Patent US3671967A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3671967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple antenna instrument landing system
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1970-05-11
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-05-11
Abstract
Abstract An instrument landing system (ILS) having distributed localizer receiving antennas and localizer signal information processing to provide a composite guidance signal having reduced localizer beam noise for reduced lateral touchdown dispersion in automatic landing systems. A plurality of conventional localizer antennas are positioned at several laterally displaced points across the approach path along the wings of an aircraft and the corresponding plurality of received localizer beam deviation signals received by each of these antennas is individually processed by a localizer receiver system with the audio course deviation signals developed from the several antennas being averaged to provide the composite guidance signal for use in autopilot or crosspointer indicator.
Inventors
- 👤 James R Fries
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for instrument landing system of aircraft comprising first antenna means, second antenna means and third antenna means disposed in predetermined spaced apart relationship on said aircraft, receiver means for receiving guidance information signals, means for coupling said receiver means to said first, second and third antenna means, said receiver means including audio detection means, utilization means, and means coupled between said audio detection means and said utilization means for averaging the signals sensed by said first, second, and third antenna means and detected by said audio detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for instrument landing system of aircraft comprising first antenna means, second antenna means and third antenna means disposed in predetermined spaced apart relationship on said aircraft, receiver means for receiving guidance information signals, means for coupling said receiver means to said first, second and third antenna means, said receiver means including audio detection means, utilization means, and means coupled between said audio detection means and said utilization means for averaging the signals sensed by said first, second, and third antenna means and detected by said audio detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said receiver means to said first, second, and third antenna means comprises multiplex switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said multiplex switching means comprises multiplex switch drive circuitry coupled to a multiplex switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising fourth antenna means and fifth antenna means disposed in predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to said first, second, and third antenna means, said fourth and fifth antenna means also coupled to said receiver means by said multiplex switching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said predetermined spaced apart relationship equals about 30 feet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the dwell time of said multiplex switching means on each of said antenna means equals about 36 microseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said multiplex switch drive circuitry comprises binary clock means, modulo five counter means and binary to decimal decoder means, said binary clock means coupled to said modulo five counter means for transmitting timing pulses to said modulo five counter, said modulo five counter means coupled to said binary decimal decoder for providing gating pulses to said multiplex switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises first, second, and third receivers, said means for coupling said receiver means to said first, second, and third antennas comprising first coaxial transmission line means coupled between said first antenna means and said first receiver, second coaxial transmission line means coupled between said second antenna means and said second receiver, aNd third coaxial transmission line means coupled between said third antenna means and said third receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means coupled between said audio detection means and said utilization means for averaging the signals by said first, second, and third antenna means comprises means coupled between the outputs of said first, second, and third receivers and said utilization means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for averaging said signals comprises operational amplifier means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further including weighting means coupled between said audio detection means and said means for averaging said signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Method of deriving lateral guidance signal information for lateral control of an aircraft during touchdown comprising the steps of: sensing course deviation signals at multiple points across the approach path of said aircraft, and averaging said course deviation signals to provide said lateral guidance signal information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Method of deriving lateral guidance signal information for lateral control of an aircraft during touchdown comprising the steps of: sensing course deviation signals at multiple points across the approach path of said aircraft, and averaging said course deviation signals to provide said lateral guidance signal information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein said course deviation signals are sequentially sensed at multiple points across the approach path of said aircraft.
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) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |