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.
Comments