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Patent No. 5970395 Apparatus and method for detecting an interference radiation on board of an aircraft

 

Patent No. 5970395

Apparatus and method for detecting an interference radiation on board of an aircraft (Weiler, et al., Oct 19, 1999)

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting high frequency interference radiation signals, such as radio frequency emissions, on board a passenger aircraft includes at least two receiver units for receiving and measuring the interference radiation signal, and a monitoring unit for evaluating the signal measurement results. Each receiver unit respectively includes at least one antenna, the monitoring unit includes an interference computer, and a digital data signal transmission path connects the receiver units to the monitoring unit. The interference computer evaluates the data signals received from the receiver units to determine the location of an interference radiation source within the aircraft, and indicates corresponding location and warning information on a display unit connected to the interference computer.

Notes:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is the aim of the invention to provide an apparatus for detecting an interference radiation on board an aircraft, which avoids the above discussed problems and disadvantages arising in the prior art. More particularly, the invention provides an apparatus that aims to monitor the pertinent frequency bands for such interference radiation signals that may interfere with the proper function of the aircraft electronic systems, and aims to identify or locate the respective source of the interfering radiation signal based on the interference signals received by the apparatus. The apparatus further aims to achieve advantages evident from the following description.

The above objects have been achieved in an apparatus for detecting a high frequency radiation, such as RF emissions, on board an aircraft and particularly a passenger aircraft, comprising a monitoring unit, at least one receiver unit connected to the monitoring unit via a digital data transmission pathway, and at least one display unit connected to the monitoring unit. Each receiver unit respectively includes at least one antenna adapted to receive interference radiation signals, and the monitoring unit includes an interference computer adapted to evaluate the interference signal data received from the at least one receiver unit.

The apparatus preferably comprises a plurality of receiver units, so that the interference computer can determine the location of the source of the interference radiation relative to the several receiver units by comparing and relatively evaluating the data signals provided by the receiver units. Optionally, at least one receiver unit includes a direction finding antenna that is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis to allow further directional location of the source of the interference radiation. The interference computer evaluates the data signals received from the receiver units, and upon detecting an unacceptable interference radiation, the computer determines the location of the interference radiation source and correspondingly provides display information to the display unit.

The apparatus of the present invention provides the advantage that radiation sources generating interference radiation within a sensitive frequency band and having an unacceptably high signal level may be detected immediately upon their activation, regardless whether this takes place before, during or after the flight operation of the aircraft. The apparatus operates completely automatically to carry out its essential functions without imposing any additional duties on the flight crew personnel to operate the apparatus. Once the apparatus automatically provides display information indicating the presence and location of an interfering radiation source, the flight crew personnel are enabled to request a particular passenger to switch off a particular interfering device, without requiring flight crew personnel to search the entire passenger cabin in an effort to locate electronic devices that may be generating an interfering radiation.

According to further detailed aspects of the invention, each receiver unit may further include a frequency scanner, a bus transmitting unit and a bus receiver unit, while the monitoring unit may further include a level matrix, a scanning control unit, and a scanning input unit. The digital signal transmission data pathway connecting the respective receiver units to the monitoring unit may either be an electrical or optical digital data bus, or a wireless transmission pathway established by using signal transmitters and receivers, which may for example be radio or infrared transmitters and receivers. The electrical or optical data bus may be provided by a data bus already existing in the usual operating systems of the aircraft, or may be a particular hard-wired component of the present apparatus that is installed together with and particularly for the present apparatus.

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Although the invention has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims. It should further be understood that the present disclosure extends to all combinations of any of the various features recited in any of the appended claims.



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