US 5,969,664 A · Method for characterizing air traffic control radar beacon system antenna patterns

Abstract

A method for measuring and characterizing the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System without interrupting service which comprises a computer-controller system which captures the beacon radar system emissions during one radar rotation and software which extracts and plots the two antenna signal patterns. Data is collected for 50 microseconds during each degree of antenna rotation, triggered by the first pulse of the three pulse signals, and is then stored in separate omni-directional and directional arrays for subsequent plotting. Data is also collected for 50 microseconds during each one-tenth degree of antenna rotation within the directional antenna main lobe.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for simultaneously and separately measuring air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS) interrogator omnidirectional and directional azimuthal antenna patterns, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving radar signals transmitted by the ATCRBS interrogator;
(b) collecting signal data received from said ATCRBS interrogator;
(c) distinguishing valid signal data modes collected from said ATCRBS interrogator from noise;
(d) separating said valid signal data modes into omnidirectional and directional components;
(e) storing said omnidirectional data components in a first array;
(f) storing said directional data components in a second array;
and
(g) plotting said omnidirectional data components and said directional data components as separate omnidirectional and directional azimuthal antenna patterns.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for characterizing air traffic control radar beacon system antenna patterns

Life of this patent

Method for characterizing air traffic control radar beacon system antenna patterns

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18