Device and method for SPR detection in a mode-S transponder

• US 6,788,245 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/322,911
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 342/30-32, 342/37-40
• US Class Current: 342/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling transponder replies to Mode-S interrogation signals. The method includes receiving Mode-S signals containing P5 and P6 pulses each having certain amplitudes. Each P6 pulse contains a sync phase reversal (SPR) signal followed by a data segment containing Mode-S data. The P5 pulse is asynchronous with respect to the P6 pulse and is timed to overlay the SPR signal. The method includes, analyzing each P5 and corresponding P6 pulse, identifying the SPR signal correctly in the received Mode-S signals in which the amplitude of the P6 pulse is at least 12 dB greater than the amplitude of the P5 pulse and in no more than 2% of the received Mode-S signals in which the amplitude of the P6 pulse is at least 3 dB less than the amplitude of the P5 pulse, and replying to the Mode-S signals where the SPR signal is correctly identified.

Claims

1. A method for qualifying a sync phase reversal (SPR) signal in a Mode-S transponder, comprising:

receiving a Mode-S signal;

detecting a state change in the Mode-S signal from a first state to a second state, said state change representing a phase shift in the Mode-S signal; and

once the state change is detected, determining whether the Mode-S signal remains at the second state for a predefined minimum length of time sufficient to qualify the state change as a detector enable signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said Mode-S signal contains at least a P6 pulse containing Mode-S data and an SPR signal, said determining step including latching states of said P6 pulse at consecutive clock cycles along said P6 pulse to identify a length of time at which said P6 pulse remains at said second state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said Mode-S signal includes a P6 pulse containing Mode-S data and an SPR signal, said determining step including determining whether a predefined number of consecutive clock cycles along said P6 pulse have a common state and generating a detector enable signal when said P6 pulse has said common state for said predefined minimum length of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising qualifying said state change in the Mode-S signal as said detector enable signal when said state change maintains said second state for at least 50 nsec.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising qualifying said state change in the Mode-S signal as said detector enable signal when said state change maintains said second state for at least 100 nsec.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising delaying said Mode-S signal for a predefined period of time and comparing states of the clock cycles of said Mode-S signal before and after said delay step to detect changes in state.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining an SPR acceptance window following a leading edge of a P6 signal embedded within said Mode-S signal and determining whether said state change occurred during said SPR acceptance window, thereby identifying an SPR signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said Mode-S signal includes a P6 pulse, said determining step determining whether said P6 pulse changes state within an SPR acceptance window of time following a leading edge of said P6 pulse, thereby qualifying as a detector enable signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said Mode-S signal includes a P6 pulse, said determining step determining whether said P6 pulse changes state from a first state to a second state and remains at said second state for at least a minimum time period, sufficient to qualify as a detector enable signal.