The Boeing Company

Hughes Aircraft Company

Theboeing Company

Timothy Allen Murphy

Charles Otis Adler

William Matthew Harris

Jean Marie Crane

Steven L Fleiger-Holmes

Jessie Turner

Fadl Ibrahim Khalil

Timothy McNally Mitchell

Rongsheng Li

Nathan D Hiller

William Preston Geren

Timothy Edward Jackson

Alireza Shapoury

Steven Barry Krogh

Steven Mark Walstrom

Melville D McIntyre

William R Richards

Ted Eigle

Kenneth H Renshaw

Leonard R Anderson

Tiffany R Lapp

Janet Suzanne Booth

Ricardo Messias Fricks

Hwai-Kee Tsiang

Jeffrey D Postetter

Daniel Bruce Holton

Thomas Jose Thalakottur

John Harvey Roberson

William Raymond Richards

Steven B Krogh

A method includes receiving an output radio frequency (RF) signal. The method includes generating a digitized output RF signal representing the output RF signal. The method includes transmitting an output RF waveform associated with the output RF signal. The method includes receiving a return RF waveform based on transmission of the output RF waveform. The method includes generating a digitized return RF signal representing a return RF signal associated with the return RF waveform. The method includes serializing the digitized output RF signal and the digitized return RF signal to generate a serialized baseband signal. The method includes communicating a bit stream based on the serialized baseband signal to an RF unit. The RF unit is configured to generate an altitude measurement, a ground speed measurement, or both for a vehicle based on the serialized baseband signal.

Combined radio altimeter and doppler radar with surface-mountable antenna array

A signal transmission system comprises an optical fiber cable, an electrical-to-optical signal converter, and an optical signal receiver. The optical fiber cable extending through a vehicle. The electrical-to-optical signal converter is connected to a first end of the optical fiber cable and is connected an antenna. The optical signal converter, when operating, receives a radio frequency signal from the antenna; modulates an optical signal using the radio frequency signal to create a modulated optical signal; and transmits the modulated optical signal through the optical fiber cable from the first end. The optical signal receiver is connected to a second end of the optical fiber cable, wherein the optical signal receiver, when operating, converts the modulated optical signal into a data signal.

Optical aircraft network

A system and method for autonomous distress tracking of an aircraft. An automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver is configured to transmit an automatic distress transmission. A system controller comprises a distress identifier that is configured to determine when the aircraft is in a distress condition. The system controller is configured to control the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver to transmit the automatic distress transmission in response to a determination that the aircraft is in the distress condition. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver and the system controller are contained within a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft.

Autonomous distress tracking using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast

An interface device that enables a GNSS-based precision approach through the Ground Base Augmentation System (GBAS) function known as the GNSS Landing System (GLS) and/or through Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) based Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV). The GLS interface device allows a GLS-capable multi-mode receiver to be used on a non-GLS-capable airplane without extensive changes to other airplane systems. The GLS interface device works by intercepting information to and from the multi-mode receiver and modifying the information to make the interface compatible with an airplane that uses ILS guidance. Similarly, the information modifications will make the airplane appear to the multi-mode receiver as if it were a GLS-capable airplane.

Interface device and method for retrofitting an airplane with GNSS landing capability

A system for mitigating radio frequency interference includes a multiple patch antenna array including a multiplicity of patch antenna elements. The multiple patch antenna array is positioned relative to an interfering antenna such that signals from the interfering antenna cause interference with the multiple patch antenna array. The system also includes an auxiliary antenna positioned relative to the multiple patch antenna array. The system additionally includes a device to generate a spatial null in a direction to the interfering antenna from the multiple patch antenna array in response to a first signal from the auxiliary antenna and a second signal from the multiple patch antenna array. The first signal and the second signal are generated in response to a transmitted signal being received by the auxiliary antenna and the multiple patch antenna array. The spatial null permits simultaneous operation of the multiple patch antenna array and the interfering antenna.

Adjacent antenna interference mitigation

An apparatus and method of delivering an alert from an aircraft to a search and rescue system. An alert from an aircraft is received via a communications satellite. The alert comprises identification information identifying the aircraft and position information identifying the position of the aircraft. In response to receiving the alert, an emulated distress radio beacon signal is generated. The emulated distress radio beacon signal comprises the identification information and the position information in a standard format of a signal generated by a distress radio beacon. The emulated distress radio beacon signal is broadcast from a location other than the aircraft as an emulated distress radio beacon transmission that is configured to be received and processed by the search and rescue system.

Aircraft distress tracking and interface to search and rescue system

A method and an apparatus for deploying flight data from an aircraft. A bag is stored in a deflated state on the aircraft. The flight data is stored on a memory device coupled to the bag. The bag is inflated from the deflated state to the inflated state in response to a pressure level greater than a threshold pressure level to deploy the bag with the memory device coupled thereto from the aircraft.

Airbag deployable data recorder for aircraft

An aircraft avionics unit that enhances the emergency location capability of existing Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). This aircraft avionics unit can be integrated with a wide range of existing ELTs and their existing aircraft interfaces by changes to a small number of the signal wires between the ELT and the aircraft systems and the addition of limited inputs from aircraft systems. This system requires no changes to either the current ELTs or the associated aircraft systems. The integrated system maintains the current ELT concept of operations while providing significantly enhanced ELT activation triggering with a low-impact, low-cost approach.

Emergency locator transmitter activation device for enhanced emergency location performance

Aircraft tracking and emergency location avionics architectures that integrate existing fixed Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) installations, their associated aircraft avionics systems and existing flight deck interfaces with an Autonomous Distress Tracker (ADT) transceiver unit in a coupled configuration. Some of the architectures allow the ADT unit and its advanced distress detecting and reporting capabilities to monitor the activation control path for the ELT and the associated ELT activation outputs. Other architectures place the ADT unit and its advanced distress detection capabilities and ground-controlled capabilities in the activation control path for the ELT. Additional architectures entail the connection of an ADT unit to an ELT remote panel on the flight deck of an aircraft.

Integrated interface architecture and control logic for enhanced emergency location functionality

The present disclosure is directed to a receiver for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) verification of a target aircraft including a first input for receiving flight tracking information from a target aircraft that indicates positional information of the target aircraft. The receiver further includes a second input for receiving positional and heading information indicating the location and orientation of a multi-element array antenna configured to be attached to the receiver, and a processing module that generates a measured bearing derived from angle of arrival data, and an expected bearing of the target aircraft derived from the indicated positional information of the target aircraft and the positional and heading information defining the receiver location and orientation. A comparator compares the expected bearing to the measured bearing and verifies the ADS-B flight tracking information of the target aircraft and outputs an indication of authenticity based on the verification.

Device, system and methods using angle of arrival measurements for ADS-B authentication and navigation

Systems and methods for providing emergency location functionality

A method, apparatus, and aircraft tracker system for reporting state information for an aircraft. A state of the aircraft is identified using sensor data received from an aircraft sensor system in the aircraft. The state information is transmitted at a reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data, at least one of a crew command or a ground command when at least one of the crew command is received from a crew interface or the ground command is received from a ground source, and a policy defining priorities for reporting that are based on at least one of the crew command, the ground command, or the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data.

Controller for an aircraft tracker

A method and apparatus for tracking the position of an aircraft. A tracking device comprises a satellite navigation system receiver, a satellite communications transceiver, and a processor hermetically sealed within a housing attached on an outside of the aircraft. The satellite navigation system receiver is used to identify the position of the aircraft using navigation signals received from a satellite navigation system. The processor generates position information identifying the position of the aircraft as identified using the navigation system receiver. The processor sends the position information to a receiving station via a communications satellite in a low Earth orbit using the satellite communications transceiver. The position information is automatically generated by the processor and sent to the receiving station at a desired rate.

Growing community of inventors

Everett, WA, United States of America

Timothy Allen Murphy