Rockwell Collins, Inc.

D Alexander Stratton

Daryl L McCall

Daniel J Thuringer

James M Wolff

A satellite navigational receiver landing system having retrofit compatibility with integrated landing system (ILS) receivers, in accordance with the invention, includes radio frequency circuitry which converts satellite signals into intermediate signals. A first processing channel coupled to the radio frequency circuitry generates a first position, velocity and time (PVT) solution as a function of the intermediate signals, and provides a PVT data output. A second processing channel coupled to the radio frequency circuitry generates a second PVT solution as a function of the intermediate signals. Monitor circuitry provides monitor output signals as a function of the first and second PVT solutions. Shutdown circuitry provides the first PVT solution to the PVT data output under the control of a shutdown signal from the monitor circuitry.

Satellite navigation receiver designed for compatibility with aircraft automatic landing systems

Satellite navigation systems and receivers of the invention include an antenna which receives satellite signals from multiple satellites. Radio frequency circuitry coupled to the antenna converts the satellite signals into intermediate signals. Multiple signal processors coupled to the radio frequency circuitry implement similar or identical signal processing algorithms on the received satellite signals to provide redundant ranging information (i.e., code and carrier measurements). One or more navigation processors coupled to the signal processors process the ranging information and provide positioning data outputs. The navigation processor implements smoothing filter functions that combine the redundant ranging data in a manner which enhances the positional accuracy. The navigation processor also implements unique fault-detection filter functions on the redundant ranging information. The characteristic response of the fault-detection filter functions are matched to the response of the smoothing filter functions, ensuring that signal-processing faults are detected and before the smoothed data exhibits excessive errors.

Satellite navigation system having redundant signal processing and matched filtering

Disclosed are a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) landing system (GLS) and methods of using the same to calculate a vertical deviation from the glide slope of the aircraft. A GNSS antenna and position determining circuitry are used to determine the position of the aircraft as a function of received GNSS positioning signals. Vertical deviation computation circuitry coupled to the position determining circuitry calculates an angular vertical deviation &agr;,from the glide slope of the aircraft as a function of the total horizontal distance between the aircraft and a GLS elevation reference point (GERP).

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Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

D Alexander Stratton