Dual band radar altimeter system and method
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Billsberry, Shawn Michael Mason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An altimeter apparatus for an aircraft includes an altimeter circuit and can use a method of determining altitude. The method includes receiving a first signal in a first band via a first receive antenna, and receiving a second signal in a second band via a second receive antenna. The first band is a C-Band and the second band is at least one of a W-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band, V-band, or K-Band. The method also includes providing an altitude in response to the first signal or the second signal.
Claims20
A dual range radar altimeter apparatus, comprising:
- a first band transmit antenna for a first band;
- a second band transmit antenna for a second band;
- a first band receive antenna physically separate from the first band transmit antenna;
- a second band receive antenna, the second band being a higher frequency band than the first band;
- an altimeter circuit coupled to the first band receive antenna, the first band transmit antenna, the second band receive antenna, and the second band transmit antenna system, wherein the altimeter circuit is configured to:
- provide a first signal in the first band and transmit the first signal via the first band transmit antenna;
- receive a second signal via the first band receive antenna, wherein the second signal is a reflected version of the first signal;
- provide a third signal in the second band and transmit the third signal via the second band transmit antenna;
- receive a fourth signal via the second band receive antenna, wherein the fourth signal is a reflected version of the third signal;
- and
- determine an altitude value based on the first signal and the second signal or the third signal and the fourth signal by a selection of at least one of averaging, weighted averaging of the first signal and the second signal and historical averaging, wherein the selection is determined in response to phase of flight or altitude.
A method of determining altitude comprising:
- receiving a first signal in a first band via a first receive antenna;
- receiving a second signal in a second band via a second receive antenna, the first band being a C-Band and the second band being at least one of a W-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band, V-band, or K-Band;
- and
- providing an altitude value in response to the first signal or the second signal by a selection of at least one of averaging, weighted averaging of the first signal and the second signal and historical averaging, wherein the selection is determined in response to phase of flight or altitude.
A low range altimeter (LRA) apparatus, comprising:
- a first band RF circuit configured for a first band;
- a second band RF circuit configured for a second band;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- receive baseband data from the first band RF circuit and the second band RF circuit and calculate an altitude value in response to the baseband data, the first band being a C-Band and the second band being a higher frequency band than the first band;
- and
- by a selection of at least one of averaging, weighted averaging of the first signal and the second signal and historical averaging, wherein the selection is determined in response to phase of flight or altitude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.