Beacon docking system with visual guidance display

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for aligning one end of a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft. The apparatus includes a mounting structure and a transceiver including a transmitter portion. The transceiver is for being fixedly mounted, via the mounting structure, at a location within a space that is contained within a side-wall of the aircraft between an interior wall defining an interior surface of the side-wall and an outer wall defining an exterior surface of the side-wall. The transceiver is for wirelessly providing a signal within a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the signal comprising information relating to a location of a doorway relative to a location of the transceiver.

1 . 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 transceiver including a transmitter portion 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 transceiver within the space.    
   
   
       2 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter portion comprises a light source for providing the electromagnetic signal comprising light within a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum.  
   
   
       3 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 2 , comprising a light transmissive window for being disposed in the outer wall and adjacent to the space, and for propagating the light within a predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum between the space and a region that is external to the space.  
   
   
       4 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 2 , wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of: an infrared light source, an ultra-violet light source; and, a visible-light source.  
   
   
       5 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter portion comprises a radio-frequency transmitter for providing the electromagnetic signal.  
   
   
       6 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises an electrical connector configured for connecting the transceiver to an on-board power system of the aircraft.  
   
   
       7 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a lamp receptacle adapted for receiving the transceiver.  
   
   
       8 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 1 , comprising a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver for being disposed aboard the aircraft, for receiving ancillary information relating to the aircraft and for providing to the transceiver an electrical signal encoded with data corresponding to the ancillary information and relating to the electromagnetic signal.  
   
   
       9 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 8 , comprising a data entry device in operative communication with the processor for supporting entry of the ancillary information by a user aboard the aircraft.  
   
   
       10 . A kit for retrofitting an aircraft according to  claim 8 , comprising a memory circuit in electrical communication with the processor for retrievably storing the ancillary information for access by the processor.  
   
   
       11 . 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 transceiver including a transmitter portion for being fixedly mounted, via the mounting structure, at a location within the space between the interior wall and the exterior wall, the transceiver 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 transceiver.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1   1 , wherein the transmitter portion comprises an optical transmitter.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum is selected from the group consisting of: the infrared region; the visible region; and, the ultraviolet region.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure comprises a window fabricated from a material that is transmissive to light within the predetermined region of the electromagnetic spectrum.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmitter portion comprises a radio-frequency transmitter.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , comprising a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver, for receiving ancillary information relating to the aircraft and for providing to the transceiver an electrical signal encoded with data corresponding to the ancillary information and relating to the electromagnetic signal.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising a data entry device in operative communication with the processor for supporting entry of the ancillary information by a user aboard the aircraft.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising a sensor in operative communication with the processor, for sensing information relating to an interior of a cabin of the aircraft and for providing to the processor a signal relating to the sensed information.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , comprising a memory circuit in electrical communication with the processor for retrievably storing the ancillary information for access by the processor.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , comprising a user interface for being disposed within a cockpit portion of the aircraft for receiving an indication from a user for initiating an operation for aligning the one end of the passenger loading bridge to the aircraft having a doorway, and for providing an electrical control signal in dependence upon receiving the indication.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , comprising a second transmitter disposed aboard the aircraft and in communication with the user interface, the second transmitter being responsive to the electrical control signal for transmitting a second electromagnetic signal comprising an activation signal for initiating the operation for aligning the one end of the passenger loading bridge to the aircraft having a doorway.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive monitor for supporting both the entry of information relating to the aircraft and the display of information relating to the aircraft.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a manually operable switch mechanism.