Method for verifying dynamically a multiple beam antenna placed on a vehicle

• US 6,992,615 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Totalforsvarets Forskningsinstitut (FOI)
• Original Assignee: Totalforsvarets Forskningsinstitut (FOI)
• Inventors: Eneroth, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/510,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 342/165, 342/173, 342 13- 15, 342/20, 342 42- 48, 342/50, 342/51, 342/56, 342/58, 342 74- 77, 342/81, 342/147, 342/157, 342/158
• US Class Current: 342/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/38 Jamming means, e.g. producing false echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4008 of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4017 of HF systems

Abstract

A method for dynamically verifying a multiple beam antenna placed on a craft including a device for determining the position and course of the craft and a transmitter that via the antenna can emit pulsed signals. At least two transponders are placed in different directions round a measuring area with each transponder receiving a pulsed signal of at least one frequency, different for the different transponders, from the antenna. The transponders are adapted to send, after receiving the pulsed signal, a corresponding pulsed signal to the measuring station in such a manner that the transponder sending the signal can be determined at the measuring station which evaluates how well the antenna has managed to direct the radiated energy in the desired directions.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically verifying a multiple beam antenna which is placed on a craft comprising a device for determining the position and course of the craft, a transmitter device which via the antenna can emit pulsed signals, and a plurality of transponders placed in different directions round a measuring area within which the craft is intended to move, each transponder being adapted to receive a pulsed signal of at least one frequency, different for the different transponders, via a receiving antenna which is capable of receiving incoming signals from the entire measuring area, a common measuring station being placed in connection with the measuring area with the transponders being adapted to send, after receiving said pulsed signal, a corresponding pulsed signal to the measuring station in such a manner that it can be determined at the measuring station from which transponder each received signal comes, the craft moving within the measuring area with the position and course of the craft being determined before a measuring sequence, said measuring sequence being emitted from the craft via the antenna that is to be verified, said measuring sequence including a reference signal from the craft to the measuring station, a first pulsed signal to the first transponder, and a second pulsed signal to the second transponder with the measuring station detecting the reference signal and the subsequent pulsed signals from the transponders, said measuring procedure being repeated while the craft is moving within the measuring area, and said measuring station calculating to what degree the antenna directs signals in different directions round the craft for different frequencies.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different transponders emit signals to the measuring station within different, mutually neighbouring, narrow-band frequency ranges.