The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 2008
Filed:
May. 19, 2004
Gary A. Mcgraw, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Robert J. Frank, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Kenneth M. Peterson, Marion, IA (US);
Richard S. Haendel, Iowa City, IA (US);
Scott J. F. Zogg, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Gary A. McGraw, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Robert J. Frank, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Kenneth M. Peterson, Marion, IA (US);
Richard S. Haendel, Iowa City, IA (US);
Scott J. F. Zogg, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Abstract
A follower aircraft is guided to a lead aircraft using a datalink that determines range between the two. The lead aircraft has an antenna array and processing system for determining azimuth/elevation of the follower aircraft. The lead aircraft transmits a ranging message to the follower aircraft and stores a lead aircraft time of transmit (TOT) time. The ranging message is received at the follower aircraft and a follower aircraft time of reception (TOR) time is stored. A second ranging message is transmitted from the follower aircraft to the lead aircraft and a follower aircraft TOT time is stored. The second ranging message is received at the lead aircraft and a lead aircraft TOR is stored. A message is sent from the follower aircraft when follower aircraft TOT and TOR. The range and time offset is determined by the lead aircraft using follower aircraft TOT/TOR and stored lead aircraft TOT/TOR.