is positioned within the first field region; a second field region adjacent to the first field region and spaced apart from the at least one structural portion, wherein the proximity detection unit is operable to generate a second alarm signal characteristic when the object is positioned within the second field region; and at least one alarm device coupled to the proximity detection unit that is responsive to a proximity alarm signal generated by the proximity detection unit.