Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Determining distance – Altimeter
Patent
1996-02-12
1998-02-17
Sotomayor, John B.
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Determining distance
Altimeter
342122, G01S 1326
Patent
active
057195811
ABSTRACT:
A relatively low-cost FMCW radio altimeter includes a voltage-controlled oscillator based upon a GaAs FET. The oscillator produces, for example, a 4.3 GHz microwave signal that is modulated with a triangular wave having a pin-selectable modulation frequency. The modulated signal is amplified by a buffer amplifier, as well as a power amplifier, and connected to an RF output terminal by way of a plurality of microstrips. Reflected signals are received at an RF input and are coupled to a mixer by way of a low-noise amplifier. The modulation signal is also applied to the mixer by way of a microstrip coupling device to produce an audio output signal whose frequency is proportional to the altitude above ground. The gains of all of the amplifiers are selected to eliminate the need for hand-tuning of the microstrips and to enable the use of a glass/epoxy circuit board. The output of the radio altimeter is an audio signal whose frequency is proportional to the height above ground, which enables direct digital conversion by way of a frequency-to-binary converter.
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patent: 5495252 (1996-02-01), Adler
Allied-Signal Inc.
Sotomayor John B.
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