Pressure Tap Structures For Barometric Altimeters For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191829-A1
Application number	US-201615210187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various embodiments include a structure configured to at least partially expose a barometric altimeter of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to air pressure at a location on the UAV where there is reduced pressure perturbations caused by downwash of propellers. The structure may include a proximal portion configured to encompass a barometric altimeter of a circuit board of the UAV. The proximal portion may form at least a partial barrier between the barometric altimeter and a first ambient air pressure that is disturbed by a downwash from propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV. The structure may also include a distal portion extending away from the barometric altimeter, with the distal portion configured to channel to the barometric altimeter a second ambient air pressure that is disturbed less than the first ambient air pressure by the downwash from propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A structure for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the structure comprising:
a proximal portion configured to at least partially encompass a barometric altimeter of a circuit board of the UAV, wherein the proximal portion forms at least a partial barrier between the barometric altimeter and a first ambient air pressure that is disturbed by a downwash from propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV; and a distal portion extending away from the barometric altimeter, wherein the distal portion channels to the barometric altimeter a second ambient air pressure that is disturbed less than the first ambient air pressure by the downwash from the propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV.

2 . The structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the proximal portion forms an inner chamber in which the barometric altimeter is disposed, wherein the proximal portion includes an aperture extending from outside the proximal portion into the inner chamber, wherein the distal portion comprises a tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, and wherein the first tube end is coupled to the aperture, and the second tube end includes an opening exposed to the second ambient air pressure.

3 . The structure of claim 2 ,
wherein the opening at the second tube end comprises two or more openings each disposed along different branches of the distal portion, and wherein the two or more openings expose an inside of the tube to the second ambient air pressure.

4 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a gasket forming a gas seal between the circuit board and the distal portion.

5 . The structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion together form a rigid chimney-like structure having a first chimney end and a second chimney end, wherein the rigid chimney-like structure is coupled to or forms part of a housing of the UAV, and wherein the second chimney end includes an opening exposed to the second ambient air pressure.

6 . The structure of claim 5 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a gasket forming a seal between the circuit board and the first chimney end.

7 . The structure of claim 5 ,
wherein the second chimney end comprises two or more openings each disposed along different branches of the second chimney end, and wherein the two or more openings expose an inside of the rigid chimney-like structure to the second ambient air pressure.

8 . The structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a standpipe coupled to or forming part of a housing of the UAV, wherein the standpipe includes a first standpipe end and a second standpipe end, wherein the distal portion includes a tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, wherein the first standpipe end is coupled to the proximal portion, wherein the first tube end is fitted to and sealed with the second standpipe end, and wherein the second tube end exposes an inside of the tube to the second ambient air pressure.

9 . The structure of claim 8 ,
wherein at least one of the standpipe and the tube are branched leading to two or more separate openings, and wherein the two or more separate openings expose an inside of the standpipe to the second ambient air pressure.

10 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion extends to an elevation on the UAV that is near or at a plane of the propellers of the UAV.

11 . The structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a remote chamber separate from the proximal portion, wherein the remote chamber includes one or more vents exposing the remote chamber to the second ambient air pressure, and wherein the distal portion channels the second ambient air pressure from the remote chamber to the proximal portion.

12 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a circuit board; a barometric altimeter coupled to the circuit board; and a structure comprising:
a proximal portion configured to at least partially encompass the barometric altimeter of the circuit board, wherein the proximal portion forms at least a partial barrier between the barometric altimeter and a first ambient air pressure that is disturbed by a downwash from propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV; and
a distal portion extending away from the barometric altimeter, wherein the distal portion fluidically couples the barometric altimeter to a second ambient air pressure that is disturbed less than the first ambient air pressure by the downwash from the propellers of the UAV during flight of the UAV.

13 . The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the proximal portion forms an inner chamber in which the barometric altimeter is disposed, wherein the proximal portion includes an aperture extending from outside the proximal portion into the inner chamber, wherein the distal portion comprises a tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, and wherein the first tube end is coupled to the aperture and the second tube end includes an opening exposed to the second ambient air pressure.

14 . The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the opening at the second tube end comprises two or more openings each disposed along different branches of the distal portion, and wherein the two or more openings expose an inside of the tube to the second ambient air pressure.

15 . The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a gasket forming a gas seal between the circuit board and the distal portion.

16 . The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion together form a rigid chimney-like structure having a first chimney end and a second chimney end, wherein the rigid chimney-like structure is coupled to or forms part of a housing of the UAV, and wherein the second chimney end includes an opening exposed to the second ambient air pressure.

17 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion comprises a gasket forming a seal between the circuit board and the first chimney end.

18 . The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the second chimney end comprises two or more openings each disposed along different branches of the second chimney end, and wherein the two or more openings expose an inside of the rigid chimney-like structure to the second ambient air pressure.

19 . The UAV of claim 12 , further comprising:
a standpipe coupled to or forming part of a housing of the UAV, wherein the standpipe includes a first standpipe end and a second standpipe end, wherein the distal portion includes a tube having a first tube end and a second tube end, wherein the first standpipe end is coupled to the proximal portion, wherein the first tube end is fitted to and sealed with the second standpipe end, wherein the second tube end exposes an inside of the tube to the second ambient air pressure.

20 . The UAV of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the standpipe and the tube are branched leading to two or more separate openings, and wherein the two or more separate openings expose an inside of the standpipe to the second ambient air pressure.

21 . The UAV of claim 12 , wherein the distal portion extends to an elevation on the UAV that reaches a plane of propellers of the UAV.

22 . The UAV of claim 12 , further comprising:
a remote chamber separate from the proximal portion, wherein the remote chamber includes one or more vents exposing the remote chamber to the second ambient air pressure, and wherein the distal portion channels the second ambient air pressure from the remote chamber to the proximal portion.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Van Schoyck Travis
• Davis Jonathan Paul
• Mellinger Iii Daniel Warren

Classifications

• G01C5/06 Primary

  by using barometric means · CPC title

• G01C5/005

  altimeters for aircraft (G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05D1/00

  Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00) · CPC title

• B64D43/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title