US5955987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hybrid radio frequency system with distributed anti-jam capabilities for navigation use
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1997-01-28
•
Granted: 1999-09-21
•
Expires: 2017-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A radio frequency navigation receiver has analog and digital sections. In the analog section, a CRPA antenna module receives global navigation signals and provides two steerable nulls for jammer suppression. An analog RF module has an amplifier and a YIG filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal with jammer suppression. An analog receiver receives and downconverts an RF output signal from the RF system with additional jammer suppression. The analog receiver provides broadband signal filtering with at least 30 dB rejection and narrow band signal filtering with at least 45 dB rejection. In the digital section, a digital receiver module receives and converts an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control. A configuration manager processor responds to detected jammer signals to configure the receiver modules accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Murphy
- 👤 Robert S. Littlepage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/35; G01S19/36; G01S19/21; G01S19/215; G01S19/37; H; H04; H04K; H04K3/00; H04K3/20; H04K3/22; H04K3/224; H04K3/228; H04K3/80; H04K3/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and a filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; the analog receiver having means for filtering by adaptive cancellation with continuous look-through operation to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; and a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and a filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; the analog receiver having means for filtering by adaptive cancellation with continuous look-through operation to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; and a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 1 wherein the filtering means further operates by adaptive cancellation to filter narrow band signals with at least 45 dB rejection to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 1 wherein the adaptive cancellation filtering means further operates to filter broadband signals with at least 30 dB rejection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 2 wherein the adaptive cancellation filtering means further operates to filter broadband signals with at least 30 dB rejection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 1 wherein at least one of the digital receiver, the antenna system, and the RF system has means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide a second jammer suppression capability, or the second and additional jammer suppression capabilities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 5 wherein the RF system has suppressing means including at least one of a receiver protector and an adaptive RF filter operating to reject narrow-band jammer signals and thereby provide the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 5 wherein the digital system includes a wide range analog/digital converter system having at least an n×2 bit converter where n is a function of the structure of an antenna in the antenna system 10, thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 5 wherein the digital system includes at least a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with at least 1×10 - 11 stability thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 5 wherein the antenna system is an adaptive array antenna system which has means for nulling each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 6 wherein the adaptive RF filter is a molecular level RF filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 6 wherein the digital system includes a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 -11 or better stability thereby providing a third jammer suppression capability.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 11 wherein the antenna system includes means for nulling each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide a fourth jammer suppression capability.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 11 wherein the digital system includes a wide range analog/digital converter system having an n×2 bit converter where n is a function of the structure of an antenna in the antenna system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 1 wherein the filtering means of the analog receiver includes a first adaptive continuous look-through filter for rejecting broadband spread spectrum jammer signals and a second adaptive continuous look-through filter for rejecting narrow band jammer signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 12 wherein means are provided for detecting jammer signals in the analog receiver output signal; and a configuration managing processor is coupled to the antenna and RF systems and the analog receiver to control jammer suppression in response to the detecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A navigation control system for a navigable platform, the control system including the RF navigation receiver of claim 1 and further comprising a navigation computer for computing navigation signals in response to the digital output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A navigation control system for a navigable platform, the control system including the RF navigation receiver of claim 12 and further comprising a navigation computer for computing navigation signals in response to the digital output signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and a filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; at least one of the analog receiver and the analog RF system having means for signal filtering to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; at least one of the digital receiver and the antenna system having means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide a second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
132 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and a filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; at least one of the analog receiver and the analog RF system having means for signal filtering to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; at least one of the digital receiver and the antenna system having means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide a second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 18 wherein the RF system has at least one of a receiver protector and an adaptive broadband RF filter operating to reject narrow-band jammer signals and thereby provide the first jammer suppression capability.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 18 wherein the digital system has at least a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 - 11 or better stability thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 20 wherein the oscillator is a cesium atomic clock.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 18 wherein the digital system includes an analog/digital converter system having at least an n×2 bit converter, where n is a number of antenna patches provided for the antenna system, thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The RF navigation system of claim 19 wherein the antenna system has means for nulling each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide a third jammer suppression capability.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The RF navigation system of claim 23 wherein the digital system includes a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 - 11 or better stability thereby providing a fourth jammer suppression capability.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The RF navigator system of claim 19 wherein the RF system has an adaptive YIG RF filter operating at a molecular level to reject narrow-band jammer signals continuous look-through filter for rejecting broadband spread spectrum jammer signals and a second adaptive continuous look-through filter for rejecting narrow band jammer signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
134 words
A modular, hybrid radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver in which jammer suppression is modularly distributed, the receiver comprising: an analog section having an antenna module, an RF module, and an analog receiver module; a digital section having a digital receiver module including a configuration managing processor; at least one of the analog receiver module and the RF module having means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide at least a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; the digital receiver receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; means for detecting jammer signals in the analog receiver output signal; and the configuration managing processor responding to the detecting means to control jammer suppression operation of at least the analog receiver module or the RF module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
134 words
A modular, hybrid radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver in which jammer suppression is modularly distributed, the receiver comprising: an analog section having an antenna module, an RF module, and an analog receiver module; a digital section having a digital receiver module including a configuration managing processor; at least one of the analog receiver module and the RF module having means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide at least a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; the digital receiver receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; means for detecting jammer signals in the analog receiver output signal; and the configuration managing processor responding to the detecting means to control jammer suppression operation of at least the analog receiver module or the RF module.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 26 wherein the digital module has at least a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 - 11 or better stability thereby providing a second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 26 wherein at least one of the digital receiver and the antenna system has second means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide an additional jammer suppression capability; and the configuration managing processor is coupled to the RF module, if the RF module has a jammer suppression capability, and to the antenna module, if the antenna module has a jammer suppression capability, to control selectively RF and antenna jammer suppression operation in response to the detecting means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A navigation control system for a navigable platform, the control system including the RF navigation receiver of claim 26 and further comprising a navigation computer for computing navigation signals in response to the digital output signal.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal, which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals thereby generating an RF output signal; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, the RF output signal to generate an analog receiver output signal; filtering, by adaptive cancellation, with continuous look-through operation broadband signals from the RF output signal to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; and receiving and converting the analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal, which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals thereby generating an RF output signal; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, the RF output signal to generate an analog receiver output signal; filtering, by adaptive cancellation, with continuous look-through operation broadband signals from the RF output signal to provide a first capability for suppressing received jammer signals; and receiving and converting the analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the steps further operate to filtering broadband signals from the RF output signal with at least 30 dB rejection and narrow band signals with at least 45 dB rejection.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the steps further include suppressing received jammer signals in at least one of the receiving, amplifying and filtering, and receiving and downconverting steps to provide a second jammer suppression capability, or the second and additional jammer suppression capabilities.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the steps further include at least one of protecting the RF receiver from high energy microwaves and operating a molecular level RF filter to provide the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the receiving and converting steps include operating a phase stable oscillator to generate a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 -12 or better stability thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the navigation signal receiving step includes operating an adaptive array antenna system to null each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the receiving and converting step includes responding to detected jammer signals to configure each of the receiving, amplifying and filtering, and receiving and downconverting steps which provide a jammer suppression capability.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and adaptively filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals thereby generating an RF output signal and providing a first capability for suppressing receiver jammer signals; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, the RF output signal to generate an analog receiver output signal; receiving and converting the analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; and operating at least one of the digital receiver, the antenna system, and the RF system to provide at least a second capability for suppressing received jammer signals, or the second and additional jammer suppression capabilities.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and adaptively filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals thereby generating an RF output signal and providing a first capability for suppressing receiver jammer signals; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, the RF output signal to generate an analog receiver output signal; receiving and converting the analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control; and operating at least one of the digital receiver, the antenna system, and the RF system to provide at least a second capability for suppressing received jammer signals, or the second and additional jammer suppression capabilities.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the steps further include adaptively filtering the RF output signal with broadband signal filtering to reject broadband spread spectrum jammer signals.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the receiving and converting step further includes using at least an n×2 converter to convert the analog receiver output signal to digital form, wherein n is a number of antenna patches provided for the antenna system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the receiving and converting step further includes generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 -11 or better stability.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the amplifying and filtering step includes operating an adaptive YIG filter to reject narrow band jammer signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the receiving and converting step further includes using at least an n×2 converter to convert the analog receiver output signal to digital form, wherein n is a number of antenna patches provided for the antenna system, wherein the steps further include adaptively filtering the RF output signal with broadband signal filtering to reject broadband spread spectrum jammer signals, and wherein the navigation signal receiving step includes operating an adaptive array antenna system to null each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the receiving and converting step includes responding to detected jammer signals to configure each of the receiving, amplifying and filtering, and receiving and downconverting steps which provide a jammer suppression capability.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
95 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and an adaptive filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal, which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals, and for rejecting narrow-band jammer signals to provide a first jammer suppression capability; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; and a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
95 words
A radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver comprising: an antenna system for receiving global navigation signals; an analog RF system having an amplifier and an adaptive filter for amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal, which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals, and for rejecting narrow-band jammer signals to provide a first jammer suppression capability; an analog receiver for receiving and downconverting an RF output signal from the RF system; and a digital receiver system for receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
35 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 44 wherein at least one of the analog and digital receivers and the antenna system has means for suppressing received jammer signals to provide an additional jammer suppression capability.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 44 wherein the adaptive filter is a YIG molecular level RF filter which provides a second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
43 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 45 wherein the analog receiver has at least one continuous look-through filter for filtering broadband signals and a second, continuous look-through filter for filtering narrow band signals to provide the second capability for suppressing received jammer signals.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
58 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 47 wherein the first and second look-through filters are provided, and wherein the digital system includes a wide range analog/digital converter system having at least an n×2 bit converter where n is a function of the structure of an antenna in the antenna system 10, thereby providing a third jammer suppression capability.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 48 wherein the digital system includes at least a phase stable oscillator generating a timing output for navigation computations with at least 1×10 -11 stability.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
30 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 49 wherein the antenna system is an adaptive array antenna system which has means for nulling each of at least two detected jammer signals.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
48 words
The RF navigation receiver of claim 50 wherein means are provided for detecting jammer signals in the analog receiver output signal; and a configuration managing processor is coupled to the antenna and RF systems and the analog receiver to control jammer suppression in response to the detecting means.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; the amplifying and filtering step including operating an adaptive molecular level filter to reject narrow band jammer signals; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, an RF output signal; and receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) navigation receiver, the steps of the method comprising: receiving global navigation signals through an antenna system; amplifying and filtering an antenna output signal which includes the navigation signals and any received jammer signals; the amplifying and filtering step including operating an adaptive molecular level filter to reject narrow band jammer signals; receiving and downconverting, with analog circuitry, an RF output signal; and receiving and converting an analog receiver output signal to generate a digital output signal for navigation control.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the steps further include suppressing received jammer signals in at least one of the receiving step, the receiving and downconverting step, and the receiving and converting step to provide a second jammer suppression capability, or the second and additional jammer suppression capabilities.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 53 wherein the receiving and downconverting step includes operating broadband and narrow band look-through filters to filter the RF output signal thereby providing the second jammer suppression capability.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 54 wherein the receiving and converting step further includes using at least an n×2 converter to convert the analog receiver output signal to digital form, wherein n is a number of antenna patches provided for the antenna system and wherein the receiving and converting step further includes generating a timing output for navigation computations with 1×10 -11 or better stability.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 55 wherein the navigation signal receiving step includes operating an adaptive array antenna system to null each of at least two detected jammer signals to provide the second jammer suppression capability.
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) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |