Secondary surveillance radar interrogation system using dual frequencies

• US 5,596,326 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Fitts, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/503,442
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 342/30, 342/32, 342/37, 342/40, 342/46, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51
• US Class Current: 342/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/781 Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication system is provided for identifying the position of aircraft in a surveillance area. The communication system includes a dual-frequency interrogator which produces two signals at different frequencies. These signals are transmitted over a narrow beam, scanning antenna, the antenna being located within the surveillance area. A transponder is provided on the aircraft with an auxiliary antenna assembly tuned to a frequency equivalent to the difference between the dual frequencies. The transponder produces a signal containing aircraft identification information. A processing unit is co-located on the aircraft with the transponder to receive the two signals transmitted by the interrogator and produce a signal equivalent to the difference between those signals. The difference signal produced by the processing unit is coupled with the transponder and is used to identify the position of aircraft on the ground. A stationary antenna and receiver are tuned to the frequency of the transponder response and receive the transponder response. The stationary receiver transmits information to a position-estimating computer regarding the time of arrival of the aircraft signal. The position-estimating computer also receives information from the interrogator regarding the time of interrogation and the position of the antenna at the interrogation time. The position-estimating computer processes this information to identify the position of the aircraft on the airport surface.

Claims

1. A communication system for identifying the position of aircraft in a surveillance area comprising:

a. a dual-frequency interrogator having a narrow beam, scanning antenna, said antenna being located within said surveillance area, said interrogator producing and transmitting two signals at different frequencies;

b. a processor located on said aircraft to receive said two signals and produce a signal having a frequency equivalent to the difference between said dual frequencies;

c. a transponder provided on said aircraft, said transponder tuned to a frequency equivalent to the difference between said dual frequencies, said transponder receiving said processor signal and producing a signal containing aircraft identification information;

d. stationary antenna and receiver for receiving said transponder response; and

e. an estimator for estimating the position of said aircraft.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the frequencies of each of said signals transmitted by said interrogator is in the KU frequency band.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said estimator receives information from said interrogator regarding the time of interrogation and the position of said narrow beam, scanning antenna and receives information from said stationary receiver regarding the time of arrival of said transponder response.

4. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said processor is coupled with said transponder.

5. The communication system of claim 4 wherein said processor includes a pair of band pass filters to isolate each of said dual-frequency signals, a mixer for combining said isolated dual-frequency signals to produce a summation product signal and a difference product signal, band pass signal means for isolating said difference signal and isolation means for preventing any power associated with said transponder replies from damaging said processor.

6. The communication system of claim 4 wherein said processor is a non-linear device.

7. A method for identifying the position of aircraft in a surveillance area wherein a dual-frequency interrogator having a narrow beam, scanning antenna is located within said surveillance area and a transponder tuned to a frequency equivalent to the difference between said dual frequencies is provided on said aircraft comprising the steps of;

a. producing and transmitting two interrogation signals at different frequencies at said interrogator;

b. receiving said two interrogation signals on said aircraft;

c. processing said two signals and producing a difference signal equivalent to the difference between said two signals;

d. receiving said difference signal at said transponder and producing and transmitting a transponder signal, said transponder signal containing aircraft identification information;

e. receiving said transponder response at a stationary antenna; and

f. estimating the position of said aircraft.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the frequencies of each of said signals transmitted by said interrogator is in the KU frequency band.