Aircraft proximity sensor system for radio frequency transmission device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9775095-B2
Application number	US-201615185145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Jun 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

An aircraft proximity sensor system includes a control module in communication with a transceiver module and an aircraft proximity sensor module, the control module operable to disable transmission by the transceiver module in response to the aircraft proximity sensor module.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An aircraft proximity sensor system, comprising:
a transceiver module;
an aircraft proximity sensor module, said aircraft proximity sensor module includes a tri-axis electromagnet field sensor operable to detect electromagnetic fields generated by an aircraft, and an aircraft/tower radio communication sensor operable to detect transmission on at least one of a Unicom, multicom, Flight Services, and Traffic Advisory (CTAF) frequency for an uncontrolled airport; and
a control module in communication with said transceiver module and said aircraft proximity sensor module, said control module operable to disable transmission by said transceiver module in response to said aircraft proximity sensor module, wherein said control module is operable to disable transmission by said transceiver module in response to said aircraft proximity sensor module being proximate an aircraft with inactive jet engines.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said aircraft proximity sensor system is incorporated within a radio frequency transmission device.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said radio frequency transmission device includes a data logger.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said transceiver module is operable to transmit a cellular signal.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said aircraft/tower radio communication sensor is operable to detect transmission between 118.000-136.975 MHz.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said aircraft/tower radio communication sensor is operable to detect transmission at 120.000 MHz.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said aircraft/tower radio communication sensor is operable to detect transmission on an Air Traffic Control Frequency.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said aircraft/tower radio communication sensor is operable to detect transmission on a Company Airlines Operational Control Frequency.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said control module is operable to disable transmission by said transceiver module in response to said aircraft proximity sensor module being proximate a stationary aircraft.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein said tri-axis electromagnet field sensor is operable to detect electromagnetic fields at 400 Hz.

11. A method of transmission control for a data logger, the method comprising:
detecting a proximity to an aircraft via an aircraft proximity sensor module that includes a tri-axis electromagnet field sensor operable to detect electromagnetic fields generated by the aircraft, and an aircraft/tower radio communication sensor operable to detect transmission on at least one of a Unicom, multicom, Flight Services, and Traffic Advisory (CTAF) frequency for an uncontrolled airport; and
disabling transmission from a data logger in response to the proximity with the aircraft while the aircraft has inactive jet engines.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein detecting the proximity includes detecting the proximity to a stationary aircraft.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein detecting the proximity includes detecting radio transmission between 118.000- 136.975 MHz.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein detecting the proximity includes detecting aircraft power system operation.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein detecting the proximity includes detecting electromagnetic fields generated by the aircraft.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein detecting the proximity includes detecting electromagnetic fields at 400 Hz.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising cycling the detection thereof in a periodic manner to confirm the absence of aircraft/tower radio communication.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising cycling the detection continuously to confirm the absence of aircraft/tower radio communication.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising enabling transmission from the data logger in response to the proximity subsequent to the disabling.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Desmarais Richard
• Varga Stephen

Classifications

• H04W48/16

  Discovering, processing access restriction or access information · CPC title

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04W48/04 Primary

  based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed · CPC title

• B64D2045/006

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64D45/0063

  by avoiding the use of electronic equipment during flight, e.g. of mobile phones or laptops · CPC title