Wireless spread spectrum ground link-based aircraft data communication system for engine event reporting
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsThomas H. Wright, James J. Ziarno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The system and method of the present invention provides a record of the performance of an aircraft engine. A plurality of sensors sense engine conditions and generate engine data. A ground data link unit is positioned within the aircraft and receives the engine data. A wideband spread spectrum transmitter that can be part of a transceiver downloads the engine data to a ground based spread spectrum receiver that can be part of a transceiver, and receives the wideband spread spectrum communication signal from the aircraft. It demodulates the wideband spread spectrum communication signal to obtain the engine data.
Claims23
A system for providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising:
- a plurality of sensors positioned on the aircraft for sensing engine conditions and generating engine data relating to operation of the engine;
- a ground data link unit positioned within the aircraft and operatively connected to said plurality of sensors for receiving said engine data, said ground data link unit comprising:
- a) a data store operative to accumulate and store the engine data, and
- b) a wideband spread spectrum transceiver coupled to said data store, and comprising a transmitter that is operative to download said engine data that has been accumulated and stored by said data store over a wideband spread spectrum communication signal;
- and
- a ground based spread spectrum transceiver for receiving the wideband spectrum communication signal from the aircraft and demodulating the wideband spread spectrum communication signal to obtain the engine data.
A method of providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising:
- collecting engine data within a ground data link unit during at least initial take-off of an aircraft from an airport;
- processing the engine data within a central processing unit of the ground data link unit to determine engine problems;
- upon initial take-off, downloading the engine data that has been collected during initial take-off over a wideband spread spectrum communication signal to a ground based spread spectrum receiver;
- and
- demodulating within the ground based spread spectrum receiver the wideband spread spectrum communication signal to obtain the engine data for further processing.
A method of providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising:
- collecting engine data within a ground data link unit during engine operation;
- downloading the engine data that has been collected over a wideband spread spectrum communication signal to a ground based spread spectrum receiver;
- and
- demodulating within the ground based spread spectrum receiver the wideband spread spectrum communications signal to obtain the engine data for further processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.