Active phased array antenna for aircraft surveillance systems
First Claim
1. A TAS/TCAS active antenna apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna element for transmitting TAS/TCAS interrogation signals at a predetermined effective radiated power (ERP) and for receiving TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals;
an antenna module configured to be mounted to an aircraft, the antenna module being mounted adjacent to the antenna element and coupled to the antenna element and a communications link to receive the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals from the communications link, the antenna module includinga receive path extending between the antenna element and the communications link, anda transmit path extending between the antenna element and the communications link, the transmit path being different than the receive path;
a transmit power amplifier provided on the transmit path of the antenna module, the power amplifier increasing a power level of the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals received from the communications link by an amount sufficient to drive the antenna element to transmit the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals at the predetermined ERP; and
a receive power amplifier provided on the receive path of the antenna module, the receive power amplifier for increasing a power level of the received TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals before outputting the received signals to the communications link,wherein the antenna module includes first and second circuit boards (CB), the first CB having the antenna element mounted thereon, the second CB having the power amplifiers mounted thereon.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An active antenna is provided that includes an antenna element for transmitting RF transmit signals at a predetermined effective radiated power (ERP). An antenna module is configured to be mounted to an aircraft, with the antenna element being mounted to the antenna module. A connector module is provided at the antenna module and is configured to be coupled to a communications link and receive electrical transmit signals from the communications link. A transmit path is provided within the antenna module and extends between the antenna element and the connector module. A power amplifier is provided on the antenna module along the transmit path. The power amplifier increases a power level of the electrical transmit signals, received from the communications link, by a predetermined amount sufficient to drive the antenna element to transmit the RF transmit signals at the predetermined ERP.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A TAS/TCAS active antenna apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna element for transmitting TAS/TCAS interrogation signals at a predetermined effective radiated power (ERP) and for receiving TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals; an antenna module configured to be mounted to an aircraft, the antenna module being mounted adjacent to the antenna element and coupled to the antenna element and a communications link to receive the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals from the communications link, the antenna module including a receive path extending between the antenna element and the communications link, and a transmit path extending between the antenna element and the communications link, the transmit path being different than the receive path; a transmit power amplifier provided on the transmit path of the antenna module, the power amplifier increasing a power level of the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals received from the communications link by an amount sufficient to drive the antenna element to transmit the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals at the predetermined ERP; and a receive power amplifier provided on the receive path of the antenna module, the receive power amplifier for increasing a power level of the received TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals before outputting the received signals to the communications link, wherein the antenna module includes first and second circuit boards (CB), the first CB having the antenna element mounted thereon, the second CB having the power amplifiers mounted thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A TAS/TCAS active antenna apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna element mounted to an external surface of an aircraft for transmitting TAS/TCAS interrogation signals and receiving TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals; an antenna module coupled to the antenna element and comprising a transmit path having a transmit amplifier amplifying the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals to a first power level from a second power level, and a receive path, parallel to the transmit path, and having a receive amplifier amplifying the TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals to a third power level from a fourth power level; a bidirectional coaxial line coupled to the antenna module; and a transmit and receive unit, mounted remotely from the antenna module and coupled to the coaxial line, generating the TAS/TCAS interrogation signals over the coaxial line at the second power level and receiving the TAS/TCAS interrogation response signals over the coaxial line at the third power level, wherein the antenna module includes first and second circuit boards (CB), the first CB having the antenna element mounted thereon, the second CB having the transmit and receive amplifiers mounted thereon. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification