Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Beacon or receiver
Patent
1996-06-02
1997-08-12
Blum, Theodore M.
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Beacon or receiver
342442, 342446, G01S 504
Patent
active
056570279
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and a processing method that determine accurate angle of arrival data indicative of the direction to an emitter. An accurate angle of to the emitter using four antennas and receiver channels (processor). The present invention provides for an ambiguity function that is an implementation of a four-channel two-dimensional interferometer array. The interferometer array and method provide for a reference antenna and second, third and fourth antennas disposed in a predetermined plane with the reference antenna and offset from the reference antenna at locations such that no two antennas lie along a straight line that includes the reference antenna. Receivers are coupled to the antennas for detecting RF energy derived therefrom. Phase comparators make three phase difference measurements (.phi..sub.1, .phi..sub.2 and .phi..sub.3). A processor performs ambiguity elimination and angle determination computations to determine azimuth and elevation angle of arrival data indicative of the direction of arrival of energy derived from the emitter. The processing method is implemented in the processor and computes an ambiguity factor relating the spatial locations of the antenna, looks up the ambiguity factor value in a precomputed ambiguity table and find the associated factors N.sub.2 and N.sub.3, which correspond to a respective number of integer cycles of RF energy that can occur from the time a plane wavefront hits one of the antennas until this wavefront hits the reference antenna, computes two unambiguous phase values, and computes azimuth and elevation angles to the emitter.
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patent: 5084709 (1992-01-01), Baghdady
patent: 5089824 (1992-02-01), Uematsu et al.
patent: 5493308 (1996-02-01), Bingham et al.
patent: 5568154 (1996-10-01), Cohen
patent: 5572220 (1996-11-01), Cai
Blum Theodore M.
Hughes Electronics
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