Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes benefit of U.S. Prov. App. No. 62/308,271 filed Mar. 15, 2016 and hereby incorporates it in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable, externally mounted device for aircraft used to provide user selectable readings of airspeed, pressure, temperature, orientation, heading, acceleration, and angular rate. The present invention is self-contained and wireless and is portable from aircraft to aircraft. The present invention is externally mounted on the aircraft. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently, there is no simple, inexpensive way for aircraft pilots to view and record flight data that includes airspeed, pressure (altimeter), temperature, orientation, heading, acceleration, and angular rate. Current devices for monitoring this data are very complex and expensive. They are hard mounted to the aircraft and permanently wired to one or more screens or instruments mounted in the aircraft to display the readings. Obviously, these devices are not portable and do not interface with portable media devices. Further, not all flying devices have instrumentation. Hang-gliders for example are ordinarily not equipped with instrumentation. Also, not all flying devices have the same type or kind of devices installed. For example, not all flying devices are equipped with instrumentation that captures and records atmospheric temperature. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it is a first goal of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive way for aircraft pilots to view and record flight data including, but not limited to, airspeed, pressure (altimeter), temperature, orientation, heading, acceleration, and angular rate. 
         [0005]    It is a second goal of the present invention to provide a portable device that may be transported from aircraft to aircraft. Such a device will generally not include indicators or displays, but will interoperate with an application on a cellular telephone or tablet computer. Data will be communicated wirelessly between the present invention and the cellular telephone or tablet computer. 
         [0006]    Finally, it is a third goal of the present invention to provide a device that presents consistent, equivalent capture and recording of the same flight data no matter what kind of flying machine is used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises two components: 1) A data sensing and collection device with wireless connectivity to a displaying media device such as a cellular telephone or tablet computer; and, 2) An application running on the displaying media device capable of receiving, displaying, and storing the transmitted data. 
         [0008]    The data sensing and collection device with wireless connectivity is contained in an aerodynamic housing attached to a mounting stalk. The aerodynamic housing of the data sensing and collection device is generally an elongate ovoid in shape with the leading end being slightly larger than the trailing end. The mounting stalk of the device may be permanently or semi-permanently attached to the aircraft. Ordinarily, the mounting stalk of the device is attached to the aircraft in a location near the leading edge of one of the wings of the flying machine. Similarly, the mounting stalk may be attached to the fuselage or some other surface of the flying machine. 
         [0009]    The data sensing and collection device is comprised of the following subsystems: 1) A battery; 2) A pitot tube and associated digital differential pressure sensor; 3) A digital temperature sensor; 4) A digital pressure sensor (altimeter); 5) A gyroscope; 6) An accelerometer; 7) A magnetometer; 8) A processor; and, 9) A wireless transceiver capable of transmitting collected data from the data sensing and collection device to the application running on the displaying media device. 
         [0010]    The exemplary embodiment of the data sensing and collection device is configured with the pitot tube oriented parallel to the long axis of the aerodynamic housing and extending forward from the leading end of the device. The data sensing and collection device is aligned such that the pitot tube extends in the direction of flight. 
         [0011]    The application is written to operate on a cell telephone or a tablet computer. The cell telephone or tablet computer has a wireless transceiver compatible with the exemplary embodiment of the data sensing and collection device and capable of receiving and transmitting information from and to it. The application has a multiplicity of display windows each capable of displaying information received from the data sensing and collection device. For each type of data transmitted by the data sensing and collection device, the application is capable of displaying at least: 1, ) The instantaneous current value in a numeric format; and, 2) The instantaneous and historic values in a graphical format. Also, the application is capable of collectively displaying each type of data transmitted by the data sensing and collection device in one window. 
         [0012]    The system is used in the following manner: First, the user attaches the stalk of the data sensing and collection device to the wing or other surface of the aircraft before entering the flying machine. Next, the user aligns the data sensing and collection device relative to the stalk such that the long axis of the data sensing and collection device (and particularly the pitot tube) is parallel to the direction of travel of the flying device. Next, the user secures the clamp on the stalk affixing the data sensing and collection device and stalk at their relative locations. Next, the user powers on the data sensing and collection device. Next, the user powers on his cellular telephone or tablet computer. Next, the user activates the application installed on his cellular telephone or tablet computer and establishes communication with the data sensing and collection device. Next, the user selects what data he wishes to see displayed by the application. Next, the user flies the flying machine. Finally, the user observes the data collected by the data sensing and collection device via the application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the data sensing and collection device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating the process of linking to the data sensing and collection device using the application. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating the process of using the application to display information derived from the data sensing and collection device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    In the following discussion references are made to a variety of enabling technologies and techniques traditionally used to deploy software-based web services. For example, the term “application” will be used to connote one or more software applications or programs resident on a cellular telephone or tablet computer or computers operating individually or in concert to achieve a certain set of operational features. Without limitation such applications are implemented Apple iOS or Swift or Android Java or LUA. Those having skill in the art however will recognize that numerous other equivalent development environments that may be used. 
         [0017]    Similarly, references are made to “cellular telephones” and “tablet computers.” Such devices are well known. As above however, those having skill in the art will readily recognize that other equivalent devices are commercially available and readily adapted to the teachings of the present invention. 
         [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises the following hardware components: 1) A data sensing and collection device  100  (DSCD) for sensing, collecting, and transmitting flight data to a cellular telephone or tablet computer; and, 2) A stalk  200  for adjustably mounting data sensing and collection device  100  to a wing or other exterior surface of a flying machine. 
         [0019]    The exemplary embodiment of data sensing and collection device  100  is comprised of the following elements: 1) Battery  101  and a battery charging port  102 ; 2) Differential pressure sensor  103   a  and attached pitot tube  103   b; 3) Barometric altimeter (pressure sensor)  104 ; 4) Temperature sensor  105 ; 5) Gyroscope  107 ; 6) Accelerometer  108 ; 7) Magnetometer  113 ; 8) Microcontroller  109  and storage facility  110 ; and, 6) Radio transceiver  111 . 
         [0020]    Battery  101  is used to supply power to the remaining components in data sensing and collection device  100 . Battery  101  may be removable or fixed inside data sensing and collection device  100 . Battery  101  maybe rechargeable. If battery  101  is rechargeable, then battery charging port  102  is equipped and interconnected to battery  101 . Those having skill in the art will recognize that battery  101  may be omitted if data sensing and collection device  100  is wired to the electrical supply system of the flying machine. 
         [0021]    Differential pressure sensor  103   a  is plumbed to pitot tube  103   b  such that differential pressure sensor  103   a  can sense the static pressure and total pressure of pitot tube  103   b . The difference between these two pressures is the dynamic pressure. Dynamic pressure is related to the frontal pressure seen by the flying machine due to its motion through the air. Thus, the velocity of the flying machine can be calculated from the dynamic pressure. Since pitot tube  103   b  is exposed to the outside of the flying machine, some level of thermal protection may be appropriate. For example, it may be necessary to supply pitot tube  103   b  with a heating coil. 
         [0022]    Barometric altimeter (pressure sensor)  104  is used to measure the altitude of data sensing and collection device  100 . Barometric altimeter (pressure sensor)  104  may be calibrated or not. It is obvious that the higher one flies above the surface of the Earth, the lower the atmospheric pressure recorded by the sensor. It is this barometric measurement that allows the computing of altitude. 
         [0023]    Temperature sensor  105  reads the temperature of the air around data sensing and collection device  100 . 
         [0024]    Gyroscope  107  forms part of a traditional Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). As such, gyroscope  107  is constructed of three gyroscope monitoring devices aligned such that their axes are orthogonal with respect to one another. Gyroscope  107  provides a stable, three-dimensional reference for data sensing and collection device  100 . 
         [0025]    Similarly, accelerometer  108  also forms part of a traditional IMU. Accelerometer  108  is constructed of three acceleration monitoring devices aligned such that their axes are orthogonal with respect to one another. Accelerometer  108  provides instantaneous inputs regarding the three dimensional acceleration for data sensing and collection device  100 . 
         [0026]    Similarly, magnetometer  113  also forms part of a traditional IMU. As such, magnetometer  113  is constructed of three magnetic field monitoring devices aligned such that their axes are orthogonal with respect to one another. Magnetometer  113  provides instantaneous inputs regarding the three dimensional character of the magnetic field in which data sensing and collection device  100  is operating. Magnetometer  113  assists calibration against orientation drift. 
         [0027]    Microcontroller  109  and storage facility  110  perform all computational tasks for data sensing and collection device  100 . Microcontroller  109  is ordinarily an ARM processing system, but those having skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous equivalent alternatives. Storage facility  110  combines some amount of random access memory and read only memory. In one embodiment of the present invention microcontroller  109  and storage facility  110  may be implemented on the same physical device. Ordinarily, storage facility  110  contains instructions implementing the operating program that controls and operates data sensing and collection device  100 . 
         [0028]    Radio transceiver  111  is used to communicate with an attached cell telephone or tablet computer and ordinarily supports the Bluetooth protocol. Those having skill in the art will readily recognize that there are numerous other protocols that may be used including Wi-Fi. 
         [0029]    This basic collection of devices is sufficient to calculate airspeed, pressure (altitude), temperature, orientation, heading, acceleration, and angular rate. However, those having skill in the art will readily recognize that there are numerous other devices that may be added to data sensing and collection device  100 . For example, an alternative embodiment of data sensing and collection device  100  has GPS receiver  106 . Similarly, an alternative embodiment of data sensing and collection device  100  may be equipped with digital compass  112 . 
         [0030]    All of these devices are powered by battery  101  and attached to microcontroller  109  and storage device  110 . 
         [0031]    The exemplary embodiment of stalk  200  includes a mounting head  201  designed to affix to data sensing and collection device  100 . Mounting head  201  is permanently affixed to distal shaft  202 . Proximal shaft  203  is attached to mounting base  206 . Mounting base  206  is equipped with adhesive pad  207  on its bottom side. Adhesive pad  207  is a double sided adhesive pad. One side is attached to the bottom of mounting base  206  while the other side is affixed to the exterior surface of the flying machine. Distal shaft  202  is affixed to mounting clamp  204 . Mounting clamp  204  is friction adjustable by mounting clamp bolt  205 . In use mounting clamp  204  affixes over a mating hole in proximal shaft  203 . The user then tightens mounting clamp bolt  205  down securing distal shaft  202  and proximal shaft  203  together. Ordinarily, the user adjusts data sensing and collection device  100  such that pitot tube  103   b  proceeds in the direction of flight of the flying machine. 
         [0032]    It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that the disclosed design of stalk  200  and attached data sensing and collection device  100  is adjustable in only one axis. It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that stalk  200  may be equipped with more than one mounting clamp  204  and that such mounting clamps may be aligned 90° with respect to one another. By this means stalk  200  and attached data sensing and collection device  100  may be aligned in two axes. Obviously, stalk  200  may be equipped with more than one mounting clamp  204  aligned at an angle other than 90°. 
         [0033]    Data sensing and collection device  100  provides data to a software application operating on a cellular telephone or tablet computer. The application displays and/or records the data for later use. The software application has two basic functions: 1) Initializing the data communication link between data sensing and collection device  100  and the application; and, 2) Recording and displaying the data collected from an attached data sensing and collection device  100 . 
         [0034]    Turning now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the process undertaken by the software application initializing the data communication link between data sensing and collection device  100  and the application is shown. First, the user downloads and executes the software application with no mated DSCD ( 301 ). Ordinarily, this would occur when the user first installs the software application on a cellular telephone or tablet computer. Next, the software application queries the surrounding area to determine if there are any unmated DSCDs present ( 302 ). If the software application does not locate any unmated DSCDs, the software application repeats this step. If the software application locates an unmated DSCD, the software application queries the user to determine if the user wishes to mate with the identified DSCD ( 303 ). If the user does not wish to mate with the identified unmated DSCD, the software application repeats this step. If the user does wish to mate with the identified unmated DSCD, the software application retrieves and stores the selected DSCD&#39;s serial number ( 304 ). From this point forward the software application installed on the user&#39;s cellular telephone or tablet computer attempts to connect to and collect information from the DSCD with the serial number collected during the mating process. 
         [0035]    Turning now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the process undertaken by the software application after it has been mated to a data sensing and collection device  100  is shown. First, the user executes the software application with a mated DSCD nearby ( 401 ). Next, the software application queries the user to select a mated DSCD to interrogate ( 402 ). This step will be performed only if the user has more than one DSCD mated with the software application. Next, the software application requests that the user select the data to be displayed ( 403 ). This step is used to determine which of the multiplicity of types of data provided by the DSCD are actually displayed by the application software. For example, the user may wish to see altitude data displayed. Or, alternately, the user may wish to see altitude data and speed data displayed simultaneously. Or, alternately, the user may wish to see altitude data and speed data displayed graphically so that an arbitrary history of data may be viewed. Or, alternately, the user may wish to see a simulated, graphical representation of gauges such as an airspeed indicator, an altimeter, a thermometer, an attitude indicator, a vertical speed indicator, a heading indicator, or, a turn coordinator. Next, the software application reads the data the user has selected for display ( 404 ). Finally, the software application displays the data the user has selected on the display ( 405 ). 
         [0036]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the system is used in the following manner: First, the user attaches stalk  200  affixed to data sensing and collection device  100  to the wing or other surface of the flying machine. Ordinarily, this is done by removing a paper covering over an adhesive layer on adhesive pad  207  on the bottom of mounting base  206 . It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that other means of affixing mounting base  206  to an external aircraft surface are readily conceivable. Next, the user aligns data sensing and collection device  100  relative to stalk  200  such that the long axis of the data sensing and collection device  100  (and particularly the long axis of pitot tube  103   b ) is parallel to the direction of travel of the flying machine. Next, the user secures mounting clamp  204  by tightening mounting clamp bolt  205  on stalk  200  thus affixing data sensing and collection device  100  and stalk  200  at their relative locations. Next, the user powers on data sensing and collection device  100 . The user performs these steps before entering the flying machine. Next, the user powers on his cellular telephone or tablet computer. Next, the user activates the software application installed on his cellular telephone or tablet computer and establishes communication with data sensing and collection device  100 . Next, the user selects what data and how he wishes to see it displayed by the software application. Next, the user flies the flying machine. Finally, the user observes the data collected by data sensing and collection device  100  via the software application. 
         [0037]    While the present invention has been described in what are thought to be the most useful and practical embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art that other variations may be readily conceived and created. Accordingly, these and all such other readily conceived and created variations are implicitly included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Technology Category: 3