Ranging method using telemetering and apparatus employing said method

Abstract

A ranging method for measuring the flight distance of a flight object is implemented by means of a simple system construction. The ranging method is also capable of continuing ranging even if an interruption occurs in data transmission. The ranging method comprises the steps of inserting ranging pulses in a telemeter signal transmitted from a transmitting apparatus provided on the flight object, separating and extracting a ranging pulse from a telemeter signal received by a receiving apparatus provided on the ground side, obtaining a time difference between the ranging pulse and a reference clock signal generated in the receiving apparatus on the basis of a time reference equal to that of the transmitting apparatus (clock signal periods t1 and t2 of both time references are equal), and calculating the flight distance. Since there is no need to provide a transponder or the like on the flight object nor to provide a ranging-tracking system on the ground side, it is possible to realize a simple system construction. Since the ranging pulses are transmitted in the state of being contained in the telemeter signal, it is not necessary to independently prepare ranging-signal transmiting means. In addition, since the telemeter signal can be restored at any time on the ground side, it is possible to prevent ranging from being made impossible due to the interruption of transmission of the signal.