Simplified TCAS surveillance
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorRuy C. Brandao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), configured to transmit a wide transmit beam of approximately 180 degrees. The wide transmit beam may be, for example at the interrogation frequency or a transponder response frequency. The TCAS of this disclosure includes a directional antenna system with two signal input ports and two or more antenna elements. In some examples, the direction of the 180 degree beam may be controlled by the phase relationship between the signals input to the two port antenna. In other examples, the direction of the transmit beam from the antenna system is predefined to be in two complementary directions (e.g., forward and aft).
Claims20
A Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) antenna device, the antenna device comprising:
- a plurality antenna elements;
- wherein a beam width of a single transmit beam, from the plurality of antenna elements, is approximately 180 degrees in azimuth, and
- wherein the transmit beam includes a transmitted TCAS message.
A Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), the system comprising:
- a TCAS antenna device comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements configured to output a single transmit beam that includes a TCAS message,
- wherein a beam width of the single transmit beam is approximately 180 degrees in azimuth;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to:
- generate input signals received by the TCAS antenna device, wherein the input signals comprise the TCAS message;
- adjust one or more characteristics of the input signals to control the beam width and a beam direction of the transmit beam.
A method comprising:
- determining, by processing circuitry, a relationship between a first signal and a second signal;
- causing, by the processing circuitry, transmitter circuitry to generate the first signal and the second signal, such that the first signal and the second signal have the determined relationship;
- causing, by the processing circuitry, the transmitter circuitry to output the first signal via a first input port of a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) antenna device, causing, by the processing circuitry, the transmitter circuitry to output the first signal via a second input port of the TCAS antenna device, wherein:
- the TCAS antenna device comprises a plurality of antenna elements coupled to the first input port and the second input port,
- the first signal and the second signal cause the plurality of antenna elements to output a TCAS transmit beam,
- wherein the TCAS transmit beam has a beam width of approximately 180 degrees in azimuth, and
- wherein the TCAS transmit beam includes a transmitted TCAS message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.