FREQUENCY FIELD SCANNING

• US 20130238279A1
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schmier, Mark A. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,176,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0821 rooms and test sites therefor, e.g. anechoic chambers, open field sites or TEM cells for testing antennas G01R29/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/105 using anechoic chambers; Chambers or open field sites used therefor test sites used for measuring on other objects than aerials G01R29/0828; wave absorbing devices H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment. A transmitter and a receiver are moved together to a number of locations in a scanning space. Signals are transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the number of locations. Reflected signals are received by the receiver at the number of locations. The reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter. The number of locations in the scanning space is identified.

Claims

1. A method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment, comprising:

moving a transmitter and a receiver together to a number of locations in a scanning space;

transmitting signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the number of locations and receiving reflected signals by the receiver at the number of locations, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter; and

identifying the number of locations in the scanning space.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising matching frequency data derived from the reflected signals with location data identifying the number of locations to identify frequency characteristics of the scanning space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting signals at the number of frequencies comprises transmitting signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at a reflector in the scanning space and receiving reflected signals comprises receiving reflected signals that are reflected from the reflector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are supported in the scanning space by a number of lines and wherein the transmitter and receiver are moved in the scanning space by moving the number of lines.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of lines is made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of the signals at the number of frequencies.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of lines is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the transmitter and the receiver comprises moving the transmitter and the receiver in a plurality of directions to a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional plane in the scanning space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises optically identifying locations of the transmitter and the receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises optically identifying a location of a tracking marker that is moved along with the transmitter and the receiver when the transmitter and the receiver are moved in the scanning space.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises identifying the locations of the transmitter and the receiver by a tracking system selected from a group of tracking systems consisting of a laser tracker and an electronic theodolite.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit signals at a number of frequencies from a number of locations in a scanning space;

a receiver configured to receive reflected signals at the number of locations in the scanning space, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies by the transmitter and wherein the transmitter and the receiver are configured to be moved together to the number of locations in the scanning space; and

a tracking system configured to identify the number of locations in the scanning space.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a data recorder configured to record location data identifying the number of locations and corresponding frequency data derived from the reflected signals received at the number of locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a reflector in the scanning space, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals at the number of frequencies at the reflector and the receiver is configured to receive reflected signals that are reflected from the reflector.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a number of lines configured to support the transmitter and the receiver in the scanning space and to move the transmitter and the receiver together to the number of locations in the scanning space in response to moving the number of lines.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of lines is made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of the signals at the number of frequencies.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of lines is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of lines are configured to move the transmitter and the receiver together in a plurality of directions to a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional plane in the scanning space.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tracking system is configured to optically identify the locations of the transmitter and the receiver in the scanning space.

19. A method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment comprising:

supporting a transmitter and a receiver at a location in a scanning space by a number of lines, wherein the number of lines is made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of signals at the number of frequencies; and

transmitting the signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the location and receiving reflected signals by the receiver at the location, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the number of lines is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.