초록 ▼

By adding an indicator control panel to the cockpit and a small receiver-decoder unit between the transponder and the antenna of aircraft having a conventional air traffic control radar beacon system transponder, mid-air collision avoidance capability is obtained. The BACAS (Beacon Add-on Subsystem

By adding an indicator control panel to the cockpit and a small receiver-decoder unit between the transponder and the antenna of aircraft having a conventional air traffic control radar beacon system transponder, mid-air collision avoidance capability is obtained. The BACAS (Beacon Add-on Subsystem for Collision Avoidance System) receiver-decoder unit in an aircraft interrogates the associated ATC (Air Traffic Control) transponder to obtain and store the ATCRBS Mode C reply altitude information. The 1090 MHz transponder Mode C reply is given 5 MHz on-off amplitude modulation by the receiver-decoder unit and is radiated into space through the ATC antenna. Identical BASCAS hardware in aircraft within range sense the specially-modulated (5 MHz), Mode C reply and immediately act to trigger their respective ATC transponders into emitting Mode C replies with essentially the same special modulation characteristics except for a different modulation frequency (10 MHz). The replies emitted by other aircraft are sensed by the BASCAS receiver in the initial aircraft, and the Mode C altitude information from each aircraft is compared to the initially stored Mode C data. Any aircraft within a relatively small radius having an altitude separation of 500 feet or less will cause a BASCAS unit to alert the pilot. The BASCAS unit will also illuminate a “CLIMB”or “DIVE”light when the relative altitude orientation can be determined from the altitude data comparison.

대표청구항 ▼

In an air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS), having an air traffic control (ATC) transponder with ATCRBS mode C altitude information signal reply, cooperating with an antenna, the improvement, a beacon add-on subsystem for collision avoidance system (BASCAS), for providing collision avoid

In an air traffic control radar beacon system (ATCRBS), having an air traffic control (ATC) transponder with ATCRBS mode C altitude information signal reply, cooperating with an antenna, the improvement, a beacon add-on subsystem for collision avoidance system (BASCAS), for providing collision avoidance indication, said improvement comprising: a. means cooperating with the said ATC transponder and the said antenna for storing said mode C altitude information, b. means for radiating said mode C altitude information with an added determined first modulation frequency; c. means cooperating with the said antenna for receiving a mode C altitude information signal having an added determined first modulation frequency and receiving a mode C altitude information signal reply having an added determined second modulation frequency; d. means for comparing the said stored altitude information with the received altitude information from said signal reply having said second modulation frequency and providing an indication responsive to the said comparison; and e. said means for radiating cooperating with the said antenna, said ATC transponder, and said means for receiving mode C altitude information signals having the said added determined first modulation frequency to radiate mode C altitude information signals having the said determined second modulation frequency.