Emergency locating transmitter

• US 5,014,340 A
• Filed: 09/09/1988
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Wren, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Application Number:
  US07/242,254
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/89, 455/101, 455/102, 455/93, 455/99, 455/124, 455/125, 455/102, 455/38, 340/902, 340/905
• US Class Current: 455/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/685 using pulse modulation, e.g. pulse frequency modulation

Abstract

A transmitter generates three signals for sequential transmission. These signals are an unmodulated r.f. carrier, an r.f. carrier amplitude modulated by a first audio frequency waveform and an r.f. carrier amplitude modulated by a second audio frequency waveform which is distinguishable from the first and which may be employed as a means for identifying a particular transmitter. The composite, sequentially transmitted signal may be varied in terms of the individual signal transmission sequence, the duration of the individual signals, overall composite signal repetition rate and the frequency of the second audio waveform. Various combinations of signal variations may be employed to transmit different information.

Claims

1. A distress transmitter comprising:

means for generating a radio frequency carrier;

means for generating a first audio signal to indicate a distress condition;

means for generating a second audio signal, which differs from said first audio signal,

means for modulating said radio frequency carrier with said first and second audio signals as well as for providing a period during which said radio frequency carrier is unmodulated; and

means for sequentially transmitting a periodic signal containing said first audio signal modulated carrier, said second audio signal modulated carrier and said unmodulated carrier, each with predetermined durations.

2. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein said modulation with said first and second audio signals is sequential.

3. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein the repetition rate of said transmitted signal is variable.

4. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein the duration of each of the said first audio signal modulated carrier, second audio signal modulated carrier and said unmodulated carrier, is variable.

5. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein the sequence of transmission of said first audio signal modulated carrier, second audio signal modulated carrier and said unmodulated carrier, is variable.

6. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein said frequency of said second audio signal is variable.

7. The distress transmitter of claim 1 wherein said second audio signal is employed to identify said transmitter.

8. A transmitter comprising:

means for generating a radio frequency carrier;

means for generating an audio signal to identify said transmitter among a plurality of transmitters operating on the same frequency;

means for amplitude modulating said radio frequency carrier with said audio signal as well as for providing a period during which said radio frequency carrier is unmodulated; and

means for sequentially transmitting a periodic signal containing said audio signal modulated carrier and unmodulated carrier, each with predetermined durations.

9. The transmitter of claim 8 wherein the repetition rate of said transmitted signal is variable.

10. The transmitter of claim 8 wherein the duration of each of said audio signal modulated carrier and said unmodulated carrier, is variable.