Circuit for inhibition of autogenetic false alarms in a collision avoidance system

• US 4,067,010 A
• Filed: 12/22/1975
• Issued: 01/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hall, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/643,328
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6.8 R, 343/6.8 LC
• US Class Current: 342/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/79 Systems using random coded signals or random pulse repetition frequencies , e.g. "Separation and Control of Aircraft using Non synchronous Techniques" [SECANT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft

Abstract

In a cooperative collision avoidance system, probe signals are inhibited for a predetermined time period to prevent autogenetic false alarms, that is, false replies to one'"'"'s own interrogation probes.

Claims

1. A circuit in a probe-reply station of a collision avoidance system for inhibiting autogenetic false alarm signals generated by said station, comprising the combination of:

means for transmitting periodic probe signals including means for randomly selectively generating probe signals of different types and transmitting one probe signal of one of said types;

normally operative probe reply means for transmitting a reply signal in response to received probe signals; and

means responsive to said probe signal transmitting means indicative of the transmission of a probe signal for inhibiting said normally operative probe reply means from transmitting a reply signal for a predetermined but relatively short period of time following the transmission of each of said transmitted probes;

wherein said probe reply means includes means for receiving said probe signals, and means responsive to received probe signals for generating a reply signal corresponding to each of said probe signal types; and

wherein said inhibiting means includes means for inhibiting the transmission of said reply signals that correspond to said one probe signal type.

2. A circuit according to claim 1 wherein each of said probe signal types are distinguished from each other on the basis of frequency.

3. A circuit according to claim 1 wherein:

said probe reply means includes first gate means coupling received probe signals to transmitted reply signals, and

said inhibiting means includes second gate means for inhibiting said first gate means.