Interferomeric synthetic aperture radar altimeter
First Claim
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1. System located on an aircraft for determining the position of the aircraft, comprising:
- transmitter located on the aircraft transmitting a transmit signal to terrain below the aircraft which will be reflected;
first receiver located on the aircraft receiving a first reflected signal reflected back to the aircraft upon contact with terrain in a first area wherein the first area is terrain ahead of the aircraft;
second receiver located on the aircraft receiving a second reflected signal reflected back to the aircraft upon contact with terrain in a second area wherein the second area is the terrain the aircraft is currently over wherein the first and second receivers are separated by a separation distance; and
apparatus, located on the aircraft for determining position of the aircraft based on information received from the signal reflected back to the aircraft wherein the apparatus for determining first determines an approximate range to a highest point in the first area and an accurate range to a highest point in the second area.
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Abstract
Aircraft position determination system includes a transmitter to transmit a signal, and two receivers to receive the transmitted signal reflected from the terrain below the aircraft, and a phase comparison apparatus operating from the two receiver'"'"'s inputs. A processor determines position based on the output from the phase comparison apparatus.
42 Citations
14 Claims
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1. System located on an aircraft for determining the position of the aircraft, comprising:
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transmitter located on the aircraft transmitting a transmit signal to terrain below the aircraft which will be reflected; first receiver located on the aircraft receiving a first reflected signal reflected back to the aircraft upon contact with terrain in a first area wherein the first area is terrain ahead of the aircraft; second receiver located on the aircraft receiving a second reflected signal reflected back to the aircraft upon contact with terrain in a second area wherein the second area is the terrain the aircraft is currently over wherein the first and second receivers are separated by a separation distance; and apparatus, located on the aircraft for determining position of the aircraft based on information received from the signal reflected back to the aircraft wherein the apparatus for determining first determines an approximate range to a highest point in the first area and an accurate range to a highest point in the second area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. System, located on the aircraft for determining the position of an aircraft, comprising:
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transmitter located on the aircraft transmitting a signal to terrain below the aircraft; receiver located on the aircraft determining a highest point in the terrain below and receiving a plurality of signals reflected back to the aircraft from the highest point; and an apparatus located on the aircraft comparing information received from the signals reflected back to the aircraft and processing the information to determine the position of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification