US 9,830,828 B2Granted

Systems and method for AIS transponder integration with ILS/VOR receivers

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsJames Alexander Nicholls, Mark Karl Sutter, Robert S. Doyle, Matt Glassburn

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Abstract

A receiver includes an RF module to receive and down convert multiple types of RF signals received from at least one antenna; a communication unit configured to communicate signals with at least one external device; and a processing unit communicatively coupling the radio frequency module with the communication unit. Processing unit receives operation mode selection. When first operation mode is selected, processing unit receives first input signal from antenna via RF module (the first input signal including ILS signal and/or VOR signal) and outputs first output signal based on first input signal to external device. When second operational mode is selected, processing unit receives second input signal from antenna via radio frequency unit (second input signal including AIS signal including data regarding a current location of remotely located transmitting device) and outputs second output signal based on second input signal to external device.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A receiver comprising:

a radio frequency module configured to receive and down convert multiple types of radio frequency signals received from at least one antenna;
a communication unit configured to communicate signals with at least one external device;
a processing unit communicatively coupling the radio frequency module with the communication unit;
wherein the processing unit is configured to receive an operation mode selection;
wherein when a first operation mode is selected:
the processing unit is configured to receive at least a first input signal from the at least one antenna via the radio frequency module, the at least the first input signal including at least one of an instrument landing system (ILS) signal and a VHF (very high frequency) omni ranging (VOR) signal;
and
the processing unit is configured to output a first output signal based on the first input signal to the external device;
and
wherein when a second operational mode is selected:
the processing unit is configured to receive at least a second input signal from the at least one antenna via the radio frequency module, the at least the second input signal including an automatic identification system (AIS) signal including data regarding a current location of at least one remotely located transmitting device;
and
the processing unit is configured to output a second output signal based on the at least the second input signal to the external device.

10 more elements

A method for receiving various types of signals using a single receiver, the method comprising:

receiving an operation mode selection;
when a first operation mode is selected:
receiving at least a first input signal at a receiver from at least one antenna, the first input signal including at least one of an instrument landing system (ILS) signal and a VHF (very high frequency) omni ranging (VOR) signal;
and
outputting a first output signal based on the first input signal from the receiver to an external device;
and
when a second operation mode is selected:
receiving at least a second input signal at the receiver from the at least one antenna, the at least the second input signal including at least one automatic identification system (AIS) signal including data regarding a current location of at least one remotely located transmitting device;
and
outputting a second output signal based on the at least the second input signal from the receiver to the external device.

7 more elements

A radio navigation system processing device onboard an aircraft, the radio navigation system processing device comprising:

a first input configured to receive an automatic identification system (AIS) signal from a remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter, the automatic identification system (AIS) signal identifying a first location of the remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter;
a second input configured to receive a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal from at least one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver onboard the aircraft, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal identifying a second location of the aircraft;
wherein the radio navigation system processing device is configured to generate a desired flight path between the second location of the aircraft and the first location of the remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter;
wherein the radio navigation system processing device is configured to compute at least one of a lateral deviation and a vertical deviation between an actual flight path of the aircraft and the desired flight path of the aircraft;
wherein the radio navigation system processing device is configured to output the at least one of the lateral deviation and the vertical deviation to an external device.

2 more elements

A radio navigation system processing device comprising:

a first input configured to receive a first radio navigation signal formatted as an automatic identification system (AIS) signal identifying a first location of an automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter;
a processing unit configured to generate a first emulated output signal from the first radio navigation signal, the first emulated output signal emulating a first output signal format based on at least one of an instrument landing system (ILS) signal and a VHF (very high frequency) omni ranging (VOR) signal as an input signal;
a first output configured to communicate the first emulated output signal to the external device, wherein the external device is configured to receive output signals having the first output signal format.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.