Multichannel DME ranging system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for identifying at least three distance-measuring equipment ground stations substantially simultaneously and for decoding distance information from each of said stations, in rapid cyclical sequence, comprising:
- a. means for detecting first, second, and third pulsed signals from said ground stations, respectively, in sequence and in a cyclical manner, wherein said pulsed signals contain coded identifying information individual to each ground station and have a first timing characteristic, and distance information having a second timing characteristic substantially shorter than said first timing characteristic; and
b. means for operating said means for detecting, and coupled thereto, at a cyclical frequency approximately an order of magnitude faster than said first timing characteristic, and for maintaining each cyclical period at least long enough to obtain valid distance information, on the order of said second timing characteristic, at least once for each of said stations in each cyclical period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multichannel DME ranging circuit is described which is capable of simultaneous multistation operation. A microprocessor is coupled to control associated peripheral devices and the receiver/transmitter of a DME to produce a multiplexing for receiving frequency data input from up to three DME ground stations. The data received from each of the three DME stations is used to generate timing and interface signals to control the DME receiver/transmitter and associated video processing circuitry. The video processing circuitry is in turn used to provide signals to the ranging circuit to independently determine range, velocity, time-to-station, and the identity of each of the stations providing input to the DME. Each of the three channels is operated indpendently to produce a decoded identification of its respective ground station. The identity information can be obtained and monitored for each channel essentially simultaneously due to the fast cyclical time-multiplexed method of operation, relative to the slower identity coding scheme utilized in present distance measuring equipment.
32 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for identifying at least three distance-measuring equipment ground stations substantially simultaneously and for decoding distance information from each of said stations, in rapid cyclical sequence, comprising:
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a. means for detecting first, second, and third pulsed signals from said ground stations, respectively, in sequence and in a cyclical manner, wherein said pulsed signals contain coded identifying information individual to each ground station and have a first timing characteristic, and distance information having a second timing characteristic substantially shorter than said first timing characteristic; and b. means for operating said means for detecting, and coupled thereto, at a cyclical frequency approximately an order of magnitude faster than said first timing characteristic, and for maintaining each cyclical period at least long enough to obtain valid distance information, on the order of said second timing characteristic, at least once for each of said stations in each cyclical period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
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Original AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
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InventorsNelson, David A.
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Primary Examiner(s)Tubbesing, T. H.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Barron, Jr., Gilberto
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Application NumberUS06/537,879Time in Patent Office1,229 DaysField of Search343/7.3, 343/6.5 R, 343/2.6, 343/399, 343/401, 343/404, 364/451, 364/449, 364/460US Class Current342/47CPC Class CodesG01S 13/785 Distance Measuring Equipmen...
