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US 8,786,492 B2Granted
Method for directional digital data transmission between an aircraft and a ground station
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsTim Fuss, Uwe Schwark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for digital and directional data transmission between aircraft and ground stations. In this arrangement data is exchanged digitally and directly, in other words directly by means of directional antennae, between the aircraft and the ground stations. Furthermore, transmission lobes are adapted during flight, and the directional antennae on the aircraft only illuminate regions on the ground that are located at a minimum distance across the flight path of the aircraft.
Claims14
A method for directional digital data transmission between an aircraft and at least one first ground station by a ground-to-air direct radio system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first antenna array and a second antenna array for the aircraft, the first and second antenna arrays being configured as directional antenna arrays;
- wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are arranged in mirror symmetry relative to a mirror axis in the middle of the fuselage of the aircraft;
- wherein each of the first antenna array and the second antenna array has a length along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft and a width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- wherein the first and second directional antenna arrays are spatially aligned such that a region extending along a flight path of the aircraft on the ground is not illuminated by transmission lobes of the first and second antenna arrays;
- wherein a ratio between the length and the width of the first antenna array is greater than 1 and a ratio between the length and the width of the second antenna array is greater than 1;
- wherein a longitudinal axis of the first antenna array and a longitudinal axis of the second antenna array are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- providing a third antenna for the first ground station;
- and
- transmitting digital data directly between the aircraft and the first ground station;
- continuously measuring at least one of a change in strength of a signal received by the first antenna array and a change in strength of a signal received by the second antenna array during a flight of the aircraft;
- and
- adapting a transmission lobe of at least one of the first antenna array and a transmission lobe of the second antenna array on the basis of the measured change in strength.
9 more elements
An aircraft comprising a digital transmitter unit for directional digital data transmission between the aircraft in flight and at least one first ground station in a ground-to-air direct radio system, the digital transmitter unit comprising:
- a first antenna array and a second antenna array for at least emitting signals for digital data transmission directly to the ground station;
- a control unit;
- wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are configured as directional antenna array;
- and
- wherein the first antenna array is configured for being affixed at an installation location selected from the group consisting of:
- laterally on a fuselage of the aircraft;
- on a vertical stabilizer;
- on a horizontal stabilizer;
- on a wing;
- on an engine nacelle;
- and on a belly fairing that aerodynamically covers the transition between an airfoil and a fuselage of the aircraft;
- wherein the second antenna array is arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to the first antenna array with regard to a mirror axis situated in the middle of the fuselage;
- wherein each of the first antenna array and the second antenna array has a length along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft and a width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- wherein a ratio between the length and the width of the first antenna array is greater than 1 and a ratio between the length and the width of the second antenna array is greater than 1;
- wherein a longitudinal axis of the first antenna array and a longitudinal axis of the second antenna array are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- and
- wherein the first and second directional antenna array are spatially aligned such that a region extending along the flight path of the aircraft on the ground is not illuminated by transmission lobes of the first and second antenna arrays;
- wherein the control unit is configured to continuously measure at least one of a change in strength of a signal received by the first antenna array and a change in strength of a signal received by the second antenna array during a flight of the aircraft;
- and
- wherein the control unit is configured to adapt at least one of a transmission lobe of the first antenna array and a transmission lobe of the second antenna array on the basis of the measured change in strength.
17 more elements
A communication system for directional digital data transmission between an aircraft and at least one first ground station;
- the communication system comprising:
- a first digital transmitter unit on the aircraft comprising:
- a first antenna array and a second antenna array for at least emitting signals for digital data transmission directly to the ground station;
- a control unit;
- wherein the first and the second antenna array are configured as directional antenna arrays;
- wherein the first antenna array is arranged for mounting at an installation location selected from the group consisting of:
- laterally at a fuselage of the aircraft, at a vertical stabilizer, at a horizontal stabilizer, at a wing, at an engine nacelle, and at a belly fairing that aerodynamically covers the transition between an airfoil and a fuselage of the aircraft;
- wherein the second antenna array is arranged in mirror symmetry to the first antenna array in respect of a mirror axis in the middle of the fuselage;
- wherein each of the first antenna array and the second antenna array has a length along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft and a width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- wherein a ratio between the length and the width of the first antenna array is greater than 1 and a ratio between the length and the width of the second antenna array is greater than 1;
- wherein a longitudinal axis of the first antenna array and a longitudinal axis of the second antenna array are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;
- and
- wherein the first and second directional antenna array are spatially aligned such that a region extending along the flight path of the aircraft on the ground is not illuminated by transmission lobes of the first and second antenna arrays;
- and
- a second digital transmitter unit at the first ground station comprising a third antenna;
- wherein the transmitter units are configured to transmit digital data directly between the aircraft and the first ground station;
- wherein the control unit is configured to continuously measure at least one of a change in strength of a signal received by the first antenna array and a change in strength of a signal received by the second antenna array during a flight of the aircraft;
- and
- wherein the control unit is configured to adapt at least one of a transmission lobe of the first antenna array and a transmission lobe of the second antenna array on the basis of the measured change in strength.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.