Apparatus for sharing an omnidirectional antenna between an IFF transponder and an IFF interrogator

• US 8,179,302 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales Nederland BV (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Nederland BV (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Wajer, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/794,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20110102236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 342/13, 342 42- 51
• US Class Current: 342/45
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/78 discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe G01S13/75, G01S13/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals. including a cylindrical antenna array which has an omnidirectional channel; an IFF interrogator and an IFF transponder connected to the cylindrical antenna array; and a means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals, comprising:

a cylindrical antenna array, which comprises an omnidirectional channel;

an IFF interrogator connected to the cylindrical antenna array;

an IFF transponder connected to the cylindrical antenna array;

wherein the apparatus includes a means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder, said means having a radio-frequency switch arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on transmit either to the IFF interrogator or to the IFF transponder, the radio-frequency switch connecting the omnidirectional channel on transmit to the IFF transponder by default, the IFF interrogator providing a trigger signal to the radio-frequency switch to be connected on transmit to the omnidirectional channel, the radio-frequency switch switching back to its default state when a predefined time has elapsed or the trigger signal has been removed.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder comprise means for blanking the IFF interrogator when the omnidirectional channel is connected on transmit to the IFF transponder and for blanking the IFF transponder when the omnidirectional channel is connected on transmit to the IFF interrogator.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical antenna array further comprises a sum channel and a difference channel, the radio-frequency switch being arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on transmit either to the IFF interrogator or to the IFF transponder, the sum and the difference channels being connected directly to the IFF interrogator, the IFF interrogator provides a trigger signal to the radio-frequency switch in order to transmit an ISLS pulse by virtue of the omnidirectional channel.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder further comprises a first, a second and a third circulator arranged so that:

the first circulator isolates the RF switch from signals coming from the diplexer, while the second circulator isolates the RF switch from signals coming from the diplexer and while the third circulator isolates the RF switch from signals received by the omnidirectional channel;

or

the first circulator isolates the diplexer from signal transmitted by the interrogator, while the second circulator isolates the diplexer from signals transmitted by the transponder and while the third circulator isolates the diplexer from signals transmitted by the interrogator or from signals transmitted by the transponder.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cylindrical antenna array is arranged around the mast of a naval ship.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder further comprises a diplexer arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on receive to the IFF interrogator and to the IFF transponder, the diplexer separating signals received by the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cylindrical antenna array further comprises a sum channel and a difference channel, the diplexer being arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on receive to the IFF interrogator and to the IFF transponder, the sum and the difference channels being connected directly to the IFF interrogator, the signals received by the omnidirectional channel being used for RSLS processing by the IFF interrogator.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder further comprises a first, a second and a third circulator arranged so that:

the first circulator isolates the RF switch from signals coming from the diplexer, while the second circulator isolates the RF switch from signals coming from the diplexer and while the third circulator isolates the RF switch from signals received by the omnidirectional channel;

or

the first circulator isolates the diplexer from signal transmitted by the interrogator, while the second circulator isolates the diplexer from signals transmitted by the transponder and while the third circulator isolates the diplexer from signals transmitted by the interrogator or from signals transmitted by the transponder.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cylindrical antenna array is arranged around the mast of a naval ship.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder further comprises:

a diplexer arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on receive and on transmit to the IFF interrogator and to the IFF transponder, the diplexer separating signals received by omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder, the diplexer merging signals transmitted by the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder towards the omnidirectional channel;

a first and a second circulator arranged so that;

the first circulator isolates the IFF transponder from signals transmitted by the IFF interrogator, while the second circulator isolates the IFF transponder from signals coming from the diplexer;

or

the first circulator isolates the IFF interrogator from signals coming from the diplexer, while the second circulator isolates the IFF interrogator from signals transmitted by the IFF transponder.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cylindrical antenna array further comprises a sum channel and a difference channel, the diplexer being arranged so that the omnidirectional channel is connected on receive and on transmit to the IFF interrogator and to the IFF transponder, the sum and the difference channels being connected directly to the IFF interrogator, the signals received by the omnidirectional channel being used for RSLS processing by the IFF interrogator and the signals transmitted by the IFF interrogator by virtue of the omnidirectional channel include an ISLS pulse.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical antenna array is arranged around the mast of a naval ship.