Method and system for inferring the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere from radio measurements
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorHerbert V. Hitney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for determining in real time, the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere. The method may be characterized as comprising the steps of: transmitting a radio frequency signal over a predetermined path; receiving the radio frequency signal; detecting the strength of the radio frequency signal; determining a radio propagation factor from the strength of the radio frequency signal; determining a base height function of the atmosphere; and employing the radio propagation factor in the base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere which represents the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere.
Claims11
A method for determining the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a radio frequency signal over a predetermined path;
- receiving said radio frequency signal;
- detecting the strength of said radio frequency signal;
- determining a radio propagation factor from said strength of said radio frequency signal;
- determining a base height function of the atmosphere;
- and
- employing said radio propagation factor in said base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere which represents said radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere.
A method for determining the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a radio frequency signal over a predetermined path;
- receiving said radio frequency signal;
- detecting the strength of said radio frequency signal;
- determining a radio propagation factor from said strength of said radio frequency signal;
- determining a base height function of the atmosphere for a particular region of interest using a radio propagation model;
- employing said radio propagation factor in said base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere representing said radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere.
A system for inferring the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere, comprising:
- a radio frequency transmitter system for generating a radio frequency signal;
- a radio receiver system for detecting said radio frequency signal and generating a first output signal representing the strength of said detected radio signal;
- and
- a computer operably coupled to receive aid first output signal for determining a radio propagation factor from said first output signal and for employing said radio propagation factor in a base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere representing said radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere, and generating a second output signal corresponding to said trapping layer base height.
A system for determining the radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere, comprising:
- a transmitting system for transmitting a radio frequency signal over a predetermined path;
- a receiving system for receiving said radio frequency signal;
- computing means for detecting the strength of said radio frequency signal, determining a radio propagation factor from said strength of said radio frequency signal, using said radio propagation factor in an atmospheric base height function to determine a trapping layer base height of the atmosphere which represents said radio refractive index structure of the atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.