General Dynamics Corp., Pomona Division

Cyberdynamics, Inc.

Darrell K Ingram

Frederick L Beckner

Garry N Hulderman

A range finding system uses non-simultaneous measurements between two communicating and cooperating instruments such that a single carrier frequency is used to exchange information between the instruments with non-simultaneous transmission using the same transmission channel. The range finding system may be considered to be an interrogator/transponder arrangement in which the results of a phase measurement against a local clock is made at one transponder station during one time interval, and then the transponder transmits both a tone derived from the transponder's local clock and the measurement results back to the interrogator station during a second time interval. The interrogator then has everything it needs to accurately compute the range while eliminating local delays in clock differences, while permitting the interrogator and the transponder to share a single frequency intermittently.

Ranging by sequential tone transmission

An apparatus and method for generating an output signal having portions thereof being linearly swept in frequency. A controller, responsive to external signals, generates a series of control signals. An oscillator, responsive to each one of the control signals, produces an output signal. The output signal includes a series of output waveforms each linearly swept in frequency and corresponding to a respective one of the control signals. A first servo, responsive to each one of the output waveforms, produces a series of first correction signals each dependent upon the linearity error in a corresponding one of the output waveforms. The first correction signals modify a corresponding control signal as applied to the oscillator so as to correct linearity errors occurring in a corresponding one of the output waveforms. A second servo, responsive to each one of the first correction signals, produces a series of second correction signals each dependent upon the correlations in the first correction signals. Each one of the second correction signals modify a following control signal in the series of control signals as applied to the oscillator so as to correct the correlated linearity errors occurring in each one of the output waveforms.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Darrell K Ingram