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US 2003/0142002 A1Published application
Vehicle surveillance system
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsKarl Winner, Benjamin Kuehn
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsKarl Winner, Benjamin Kuehn
Estimating the term…
An algorithm for improved tracking of Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System transponders is disclosed. The algorithm can be combined with a system that includes an interrogator which transmits an interrogation signal to an associated vehicle transponder at a first frequency, preferably 1030 MHZ in accordance with FAA regulations, and a receiver array which receives the transponder reply signal transmitted by the transponder at a second frequency, preferably 1090 MHZ in accordance with FAA regulations. An angle of arrival processor calculates an angle of the received reply signal, and a position processor calculates the vehicle position based on at least the received angle data.
A method of tracking aircraft in a surveillance area comprising:
A method of detecting aircraft in an area within operable range of an interrogator transmitting an interrogation signal at a first frequency, the aircraft having a transponder transmitting a reply signal at a second frequency in response to the interrogation signal, the method comprising:
A method for detecting and identifying a pulse modulated transponder reply signal having a plurality of associated data pulses comprising the steps of:
An apparatus which detects aircraft in an area within operable range of an interrogator transmitting an interrogation signal at a first frequency, the aircraft having a transponder transmitting a reply signal at a second frequency in response to the interrogation signal, the apparatus comprising:
A system for locating a cooperative object within a monitored area, comprising:
A system for locating a vehicle within a monitored area, comprising:
A method of determining a position of a cooperative object in a monitored area, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe: secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general
Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction: using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference…
Wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted: with special measures concerning the radiation pattern, e.g. S.L.S.
Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar: combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location…
Term end not estimated
The present application relates to the detection and tracking of aircraft. The invention finds particular application in detecting and tracking suitably equipped aircraft on an airport surface, aircraft on closely spaced parallel approaches and aircraft in proximity of an airport and will be described with reference thereto. It is to be appreciated however, that the teachings disclosed herein are also amenable to the detection and tracking of suitably equipped vehicles in a variety of environments such as highway, maritime and other applications.
The position of aircraft near airports and other aircraft is of crucial importance to the safe movement of aircraft. Multiple techniques which make use of the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) transponders have previously been employed to track and monitor airborne aircraft enroute to an airport, provide guidance or monitor aircraft on final approach to airports and monitor aircraft movement within the airports runways and taxiways. The tracking techniques have been realized in the following systems.
Airborne aircraft enroute to an airport are monitored using Air Traffic Control Beacon Interrogator (ATCBI-6) ground systems and associated displays. These systems interrogate Mode A/C and are fully compliant with the new Mode S (for selective) transponder formats that include P4 suppression to reduce synchronous garble.
The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system suitable to practice an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a system which suitably practices the present invention;
With reference to FIG. 1, an aircraft 10 or other vehicle with an associated transponder (not shown) is interrogated by interrogator 12. In compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, this interrogation signal 14 is preferably transmitted at 1030 MHZ, although other frequencies may also be used and may be desirable in environments other than tracking airborne aircraft. Interrogation strategies to reduce synchronous garble may include those well known in the art such as directional antenna lobbing using either phased array or fixed directional parabolic antenna or the like, and or whisper shout interrogation amplitude sequences, well known in Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) applications. Other interrogation beam shapes including a wide area beam, phased array and the like are also contemplated.
In response, the transponder sends a transponder reply 16 which preferably complies with FAA regulations specifying 1090 MHZ. This signal is depicted in FIG. 1 as two separate beams, but the transponder preferably acts as an approximate point source with signal preferably emitting omni-directionally and extending throughout the monitored area.
Transponder signal 16 is received by a plurality of receiver arrays, in FIG. 1 shown as two arrays, one to determine azimuth 18a and one to determine elevation 18e. While these arrays are shown separately, those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may be combined on a frame or support in a “L” configuration or alternately, a phased array type panel may employed with no loss of functionality. The discrete arrays 18a, 18e are illustrated for clarity only. As used herein, the term “array” should include receivers capable of determining azimuth only, elevation only, range only or combinations thereof. The received signal of each antenna is processed by an angle of arrival processor 20a, 20e to determine various characteristics such as time (for example, between transmission and reception), amplitude, frequency, differential carrier phase, and/or angle of the reply signal 16 from the source transponder with respect to the array 18.