Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems, LLC

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Other

L-3 Communications Corporation

Mark Dean Smith

Gregory Theodore Stayton

Michael F Tremose

James Roy Troxel

Lyle A Fajen

Robert John McCullen

William Howard Brettner, Iii

Bruce E Dinsmore

Thomas M Europa

Benjamin Jeffrey Paulson

Various communication systems may benefit from enhanced reception methods. For example, various transponders and surveillance systems may benefit from reception methods that can distinguish between overlapping pulses from multiple sources. A method can include receiving, at an antenna, a first series of pulses from a first source. The method can also include receiving, at the antenna, a second series of pulses from a second source. The first series and the second series can at least partially overlap each other. The method can further include de-interleaving the first series from the second series using at least one non-time-domain technique.

Systems and methods for enhanced reception

Systems and methods for providing antenna calibration can be used in a variety of applications. A method of calibrating an antenna array for use in a traffic advisory system or traffic alert and collision avoidance system provide a mechanism that renders complex combining circuitry unnecessary in the array. A method can include receiving an unsolicited reply that contains absolute position information of an intruder aircraft. The method can also include determining a bearing of a signal encoding the reply based on a phase relationship of the signals from an antenna array not configured to operate with an internal self-test phase calibration mechanism. The method can further include comparing the bearing based on the phase relationship with a bearing calculated by a comparison of the absolute positions of a host aircraft and the intruder aircraft. The method can additionally include calibrating the antenna array based on the result of the comparison.

Systems and methods for providing antenna calibration

A system determines bearing for situational awareness. The system may include a receiver, a processor, and a memory comprising an engine for performing a method. The method includes receiving signals using directional reception; receiving positional data; calculating a correction amount; and applying the correction amount to subsequent uncorrected bearings to provide corrected bearings. Positional data may be received in any conventional format including data link, ADS-B, and MODE S. Positional data may be determined in the target using a global positioning system. The system may provide a signal to display the corrected bearing and/or provide traffic alerting and collision avoidance advisories.

Systems and methods for determining bearing

A transmitter provides a plurality of output signals. The transmitter includes a processor, a modulator, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The modulator provides a modulated signal responsive to the processor. The modulated signal includes an amplitude modulated radio frequency for transmitting a pulse. The first circuit provides a first output signal, responsive to and with higher power than the modulated signal. The first output signal has a first phase during transmitting of the pulse. The second circuit provides a second output signal, responsive to and with higher power than the modulated signal. The second output signal has a second phase during transmitting of the pulse. The second phase is controlled by the second circuit in accordance with the first phase, the second phase, and indicia of a third phase provided by the processor.

Pulse transmitters having multiple outputs in phase relationship and methods of operation

A collision avoidance system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a user interface, a plurality of sensors, and a computer system in communication with the user interface and the plurality of sensors. The computer system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data pertaining to a target from one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors, determine a position of the target based on the data from the one or more sensors, and present (through the user interface) the position of the target using one or more visual indicators that identify the one or more sensors.

Systems and methods for air traffic surveillance

An embodiment of the present invention provides a collision avoidance system for a host aircraft comprising a plurality of sensors for providing data about other aircraft that may be employed to determine one or more parameters to calculate future positions of the other aircraft, a processor to determine whether any combinations of the calculated future positions of the other aircraft are correlated or uncorrelated, and a collision avoidance module that uses the correlated or uncorrelated calculated future positions to provide a signal instructing the performance of a collision avoidance maneuver when a collision threat exists between the host aircraft and at least one of the other aircraft.

Systems and methods for multi-sensor collision avoidance

A method of transmitting from a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) directional antenna, the TCAS directional antenna including a plurality of antenna elements connected to an integrated beam forming network, according to various aspects of the present invention comprises: providing a signal to each input of the integrated beam forming network, wherein each signal is of equal phase and equal amplitude to result in transmitting omnidirectionally from the TCAS directional antenna.

Systems and methods for using a TCAS directional antenna for omnidirectional transmission

The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and computer-executable program for detecting antenna failures in directional antennas. In particular, the present invention compares a bearing calculated from received positional data concerning a target to the bearing of the target determined using the directional antenna. If the calculated bearing and the determined bearing differ by greater than a predetermined amount, it is determined that there is an antenna failure. In this way, bearing information determined by the directional antenna is compared against a piece of known data in order to determine if the antenna is functioning properly.

Antenna failure detection

A system for calculating the bearing of a signal source, with a directional antenna, provides corrections for distortion, such as due to a small fuselage of the monitoring aircraft and the elevation angle of an intruder aircraft with respect to the monitoring aircraft. A correction is applied to the bearing estimate that is based on relevant factors, such as the fuselage size and the elevation angle of the intruder aircraft. The correction can be calculated or applied through the use of a look-up table, which may be either pre-selected or selected after calculation of the elevation angle of the intruder aircraft.

System for processing directional signals

An improved electrical circuit particularly adapted to operate in an extremely thin atmosphere such as above fifty thousand feet. The circuitry of the invention is preferably formed on a circuit board and has an exposed conductive element such as a harmonic filter. This exposed conductive element is encased by a thin dielectric which is preferably formed using a solder mask having dielectric properties which prevent the conductive element from creating a corona during electrical operation in the contemplated thin atmosphere. In the preferred embodiment, the solder mask has a thickness of less than 0.002 inches and exhibits a dielectric strength of at least 1000 V/0.001 inch. The solder mask, for the preferred embodiment, is positioned to cover the conductive element and extends onto the circuit board only minimally.

Mechanism for elimination of corona effect in high power RF circuitry at

A Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) uses a dual bandwidth receiver to achieve extended range operation. During normal operations TCAS radio signals are filtered by a bandpass filter which passes all TCAS radio signals of interest. When extended range operation is desired the TCAS radio signals are filtered by a more narrow bandpass filter. The narrower filter passes only selected TCAS radio signals and improves the signal to noise ratio and thus allows detection of selected TCAS radio signals at extended range. The TCAS system switches between the normal mode and the extended range mode to detect and track aircraft at both near and far distances.

Method and apparatus for accomplishing extended range TCAS using a dual

A Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System(TCAS) antenna is mounted on a selected forward portion of an aircraft thereby extending the effective forward range of the TCAS. The antenna and ground plane are tilted relative to conventional TCAS antennas thereby aligning a peak of the antenna's radiation pattern along the aircraft's level line of flight. The resulting increased gain directed forward of the aircraft increases the forward range of the TCAS for both receiving and transmitting TCAS signals. The invention is also useful to extend the range of other aircraft systems including transponders. Alternate embodiments include tilting a conventional TCAS antenna mounted on a middle portion of the aircraft.

Method and apparatus for accomplishing extended range TCAS

A directional antenna suitable for use with the transmission and reception of information related to the traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) of a monitoring aircraft is disclosed. The directional antenna includes four monopole antennas positioned and electrically coupled in a manner to produce a radiation pattern having unique directional characteristics. The disclosed antenna can transmit radiation in a directional pattern. The antenna can also receive radiation from a transponder equipped intruder aircraft (i.e., an aircraft within a predetermined range of the monitoring aircraft). By comparing the amplitudes of the signals induced in the plurality of antenna elements by the received radiation, the bearing (direction) of the intruder aircraft relative to the monitoring aircraft can be determined. The antenna is fabricated to provide a reduced cross-sectional profile, for example by providing a folded monopole antenna structure, thereby reducing the antenna profile in aircraft applications.

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Glendale, AZ, United States of America

Mark Dean Smith