초록 ▼

The system and method of the present invention provides a record of the flight performance of an aircraft and the performance of the engine. A plurality of sensors sense engine conditions and generate engine data. A ground data link unit is positioned within the aircraft and receives the engine data

The system and method of the present invention provides a record of the flight performance of an aircraft and the performance of the engine. A plurality of sensors sense engine conditions and generate engine data. A ground data link unit is positioned within the aircraft and receives the engine data. At initial take-off, a spread spectrum transmitter downloads the engine data to an airport based spread spectrum receiver that receives the spread spectrum communication signal from the aircraft upon initial take-off and demodulates the spread spectrum communication signal to obtain the engine data after initial take-off. The ground data link unit can also include a data store that is operative to accumulate and store flight performance data during flight of the aircraft. The spread spectrum transceiver is coupled to the data store and can download the flight performance data after the aircraft has landed at its destination airport.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for providing a record of the flight performance of an aircraft and engine data comprising:a plurality of sensors positioned on the aircraft for sensing engine conditions and generating engine data relating to operation of the engine during at least initial take-

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for providing a record of the flight performance of an aircraft and engine data comprising:a plurality of sensors positioned on the aircraft for sensing engine conditions and generating engine data relating to operation of the engine during at least initial take-off;a ground data link unit positioned within the aircraft and operatively connected to said plurality of sensors for receiving said engine data, said ground data link unit comprising:a) an archival data store operative to accumulate and store flight performance data and engine data during at least initial take-off during flight of the aircraft, andb) a widespread spread spectrum transceiver coupled to said archival data store, and comprising a transmitter that is operative after the aircraft completes its flight and lands at an airport to download said flight performance data that has been accumulated and stored by said archival data store during flight over a wideband spread spectrum communication signal, wherein said spread spectrum transceiver also receives said engine data and is operative to download said engine data upon initial take-off over a wideband spread spectrum communication signal;an airport based spread spectrum receiver for receiving the wideband spread spectrum communication signal from the aircraft upon initial take-off and demodulating the wideband spread spectrum communication signal to obtain the engine data; anda ground based server connected to said airport based spread spectrum receiver for receiving said engine data and further processing said engine data.