Aircraft theft detection and location system
First Claim
1. A theft detection and location system for an aircraft, wherein said aircraft includes a first transponder operable for transmitting when activated identification and location information which comprises variably set identification data in response to receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogation source, said system comprising:
- a second transponder operable for transmitting when activated identification and location information which comprises fixed alarm data in response to receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogation source; and
a switching device operable for switching said system between an armed state and a disarmed state, said armed state corresponding to said second transponder being activated and said first transponder being deactivated, and said disarmed state corresponding to said first transponder being activated and said second transponder being deactivated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A theft detection and location system for aircraft utilizing both a conventional aircraft transponder/encoder and a dedicated transponder/encoder. The dedicated transponder is fixed on an alarm code which when transmitted in response to interrogation signals from ground stations, alerts air traffic controllers that the aircraft has been stolen. The system includes electronic switching devices which automatically enable the dedicated transponder to be activated each time an aircraft electrical master switch is turned on. An arming device is provided for activating the dedicated transponder in response to a predetermined condition. The dedicated transponder will continue to function even if the entire aircraft electrical system is turned off since the electronic switching device directly couples the dedicated transponder to the aircraft battery. A disarming device is provided in order to deactivate the dedicated transponder and in turn activate the conventional transponder.
50 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A theft detection and location system for an aircraft, wherein said aircraft includes a first transponder operable for transmitting when activated identification and location information which comprises variably set identification data in response to receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogation source, said system comprising:
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a second transponder operable for transmitting when activated identification and location information which comprises fixed alarm data in response to receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogation source; and a switching device operable for switching said system between an armed state and a disarmed state, said armed state corresponding to said second transponder being activated and said first transponder being deactivated, and said disarmed state corresponding to said first transponder being activated and said second transponder being deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A theft detection and location system for an aircraft comprising:
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a first transponder; a second transponder; a power source; an enabling switch coupled between said power source and said second transponder for enabling said second transponder in response to said enabling switch being actuated; a first disabling switch coupled between said enabling switch and said first transponder for disabling said first transponder in response to said enabling switch being actuated; and a second disabling switch coupled between said power source and said enabling switch for disabling said second transponder and for activating said first transponder in response to said second disabling switch being actuated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A theft detection and location system for an aircraft, comprising:
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a dedicated transponder operable for transmitting when activated identification and location information which comprises fixed alarm data in response to receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogation source; a switching device operable for switching said system between an armed state and an disarmed state, said armed state corresponding to said dedicated transponder being activated, and said disarmed state corresponding to said dedicated transponder being deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for detecting and locating an aircraft, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an interrogation signal from a remote source; receiving said interrogation signal at first and second transceiving devices associated with said aircraft; transmitting, in response to receiving said interrogation signal, identification and location data from said first transceiving device when said system is in an alarm armed state and transmitting identification and location data from said second transceiving device when said system is in an alarm disarmed state; and receiving said identification and location data at said remote source;
whereinsaid identification and location data transmitted from said first transceiving means comprises fixed alarm information, said identification and location information data transmitted from said second transceiving device comprises variably set identification information.
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Specification