Device for checking the consistency of a positioning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11238746-B2
Application number	US-201816044844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2018
Priority date	Aug 2, 2017
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A device for checking the consistency of a positioning includes: a transmitter, a receiver, a time measuring unit, a distance determining module and a check module. The transmitter emits at least one signal, and the receiver receives at least four response signals from at least four different response elements. A response element receives the at least one signal and, upon receipt, emits a response signal. The time measuring unit determines, for each response signal, a total delay time from a transmission time of the signal and a reception time of the respective signal. The distance determination module determines a distance to the respective response element based on each total delay time, and the check module performs a consistency check of a determination of a position based on distances to the different response elements. With the device, erroneous distance values may be detected in ground-based positioning systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device configured for checking a consistency of a positioning, the device comprising:
a transmitting device;
a receiving device;
a time measuring unit;
a distance determination module; and
a check module;
wherein the transmitting device is configured to emit at least one signal;
wherein the receiving device is configured to receive at least four response signals from at least four different response elements;
wherein a response element is configured to receive the at least one signal and, upon receipt of the at least one signal, the response element is configured to emit a response signal;
wherein the time measuring unit is configured to determine, for each received response signal, a total delay time from a transmission time of the signal and a reception time of the respective response signal;
wherein the distance determination module is configured to determine a distance to the respective response element based on each total delay time;
wherein the check module is configured to perform a consistency check of a determination of a position based on distances to the at least four different response elements;
wherein the check module is configured to perform the consistency check with a determination of a number N of all distances and the determination of a position by way of an integrity position of a plurality of N−1 distances, wherein the check module is configured to ignore the Nth distance; and
wherein the check module comprises a time filter element is configured to perform a temporal filtering in determining the total delay time for each received response signal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the check module is configured to perform the consistency check based on distances to at least five different response elements.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the check module is configured to perform the consistency check by way of the determination of a position based on all distances and a check of each distance.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the transmitting device is configured to emit at least two signals;
wherein one of the at least two signals is an altitude radar output signal; and
the receiving device is configured to receive at least one altitude radar input signal as one of the four response signals.

5. A system for checking the consistency of a positioning, the system comprising:
at least four response elements;
an aircraft; and
a device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is connected to the aircraft;
wherein the at least four response elements are configured to emit a response signal upon receipt of a signal of the device.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least four response elements are configured to be a reflector, a beacon, a repeater or a transponder.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a floating platform, the at least four response elements being connected to the floating platform.

8. A method for checking a consistency of a positioning, the method comprising:
transmitting a signal with a transmitting device;
receiving at least four response signals from at least four different response elements by way of a receiving device, wherein a response element receives the signal and transmits a response signal upon receipt of the signal;
determining a total delay time for each received response signal from a transmission time of the signal and a reception time of the respective response signal with a time measurement unit;
determining a distance based on each total delay time to the respective response element with a distance determination module; and
checking a consistency of the distances with a consistency check by way of the determination of a position based on distances to the at least four different response elements with a check module;
wherein checking the consistency of the distances further comprises checking the consistency of the distances with a determination of a number N of all distances and the determination of a position by way of an integrity position of a plurality of N−1 distances, wherein the check module is configured to ignore the Nth distance; and
wherein checking the consistency of the distances comprises performing a temporal filtering in determining the total delay time for each received response signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is used in a landing maneuver or a takeoff maneuver or taxiing of an aircraft.

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Gmbh

Inventors

• Lohmiller Winfried
• Bianchi Cristiano
• Burns Simon

Classifications

• G08G5/55

  for a single aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/52

  for take-off · CPC title

• G08G5/51

  for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling · CPC title

• G08G5/54 Primary

  for approach or landing · CPC title

• G01S2013/9329

  cooperating with reflectors or transponders · CPC title