Aircraft distance measuring equipment with directional interrogation

• US 9,116,236 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Billsberry, Mark A., Mason, Shawn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/604,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 342 29- 52, 342/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/785 Distance Measuring Equipment [DME] systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00

Abstract

A multi-function avionics system that includes, but is not limited to, a combined traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and directional measuring equipment (DME) system that utilizes a multi-function directional antenna for both functions. The multi-function system utilizes the same directional antenna for TCAS and DME functions, which typically utilize the same communication frequency band. The multi-function antenna may include four antenna elements that discriminate the direction of the DME ground station squitter. The DME system establishes a bearing to the ground station from the squitter and uses this information to determine which directional beam to use for the DME interrogation. Directional DME interrogation reduces the power requirements relative to that required for omni-directional DME interrogation. The integration of DME and TCAS enables the removal of antennas and feeder cables from the aircraft, saving weight, drag and cost.

Claims

1. An avionics system configured for location onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) controller;

a distance measuring equipment (DME) controller;

an integrated radio coupled to the TCAS controller and to the DME controller; and

a multi-function directional antenna operatively connected to the integrated radio configured to transmit and receive directional TCAS and directional DME communications;

wherein the multi-function directional antenna is only used to transmit and receive directional DME communications after receipt of a squitter signal from a ground station.

2. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein:

the directional antenna comprises a plurality of antenna elements; and

the integrated radio comprises a plurality of electronically controlled transceivers, each transceiver associated with a corresponding directional antenna element.

3. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein:

the directional antenna comprises a plurality of directional antenna elements and an analog beam forming network; and

the integrated radio comprises a transmitter, a plurality of receivers with each receiver associated with a corresponding directional antenna beam; and

a switching matrix interconnecting the transmitter and the receivers with a Butler Matrix.

4. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein the DME controller, the TCAS controller, the integrated radio and the multi-function directional antenna configured to be adapted to presently existing systems.

5. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller each have separate power amplifiers.

6. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller share a common, multi-function power supply.

7. The avionics system of claim 1, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller are configured to share communications over the multi-function directional antenna when DME and TCAS operations are concurrently active.

8. An aircraft having an onboard avionics system, comprising:

a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) controller;

a distance measuring equipment (DME) controller; and

an integrated radio coupled to the TCAS controller and to the DME controller; and

a multi-function directional antenna operatively connected to the integrated radio configured to transmit and receive directional TCAS and directional DME communications;

wherein the multi-function directional antenna is only used to transmit and receive directional DME communications after receipt of a squitter signal from a ground station.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein:

the directional antenna comprises a plurality of directional antenna elements; and

the integrated radio comprises a plurality of electronically adjusted transceivers, which in conjunction with the antenna forms an electrically steered array.

10. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein:

the directional antenna comprises a plurality of directional antenna elements and an analog matrix beam steering network; and

the integrated radio comprises a transmitter, a plurality of receivers with each receiver associated with a corresponding directional antenna beam; and

a switching matrix interconnecting the transmitter and the receivers with the analog matrix beam steering network.

11. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the DME controller, the TCAS controller, and the multi-function directional antenna configured to be adapted to presently existing systems.

12. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller each have separate power amplifiers.

13. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller share a common, multi-function power supply.

14. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the DME controller and the TCAS controller are configured to share communications over the multi-function directional antenna when DME and TCAS operations are concurrently active.

15. A method for an avionics system, comprising:

providing a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) controller onboard the aircraft;

providing a distance measuring equipment (DME) controller onboard the aircraft;

providing an integrated radio onboard the aircraft coupled to the TCAS controller and to the DME controller; and

providing a multi-function directional antenna onboard the aircraft operatively connected to the integrated radio configured to transmit and receive directional TCAS and directional DME communications;

wherein the multi-function directional antenna is only used to transmit and receive directional DME communications after a receipt of a squitter signal from a ground station.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of using the directional antenna to engage in TCAS and directional DME communications.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing the directional antenna with a plurality of directional antenna elements;

providing the integrated radio comprises a plurality of electronically steered transceivers;

associating each transceiver with a corresponding directional antenna element.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

providing the directional antenna comprises a plurality of directional antenna elements and a switching matrix; and

providing the integrated radio with a transmitter;

providing the integrated radio with a plurality of receivers with each receiver associated with a corresponding directional antenna beam; and

providing the antenna with a Butler matrix beam steering network interconnecting the transmitter and the receivers with the switching matrix.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing the DME controller, the TCAS controller, and the multi-function directional antenna as original equipment components of an original equipment avionics platform.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of configuring the DME controller and the TCAS with separate power amplifiers.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of configuring the DME controller and the TCAS with a common, multi-function power supply.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sharing communications over the multi-function directional antenna when DME and TCAS operations are concurrently active.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of receiving a DME squitter while TCAS communication are active and switching to a shared communication mode in which directional DME and TCAS communications are concurrently transmitted and received via the multi-function directional antenna.

24. An avionics system configured for location onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) controller;

a distance measuring equipment (DME) controller;

an airborne transponder system controller

an integrated radio coupled to the TCAS controller, transponder controller and to the DME controller; and

a multi-function directional antenna operatively connected to the integrated radio configured to transmit and receive transponder, directional TCAS and directional DME communications;

wherein the directional antenna comprises a plurality of directional antenna elements and the integrated radio comprises a plurality of electronically adjusted transceivers, which in conjunction with the antenna forms an electrically steered array;

wherein the multi-function directional antenna is only used to transmit and receive directional DME communications after receipt of a squitter signal from a ground station.

25. An avionics system configured for location onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) controller;

a distance measuring equipment (DME) controller;

an airborne transponder system controller

an multi-function directional antenna with an integrated radio coupled to the TCAS controller, transponder controller and to the DME controller configured to transmit and receive transponder, directional TCAS and directional DME communications;

wherein the multi-function directional antenna is used to transmit and receive directional DME communications when a squitter signal is received from a ground station and the DME controller sets a power and selects a directional beam of the multi-function directional antenna and engages in directional DME communications with the ground station.