US3594790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position location system and method
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1969-11-28
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1989-11-28
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are a system and method for position locating, deriving centralized air traffic control data and communicating via voice and digital signals between a multiplicity of remote aircraft including supersonic transports and a central station, as well as a peripheral ground station (or stations), through a synchronous satellite relay station. Side tone ranging patterns, as well as the digital and voice signals, are modulated on a carrier transmitted from the central station and received on all of the supersonic transports. Each aircraft communicates with the ground stations via a different frequency multiplexed spectrum. Supersonic transport position is derived from a computer at the central station and supplied to a local air traffic controller. Position is determined in response to variable phase information imposed on the side tones at the aircrafts, with a plurality of different side tone techniques being employed, and relayed back to the transports. Common to all of the side tone techniques is Doppler compensation for the supersonic transport velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles R Laughlin
- 👤 Roger C Hollenbaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S11/00; G01S11/02; G01S11/10; G01S5/02; G01S5/0246; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/01; G01S2205/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF ranging side tones modulated on a carrier transmitted thereto from the central station and inertial data originating thereat comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator responsive to the frequency and phase of the carrier transmitted to the station for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier transmitted from the transceiver, altimeter means for deriving an altitude signal indicative of the distance of the transceiver from the center of the earth, and means for modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver with said altitude signal and the replicas of the tones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF ranging side tones modulated on a carrier transmitted thereto from the central station and inertial data originating thereat comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator responsive to the frequency and phase of the carrier transmitted to the station for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier transmitted from the transceiver, altimeter means for deriving an altitude signal indicative of the distance of the transceiver from the center of the earth, and means for modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver with said altitude signal and the replicas of the tones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The transceiver of claim 1 further including means for deriving signals indicative of the velocity of the transceiver relative to a point on earth, means for deriving a signal indicative of the Doppler shift frequency of the carrier received by the transceiver and means for coupling said signals indicative of velocity and Doppler shift frequency to said modulating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
The transceiver of claim 1 further including means for compensating for Doppler frequency shift imposed on the carrier transmitted to and from the transceiver, said Doppler compensating means comprising: an oscillator deriving a variable frequency in response to the frequency of the received carrier, means for coupling the oscillator variable frequency to transmitter means for the carrier transmitted from the transceiver, means for measuring the Doppler shift frequency of the carrier transmitted to the transceiver, said coupling means including means responsive to the measured shift frequency for maintaining the carrier transmitted from the transceiver within a finite range defined as a predetermined Doppler shift frequency regardless of the Doppler shift frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transceiver of claim 1 further including means for deriving signals indicative of the velocity of the transceiver relative to a point on earth and means for coupling said signals indicative of velocity to said modulating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF ranging side tones modulated on a carrier transmitted thereto from a central station and inertial data originating thereat comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator responsive to the frequency and phase of the carrier transmitted to the station for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier transmitted from the transceiver, means for deriving a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the transceiver, and means for modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver with said velocity signal and the replicas of the tones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF ranging side tones modulated on a carrier transmitted thereto from a central station and inertial data originating thereat comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator responsive to the frequency and phase of the carrier transmitted to the station for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier transmitted from the transceiver, means for deriving a velocity signal indicative of the velocity of the transceiver, and means for modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver with said velocity signal and the replicas of the tones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transceiver of claim 5 wherein said signal deriving means includes inertial means for deriving said velocity signal as being indicative of the velocity of the object relative to a point on earth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The transceiver of claim 6 wherein said signal deriving means further includes altitude responsive means for deriving another signal indicative of the distance of the object from the center of the earth, said another signal modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transceiver of claim 5 wherein said signal deriving means includes Doppler shift frequency measuring means for deriving said velocity signal as being indicative of the velocity of the object relative to a point in space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The transceiver of claim 5 wherein said signal deriving means further includes altitude respoNsive means for deriving another signal indicative of the distance of the object from the center of the earth, said another signal modulating said carrier transmitted from the transceiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The transceiver of claim 5 wherein said signal deriving means includes inertial and Doppler shift frequency measuring means for deriving said velocity signal as being indicative of the velocities of the object relative to a point on earth and a point in space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF side tones modulated on a carrier, f1, transmitted thereto comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the f1 carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator having its frequency and phase controlled in response to the frequency and phase of the f1 carrier transmitted to the station, means responsive to said oscillator for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier, f2, transmitted from the transceiver, where f1 is not equal to f2, said controlling means controlling the frequency and phase of the f2 carrier in response to the frequency and phase of f1 as demodulated in the loop, said means for controlling further including means for heterodyning a replica of the oscillator output with a replica of the tones, whereby the f2 carrier transmitted from the transceiver is modulated with replicas of the tones.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
A transceiver for relaying back to a central station RF side tones modulated on a carrier, f1, transmitted thereto comprising a phase locked loop for demodulating the f1 carrier and deriving replicas of the tones, said loop including an oscillator having its frequency and phase controlled in response to the frequency and phase of the f1 carrier transmitted to the station, means responsive to said oscillator for controlling the frequency and phase of a carrier, f2, transmitted from the transceiver, where f1 is not equal to f2, said controlling means controlling the frequency and phase of the f2 carrier in response to the frequency and phase of f1 as demodulated in the loop, said means for controlling further including means for heterodyning a replica of the oscillator output with a replica of the tones, whereby the f2 carrier transmitted from the transceiver is modulated with replicas of the tones.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The transceiver of claim 11 further including an independent signal source, and means for mixing a replica of the oscillator output with the independent signal source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transceiver of claim 11 wherein said means for controlling further includes means for mixing the output of the heterodyning means with a replica of the oscillator output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |