Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for identifying at least three distance-measuring equipment ground stations substantially simultaneously and for decoding distance information from each of said stations, in rapid cyclical sequence, comprising: a. means for detecting first, second, and third pulsed signals from said ground stations, respectively, in sequence and in a cyclical manner, wherein said pulsed signals contain coded identifying information individual to each ground station and have a first timing characteristic, and distance information having a second timing characteristic substantially shorter than said first timing characteristic; and b. means for operating said means for detecting, and coupled thereto, at a cyclical frequency approximately an order of magnitude faster than said first timing characteristic, and for maintaining each cyclical period at least long enough to obtain valid distance information, on the order of said second timing characteristic, at least once for each of said stations in each cyclical period.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for identifying at least three distance-measuring equipment ground stations substantially simultaneously and for decoding distance information from each of said stations, in rapid cyclical sequence, comprising: a. means for detecting first, second, and third pulsed signals from said ground stations, respectively, in sequence and in a cyclical manner, wherein said pulsed signals contain coded identifying information individual to each ground station and have a first timing characteristic, and distance information having a second timing characteristic substantially shorter than said first timing characteristic; and b. means for operating said means for detecting, and coupled thereto, at a cyclical frequency approximately an order of magnitude faster than said first timing characteristic, and for maintaining each cyclical period at least long enough to obtain valid distance information, on the order of said second timing characteristic, at least once for each of said stations in each cyclical period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting further comprises a programmable variable frequency receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for operating further comprises a programmable stabilized master oscillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for operating further comprises means for individual automatic gain control for each of said stations in cooperation with said means for detecting and coupled thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for operating further comprises means for sampling, storing, and subsequently asserting a signal presence indication for each of said stations, one after the other, in cooperation with said means for detecting and coupled thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for decoding said identifying information, substantially simultaneously, in a coordinated manner in response to said means for operating, for each of said stations independent of the others.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means for calculating said distance information, in a coordinated periodic manner in response to said means for operating, for each of said stations, independently of the others.