Automated aircraft radio navigation simulator
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDennis O. Carpenter, Robert E. Ceola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aircraft navigation testing apparatus includes circuitry which produces digital signals on an output bus corresponding to a desired simulation of aircraft glideslope, localizer and very high frequency, omnidirectional (VOR) positions. Localizer and glideslope circuitry respond to the signal on the bus to produce the desired final value signal at the dictated rate. VOR circuitry responds by activating selected switches in a switchbank, thereby programing a conventional VOR generator to produce the VOR signal at the desired rate.
Claims22
Apparatus for automatically simulating the glideslope, localizer and very high frequency, omnidirection (VOR) guidance signals received by an aircraft comprising
- control means for producing digital signals representative of:
- (a) a desired final glideslope value and the rate which said final glideslope value should be approached,
- (b) a desired final localizer value and the rate at which said final localizer value should be approached,
- (c) a desired final VOR value and the rate at which said final VOR value should be approached;
- glideslope circuitry means including means to receive the digital signals representative of the final glideslope value and the rate at which said final glideslope value should be approached and means responsive to said received signals to generate said desired final value at said desired rate;
- localizer circuitry means including means to receive the digital signals representative of the final localizer value and the rate at which said final localizer value should be approached and means responsive to said received signals to generate said desired final value at said desired arate;
- and
- VOR circuitry means including means to receive the digital signals representative of the final VOR value and the rate at said final VOR value should be approached and means responsive to said received signals to generate said desired final value at said desired rate.
Apparatus for automatically simulating an aircraft glideslope or localizer signal, said signal being comprised of the combination of a first signal f.sub.1 of a first frequency and a second signal f.sub.2 of a second frequency, with the sum of the amplitudes of said signals being a constant level K, the apparatus comprising:
- control means for generating digital signals representative of the desired final value of the amplitudes of the signals f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 and the rate at which said final value should be approached;
- final value register means for receiving and retaining said final value signal;
- rate register means for receiving and retaining said rate signal;
- logic means for retaining the present value of said glideslope or localizer signal and digitally incrementing, at the rate determined by said rate register retained signal, to said final value as stored in said final value register;
- digital to analog converter means for converting said logic means present value, incremental values and final value digital signals to corresponding analog control levels having an instantaneous value of V.sub.c ;
- means for generator fixed levels of said signals f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 ;
- and
- combiner means, being responsive to said analog control level V.sub.c, for processing said generated signals f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 such that the amplitude of each is a predetermined function of said control signal V.sub.c and the combined amplitude of said signals f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 is said constant level K.
Apparatus for automatically simulating an aircraft very high frequency, omnidirectional (VOR) guidance path signal comprising:
- control means for generating digital signals representative of the desired final value VOR signal and of the rate at whch said final value should be approached;
- final value register means for receiving and retaining said final value signal;
- rate register means for receiving and retaining said rate signal;
- logic means for retaining the present value of said VOR signal and digitally incrementing, at the rate determined by said rate register retained signal, to said final value as stored in said final value register;
- switching means for activating predetermined switches in response to the status of said logic means;
- and
- generator means responsive to the status of said switching means for generating a predetermined VOR signal in response thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.