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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9830828-B2
Application number	US-201514667486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the at least one remotely located transmitting device includes a plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters broadcasting position data from a plurality of locations, wherein the at least the second input signal includes the position data from the plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters.

3. The receiver of claim 2 , further comprising:
wherein the processing unit is further configured to track positions of the plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters; and
wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate the second output signal based on the positions of the plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters.

4. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the at least the second input signal includes automatic identification system (AIS) signals broadcast from a plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters; and
wherein the external device includes an interface that allows selection of a specific remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter of the plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters; and
when the second operation mode is selected:
wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate the second output signal by generating at least one guidance signal from a first current location of the receiver to a second current location of the specific remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitter.

5. The receiver of claim 4 , further comprising:
when the second operation mode is selected:
wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna; and
wherein the first current location of the receiver is based on the global navigation satellite (GNSS) signal.

6. The receiver of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the second operation mode is selected:
wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal including data regarding a current location of the receiver; and
wherein the processing unit is configured to generate at least one of guidance information and navigation information based on the data regarding the current location of the receiver and the data regarding the current location of a desired destination remotely located transmitting device of the at least one remotely located transmitting device, wherein the second output signal includes the at least one of guidance information and navigation information.

7. The receiver of claim 1 , wherein the external device is at least one of a display system and a flight control system.

8. The receiver of claim 7 , further comprising:
when the second operation mode is selected:
wherein the receiver is configured to generate the second output signal by emulating the format of the first output signal, such that both the first output signal and the second output signal are formatted with common formatting expected by the display system.

9. The receiver of claim 8 , further comprising:
wherein the first output signal includes information relating to a bearing from the receiver to a second desired destination based on the at least one of an instrument landing system (ILS) signal and a VHF omni ranging (VOR) signal;
wherein the second output signal includes information relating to a bearing from the receiver to the desired destination.

10. The receiver of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the external device is a display system; and
when the second operation mode is selected:
wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna;
wherein the receiver is configured to generate the second output signal by emulating the format of the first output signal, such that both the first output signal and the second output signal are formatted with common formatting expected by the display system;
wherein the first output signal includes information relating to a bearing from the receiver to a desired destination based on the at least one of an instrument landing system (ILS) signal and a VHF omni ranging (VOR) signal; and
wherein the second output signal includes information relating to at least one of a selected course deviation and a bearing from the receiver to the desired destination based on both the at least the second input signal and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal.

11. 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.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one remotely located transmitting device includes a plurality of automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters broadcasting data from a plurality of locations, wherein the at least the second input signal includes the position data from the plurality of remotely located automatic identification system (AIS) transmitters.

13. The method of claim 12 , furth

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Nicholls James Alexander
• Sutter Mark Karl
• Doyle Robert S
• Glassburn Matt

Classifications

• G01S19/38

  Determining a navigation solution using signals transmitted by a satellite radio beacon positioning system · CPC title

• G01S5/0226

  Transmitters · CPC title

• G08G5/0047 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01S19/15 Primary

  Aircraft landing systems · CPC title

• G01S1/045

  Receivers · CPC title