Honeywell International Inc.

Paul Ferguson

Brian Paul Bunch

Ruy C Brandao

James Burton Jones

Mark C Virtue

Steve Mowry

Pal Meiyappan

Marc M Pos

Eduard Shestak

Thomas W Hastings

Robert Jason Tinsley

Ruy L Brandao

Jon Riley

Ruy Lopes Brandao

Described herein is a calibration circuit for a multiple element antenna with two or more antenna transmit and receive elements. In some examples the multi-element antenna may also include a beamforming network that combine the multiple antenna radiating element inputs and outputs with controlled phase and amplitude relationships such that spatial beams can be formed by varying the phase and amplitudes of two or more signals applied to antenna input ports for the antenna. The calibration circuit of this disclosure may be used to obtain data to determine phase and amplitude offsets induced by the combined transmission elements, and any phase and amplitude offsets induced by the transmitter or receiver circuitry. The determined phase and amplitude offsets may then be removed from received signal measurements and compensated for in transmit signal generation.

Multi-element antenna array with integral comparison circuit for phase and amplitude calibration

Systems and methods for calibrating and optimizing frequency modulated continuous wave radar altimeters using adjustable self-interference cancellation are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a radar altimeter system comprises: a local oscillator delay line including a variable delay circuit configured to output a delayed signal, a transmitter coupled to the local oscillator delay line and configured to output a transmitter signal, a transceiver circulator coupled to an antenna and coupled to the transmitter, and a frequency mixer coupled to the delay line and coupled to the transceiver circulator. The transceiver circulator directs the transmitter signal to the antenna and the antenna is configured to transmit the transmitter signal and receive a reflected signal from a target. Further, the frequency mixer is configured to receive the delayed signal and the target reflected signal from the transceiver circulator.

Systems and methods for calibration and optimization of frequency modulated continuous wave radar altimeters using adjustable self-interference cancellation

Systems and methods for a variable delay line using variable capacitors in a time delay filter are provided. In at least one embodiment, a delay line is configured to apply an adjustable time delay to an electromagnetic signal travelling through the delay line. The delay line comprises a filter that includes a first variable capacitor. Further, a capacitance of the first variable capacitor is configured to adjust the delay applied to the electromagnetic signal travelling through the delay line when varied.

Variable delay line using variable capacitors in a maximally flat time delay filter

An altimeter system is provided. The altimeter system includes a receiver mixer including an antenna-input and a local-oscillator-input; a transceiver circulator communicatively coupled to an antenna via a transmission line having a selected length and communicatively coupled to the antenna-input of the receiver mixer; and a transmitter configured to output a transmitter signal to the antenna via the transceiver circulator. The transmitter signal is frequency modulated with a linear ramp. The transmitter is communicatively coupled to the receiver mixer to input a local oscillator signal at the local-oscillator-input of the receiver mixer. The receiver mixer is communicatively coupled to input a target-reflected signal from the antenna at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer. The selected length of the transmission line is set so that a composite-leakage signal at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer has a linear phase across a sweep bandwidth.

Method of system compensation to reduce the effects of self interference in frequency modulated continuous wave altimeter systems

A two-element array antenna system includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. A transmitting, receiving, and processing (TRP) system is coupled to the first and second antenna elements via, respectively, a single first transmission element and a single second transmission element. The first and second transmission elements have respective transmit-path and receive-path functionality. The TRP system is configured to determine an amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the transmit-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements, and, based on data obtained during the determination of amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the transmit-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements, determine an amplitude offset and phase offset associated with the receive-path functionality of the first and second transmission elements.

Dual-feed antenna array with integral comparison circuit for phase and amplitude calibration

Systems and methods for providing an improved multiradio system. An exemplary system includes first and second antennas and a first receiver that receives a signal from the first antenna, filters the received signal based on bandwidths associated with a traffic collision-avoidance system (TCAS), a transponder, and a universal access transceiver (UAT). The system digitizes the filtered signal and digitally downconverts the digitized signal. A second receiver receives a signal from the second antenna, filters the signal received from the second antenna based on the TCAS, the transponder, the UAT, and distance-measuring equipment (DME), separates the filtered signal into a first signal having a bandwidth associated with the TCAS, the transponder, the UAT and the lower half of the DME RF band, and into a second signal having a bandwidth associated with the upper half of the DME RF band, digitizes the first and second signal, and digitally downconverts the digitized first and second signals.

Multichannel, multimode, multifunction L-band radio transceiver

A two-element array antenna system includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. The first and second antenna elements respectively include first and second frequency multipliers. A transmitting, receiving, and processing (TRP) system is coupled to the first and second antenna elements via, respectively, a single first transmission element and a single second transmission element. The TRP system is configured to transmit to the first antenna element a first input signal at a sub-multiple of a first frequency, receive from the first frequency multiplier a first calibration signal based on the first input signal, transmit to the second antenna element a second input signal at a sub-multiple of the first frequency, receive from the second frequency multiplier a second calibration signal based on the second input signal, and determine, based on the calibration signals, a relative phase difference between the first and second transmission elements.

System and method for generating a reference signal for phase calibration of a system

Gimbal power systems and methods are operable to provide power to a device attached to the gimbal. An exemplary embodiment is configured to rotate a rotational member of the gimbal system about an axis, wherein a stator of a rotary power transformer affixed to the rotational member rotates about the axis, and wherein an end of an electrical connection coupled to a power connector of a rotor winding of the rotary power transformer remains substantially stationary as the stator of the rotary power transformer rotates about the axis.

Systems and methods for powering a gimbal mounted device

Optical communication systems and methods are operable to communicate optical signals across a gimbal system. An exemplary embodiment has a first optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, a second optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, and an optical connector coupled to the stators of the first and the second optical rotary joints. The stator of the first optical rotary joint is affixed to a first rotational member of the gimbal system. The stator of the second optical rotary joint is affixed to a second rotational member of the gimbal system. A first optical connection coupled to the rotor of the first optical rotary joint and a second optical connection coupled to the rotor of the second optical rotary joint remain substantially stationary as the gimbal system orients an optical communication device in a desired position.

Systems and methods for gimbal mounted optical communication device

A system and method wirelessly communicates signals between a device on a gimbal and a stationary transceiver. An exemplary system has a gimbal with a moveable portion, a device affixed to the moveable portion, a gimbal transceiver coupled to the moveable portion, and a stationary transceiver, wherein the gimbal transceiver and the stationary transceiver are configured to communicate with each other using a wireless signal.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Paul Ferguson