Frequency field scanning

• US 9,176,219 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schmier, Mark A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US13/414,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0821 rooms and test sites therefor, e.g. anechoic chambers, open field sites or TEM cells for testing antennas G01R29/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/105 using anechoic chambers; Chambers or open field sites used therefor test sites used for measuring on other objects than aerials G01R29/0828; wave absorbing devices H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment. A transmitter and a receiver are moved together to a number of locations in a scanning space. Signals are transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the number of locations. Reflected signals are received by the receiver at the number of locations. The reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter. The number of locations in the scanning space is identified.

Claims

1. A method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment, comprising:

suspending, using a plurality of lines, a transmitter and a receiver together within a scanning space bounded by walls, a ceiling, and a floor all composed of an insulation material configured to reduce reflection of signals from the transmitter within the scanning space, wherein the plurality of lines are connected to a plurality of motors configured to move corresponding ones of the plurality of lines, and wherein the plurality of motors are located at edges of the scanning space;

moving, using at least one of the plurality of motors, the transmitter and the receiver together to a number of locations in the scanning space;

transmitting, towards a reflector within the scanning space, signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the number of locations and receiving reflected signals by the receiver at the number of locations, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter; and

identifying the number of locations in the scanning space.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising matching frequency data derived from the reflected signals with location data identifying the number of locations to identify frequency characteristics of the scanning space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting signals at the number of frequencies comprises transmitting signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the reflector in the scanning space and receiving reflected signals comprises receiving reflected signals that are reflected from the reflector.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving, using the motors, the transmitter and the reflector to another location within the scanning space, and then again transmitting signals towards the reflector.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lines are made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of the signals at the number of frequencies.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lines are made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the transmitter and the receiver comprises moving the transmitter and the receiver in a plurality of directions to a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional plane in the scanning space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises optically identifying locations of the transmitter and the receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises optically identifying a location of a tracking marker that is moved along with the transmitter and the receiver when the transmitter and the receiver are moved in the scanning space.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the number of locations in the scanning space comprises identifying the locations of the transmitter and the receiver by a tracking system selected from a group of tracking systems consisting of a laser tracker and an electronic theodolite.

11. An system comprising:

a plurality of lines suspending a transmitter and a receiver together within a scanning space bounded by walls, a ceiling, and a floor all composed of an insulation material configured to reduce reflection of signals from the transmitter within the scanning space, wherein the plurality of lines are connected to a plurality of motors configured to move corresponding ones of the plurality of lines, and wherein the plurality of motors are located at edges of the scanning space, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals at a number of frequencies from a number of locations in the scanning space wherein the receiver is configured to receive reflected signals at the number of locations in the scanning space, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies by the transmitter and wherein the transmitter and the receiver are configured to be moved together to the number of locations in the scanning space; and

a tracking system configured to identify the number of locations in the scanning space.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a data recorder configured to record location data identifying the number of locations and corresponding frequency data derived from the reflected signals received at the number of locations.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a reflector in the scanning space, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit signals at the number of frequencies at the reflector and the receiver is configured to receive reflected signals that are reflected from the reflector.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines is made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of the signals at the number of frequencies.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are configured to move the transmitter and the receiver together in a plurality of directions to a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional plane in the scanning space.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the tracking system is configured to optically identify the locations of the transmitter and the receiver in the scanning space.

18. A method for scanning a number of frequencies in a test environment comprising:

supporting a transmitter and a receiver at a location in a scanning space by a number of lines, wherein the number of lines is made of a material that is substantially non-absorbing and substantially non-reflective of signals at the number of frequencies, wherein the number of lines are connected to a corresponding number of motors at edges of the scanning space, and wherein the scanning space is bounded by walls, a ceiling, and a floor all composed of an insulation material configured to reduce reflection of signals from the transmitter within the scanning space; and

moving, using the number of motors, the transmitter and the receiver together within the scanning space;

transmitting the signals at the number of frequencies from the transmitter at the location and receiving reflected signals by the receiver at the location, wherein the reflected signals are reflections of the signals transmitted at the number of frequencies from the transmitter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the number of lines is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of nylon and Teflon.