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System for identification of aircraft on airport surface pathways

  • US 4,179,695 A
  • Filed: 10/02/1978
  • Issued: 12/18/1979
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A vehicle identification system particularly for surveillance of aircraft on predetermined surface pathways including runways and other areas of an airport surface, said aircraft having ATCRBS equipment comprising:

  • at least one transmitting interrogation located on said airport surface adjacent to a selected one of said surface pathways and spaced laterally by a first distance with respect to the centerline of said pathway;

    first means connected at said remote location and connected to said interrogator for providing activating signals to said interrogator to transmit a first RF pulse;

    second means comprising a transponder responsive to said first RF pulse to produce a second RF pulse, said transponder being located on said surface on the side of said pathway centerline opposite said interrogator to generate a second RF pulse in fixed time relationship after said first RF pulse, said first and second pulse forming a pulse pair for activation of said ATCRBS equipment on a selected aircraft on said pathway in the vicinity of said interrogator and said second means transponder;

    delay means within said second means transponder for delaying the generation of said second RF pulse after reception of said first RF pulse such that said fixed time relationship between said first and second RF pulses forms a properly spaced pulse pair for activation of said ATCRBS equipment, said ATCRBS thereafter broadcasting a predetermined reply code comprising at least an identification code receivable at said remote location.

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