Systems and methods for testing susceptibility of aircraft components to radio frequencies

• US 9,548,766 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Norman, Joseph Charles, Wolfe, Adam Blake, Hansen, Mark Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US14/244,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

An apparatus for testing for the susceptibility of an aircraft system to radio frequencies comprises a wireless module for generating radio signals that sweep each of the 2.4 GHz frequency band and the 5 GHz frequency band. A first amplifier is configured for amplifying signals in the 2.4 GHz band, and a second amplifier is configured for amplifying signals in the 5 GHz band. The apparatus comprises at least one dual band antenna for transmitting the signals in each of the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing for the susceptibility of an aircraft system to radio frequencies, comprising:

a wireless module;

the wireless module generating each of a first radio signal and a second radio signal;

the first radio signal being in a first frequency band;

the second radio signal being in a second frequency band;

a first amplifier configured for amplifying signals in the first frequency band;

a second amplifier configured for amplifying signals in the second frequency band;

a diplexer operably coupled to the wireless module;

the diplexer routing the first radio signal to the first amplifier and the second radio signal to the second amplifier;

a first splitter and a second splitter;

the first splitter being coupled to the first amplifier;

the second splitter being coupled to the second amplifier; and

a first dual band antenna and a second dual band antenna;

each of the first dual band antenna and the second dual band antenna being coupled to each of the first splitter and the second splitter;

each of the first and the second dual band antennas transmitting each of the first radio signal and the second radio signal within the aircraft;

wherein each of the wireless module, the diplexer, the first amplifier, and the second amplifier are housed in a portable arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is 2.4 GHz.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second frequency band is 5 GHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the portable arrangement comprises a case.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the case is a briefcase; and

each of the first dual band antenna and the second dual band antenna are housed in the briefcase.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless module generates a third signal in the first frequency band and a fourth signal in the second frequency band;

the first signal and the third signal are in disparate channels; and

the second signal and the fourth signal are in disparate channels.

7. A method for testing for the susceptibility of an aircraft system to radio frequencies, comprising:

using software instructions to cause a wireless module to generate a first signal and a second signal while the aircraft is in flight;

the first signal being in a first frequency band;

the second signal being in a second frequency band;

using a first amplifier to amplify the first radio signal;

using a second amplifier to amplify the second radio signal;

using a first dual band antenna and a second dual band antenna to transmit each of the first signal and the second signal within the aircraft; and

examining the aircraft system to determine the susceptibility thereof to the first radio signal and the second radio signal;

wherein each of the wireless module, the first amplifier, and the second amplifier are housed in a portable arrangement.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first frequency band is 2.4 GHz.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first frequency band is 5 GHz.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the first frequency band is 2.4 GHz;

the second frequency band is 5 GHz;

and

the portable arrangement comprises a briefcase.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless module sweeps through the first frequency band and the second frequency band within fifteen minutes.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of operably coupling a splitter to the first amplifier.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a display screen to display a set of instructions to assist a user in testing the susceptibility of the aircraft system to the first radio signal and the second radio signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the aircraft system is a navigation system; and

examination of the navigation system includes inspecting the navigation system to determine whether the navigation system has located a satellite.

15. A method for testing for the susceptibility of an aircraft system to radio frequencies, comprising:

using software instructions to cause a wireless module to generate a first signal and a second signal;

the first signal being in a first frequency band;

the second signal being in a second frequency band;

using a first amplifier to amplify the first radio signal;

using a second amplifier to amplify the second radio signal;

operably coupling the first amplifier to a first splitter and the second amplifier to a second splitter;

using a first dual band antenna and a second dual band antenna to transmit each of the first signal and the second signal within the aircraft; and

examining the aircraft system to determine the susceptibility thereof to the first radio signal and the second radio signal;

wherein each of the first dual band antenna and the second dual band antenna is operably coupled to each of the first splitter and the second splitter.