Legacy waveform implementation in a multi-function antenna

• US 8,793,037 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Mulbrook, Mark M., Hageman, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/876,698
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/470, 701/408, 340/572.7, 340/979, 342/32, 342/74, 342/147, 342/153, 342/359, 342/422, 342/430, 342/449, 455/13.3, 455/25, 455/63.4, 455/83, 455/431, 455/562, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole

Abstract

An antenna having at least a directional mode of operation is mounted onto an aircraft for transmission of avionics waveforms. An orientating module minimizes the power requirements of the antenna by directing an orientation of transmission at least substantially toward a receiver. A processor is coupled with the orientating module for controlling the orientation of transmission. Control programming operates the processor to determine the orientation of transmission and activate the orientating module to direct the antenna to transmit in the determined orientation.

Claims

1. A directional antenna controller device, comprising:

a memory configured to store control programming;

a processor coupled to the memory and an orientating module, wherein the processor is configured to load the control programming and to execute the control programming, wherein execution of the control programming by the processor performs a method, the method including;

calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna; and

communicating the particular orientation of transmission to the orientating module upon calculating the particular orientation of transmission; and

the orientating module being configured to communicatively connect to a directional antenna, wherein the orientating module is configured for;

receiving the particular orientation of transmission from the processor; and

directing the directional antenna to transmit at least substantially toward a receiver upon receiving the particular orientation of transmission from the processor, wherein directing the directional antenna to transmit at least substantially toward the receiver reduces the power requirements of the directional antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the directional antenna operates in at least one of a directional mode or an omni-directional mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes at least one ground-based distance measuring equipment station.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the control programming includes:

an intelligent transmit algorithm for calculating the orientation of transmission for the directional antenna.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the intelligent transmit algorithm returns data of at least one of the receiver or the orientation of transmission for the directional antenna to a flight management system of the aircraft.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further comprises:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and a previous orientation of transmission.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further comprises:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a previous orientation of transmission and the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

calculating at least one future orientation of transmission.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further includes:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and at least one calculated future orientation of transmission.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

calculating at least one future orientation of transmission prior to the directional antenna establishing a connection with the receiver.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further includes:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and at least one calculated future orientation of transmission.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

calculating at least one future orientation of transmission upon the directional antenna'"'"'s loss of a connection with the receiver.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further includes:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and at least one calculated future orientation of transmission.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

monitoring an established connection between the directional antenna and the receiver.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

determining whether flight management system data is available.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the flight management system data includes data being associated with at least one of an aircraft heading, an aircraft location, an aircraft destination, an aircraft flight plan, an aircraft velocity, or a ground station location.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein calculating a particular orientation of transmission based at least upon a time interval until a next transmission of the directional antenna further includes:

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and the flight management system data upon a determination that the flight management system data is available.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

setting defaults and inputs.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

setting defaults and inputs, wherein the defaults include at least one of an initial sector or directional information for particular distance measuring equipment and wherein the inputs include a distance measuring equipment frequency;

determining whether flight management system data is available;

monitoring a loss or establishment of any connection between the directional antenna and the receiver; and

calculating at least one future orientation of transmission upon determining whether the flight management system data is available and upon monitoring the loss or establishment of any connection between the directional antenna and the receiver, and

wherein calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna further includes;

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and at least one calculated future orientation of transmission.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein performance of the method upon the execution of the control programming by the processor further includes:

setting defaults and inputs, wherein the defaults include an initial sector and directional information for particular distance measuring equipment and wherein the inputs include a distance measuring equipment frequency;

determining whether flight management system data is available;

monitoring a loss or establishment of any connection between the directional antenna and the receiver; and

calculating at least one future orientation of transmission upon a determination that flight management system data is available and upon monitoring the loss or establishment of any connection between the directional antenna and the receiver, and

wherein calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna further includes;

calculating the particular orientation of transmission based at least upon the time interval until the next transmission of the directional antenna and at least one calculated future orientation of transmission and flight management system data.

21. A directional antenna controller device, comprising:

a memory configured to store control programming;

a processor coupled to the memory and an orientating module, wherein the processor is configured to load the control programming and to execute the control programming, wherein execution of the control programming by the processor performs a method, the method including;

calculating a particular orientation of transmission;

communicating the particular orientation of transmission to the orientating module upon calculating the particular orientation of transmission; and

setting defaults and inputs, wherein the defaults include at least one of an initial sector or directional information for particular distance measuring equipment and wherein the inputs include a distance measuring equipment frequency; and

the orientating module being configured to communicatively connect to a directional antenna, wherein the orientating module is configured for;

receiving the particular orientation of transmission from the processor; and

directing the directional antenna to transmit at least substantially toward a receiver upon receiving the particular orientation of transmission from the processor, wherein directing the directional antenna to transmit at least substantially toward the receiver reduces the power requirements of the directional antenna.