초록 ▼

Embodiments described herein are directed towards a radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft. The radar altimeter includes a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having an inner portion and a flange disposed around the inner portion, wherein the inner portion

Embodiments described herein are directed towards a radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft. The radar altimeter includes a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having an inner portion and a flange disposed around the inner portion, wherein the inner portion has a generally rectangular geometry defining a long dimension and a short dimension. A chassis is mounted to the base and has a planar portion that is disposed perpendicular to a plane formed by the base. A plurality of circuit boards are mounted to the planar portion of the chassis and disposed parallel to the planar portion of the chassis. The base is configured to mount over a second aperture in the external surface of the aircraft such that the chassis and the plurality of circuit boards are placed through the aperture and are disposed inside of the aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft, the radar altimeter comprising: a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having an inner portion defining a first aperture and a flange disposed around the inner portion, wherein the inner portion has a generally r

1. A radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft, the radar altimeter comprising: a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having an inner portion defining a first aperture and a flange disposed around the inner portion, wherein the inner portion has a generally rectangular geometry defining a long dimension and a short dimension;a chassis mounted to the base and having a planar portion that is disposed perpendicular to a plane formed by the base and extends parallel to the long dimension of the generally rectangular geometry;a plurality of circuit boards mounted to the planar portion of the chassis and disposed parallel to the planar portion of the chassis; andan antenna module disposed proximate a first aperture formed in the base, the antenna module coupled to at least one of the plurality of circuit boards;wherein the base is configured to mount over a second aperture in the external surface of the aircraft such that the chassis and the plurality of circuit boards are placed through the aperture and are disposed inside of the aircraft. 2. The radar altimeter of claim 1, wherein the inner portion is configured to fit inside the second aperture in the external surface of the aircraft, the inner portion defining the first aperture for the antenna module and configured to have the chassis mounted thereto, and wherein the base includes a flange forming a perimeter around the inner portion, the flange configured to be attached to the external surface of the aircraft. 3. The radar altimeter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of circuit boards include: an RF circuit board mounted to a first side of the planar portion of the chassis, the RF circuit board including a transceiver front end; anda digital circuit board mounted to a second side of the planar portion of the chassis, the second side reverse of the first side, the digital circuit board including at least one processing device;wherein the chassis is composed of a metal and configured to isolate radio frequency signals between the first and second sides. 4. The radar altimeter of claim 3, wherein the plurality of circuit boards include a power supply board configured to condition power for the digital circuit board and the RF circuit board; and wherein the radar altimeter includes an isolation board disposed between the power supply board and the digital circuit board, the isolation board configured to isolate radio frequency signals between the digital circuit board and the power supply board. 5. The radar altimeter of claim 4, comprising: a first isolation cover disposed to cover a side of the RF circuit board that is reverse of the chassis; anda second isolation cover disposed to cover a side of the power supply board that is reverse of the isolation board. 6. The radar altimeter of claim 1, comprising: a lightning protection circuit board oriented parallel to the base and disposed outward from a first edge of the planar portion of the chassis, the first edge opposite the base. 7. The radar altimeter of claim 6, wherein the lightning protection circuit board includes a connector for connecting to a communication cable. 8. The radar altimeter of claim 7, comprising: an environmental housing disposed over and around the chassis, the plurality of circuit boards, and the lightning protection circuit board, the environmental housing defining a third aperture wherein the connector extends through the third aperture. 9. The radar altimeter of claim 1, wherein the antenna module is configured to transmit and receive signals through the first aperture. 10. A method of constructing a radar altimeter, the method comprising: providing a chassis composed primarily of a planar portion;attaching a plurality of circuit boards to the planar portion of the chassis, wherein the plurality of circuit boards are oriented in parallel with the planar portion of the chassis;providing a base configured to mount to an external surface of an aircraft, the base having inner portion that has a generally rectangular geometry defining a short dimension and a long dimension, wherein the short dimension of the generally rectangular geometry is less than 3 inches in length;attaching an antenna module to the base;attaching the chassis to the base such that the planar portion is perpendicular to the base;providing an environmental housing configured to surround the chassis and the plurality of circuit boards;inserting the chassis with the plurality of circuit boards attached thereto into the environmental housing; andattaching the environmental housing to the chassis. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inner portion defines a first aperture, the inner portion configured to fit inside a second aperture in an external surface of the aircraft, wherein the base includes a flange forming a perimeter around the inner portion, the flange configured to be attached to the external surface of the aircraft; and wherein attaching an antenna module to the base includes positioning a portion of the antenna module inside the first aperture; andwherein attaching a chassis to the base includes attaching the chassis to the inner portion of the base. 12. The method of claim 10, comprising: attaching a lightning protection circuit board to an internal surface of the environmental housing, wherein attaching the lightning protection circuit board includes inserting a connector on the lightning protection circuit board through a third aperture defined in the environmental housing. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching a plurality of circuit boards to the planar portion of the chassis includes: attaching an RF circuit board to a first side of the planar portion, the RF circuit board including a transceiver front end; andattaching a digital circuit board to a second side of the planar portion, the second side reverse of the first side, the digital circuit board including at least one processing device. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein attaching the digital circuit board to the chassis includes attaching a first isolation cover along with the digital circuit board to the chassis, wherein the first isolation cover is disposed to cover a side of the digital circuit board that is reverse of the planar portion of the chassis; attaching a power supply board to the chassis proximate a side of the first isolation cover that is reverse of the digital circuit board, wherein the power supply board is disposed parallel to the planar portion of the chassis; andwherein inserting the chassis with the plurality of circuit boards attached thereto into the environmental housing includes inserting the first isolation cover and the power supply board attached to chassis into the environmental housing. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: wherein attaching an RF circuit board to the chassis includes attaching a second isolation cover along with the RF circuit board to the chassis, wherein the second isolation cover is disposed to cover a side of the RF circuit board that is reverse of the chassis; andwherein attaching a power supply board to the chassis includes attaching a third isolation cover along with the power supply board to the chassis wherein the third isolation cover is disposed to cover a side of the power supply board that is reverse of first the isolation cover;wherein inserting the chassis with the plurality of circuit boards attached thereto into the environmental housing includes inserting the second isolation cover and the third isolation cover attached to the RF circuit board and the power supply board respectively, into the environmental housing. 16. A radar altimeter for mounting onto an aircraft, the radar altimeter comprising: a base including an inner portion defining a first aperture and a flange forming a perimeter around the inner portion, the inner portion having a generally rectangular geometry defining a short dimension and a long dimension, wherein the short dimension is less than 3 inches in length, wherein the inner portion is configured to fit inside a second aperture in an external surface of the aircraft and the flange is configured to attach to the external surface of the aircraft surrounding the second aperture;an antenna module disposed in the first aperture of the inner portion of the base;a chassis mounted to the inner portion of the base, the chassis having a planar portion that is disposed perpendicular to the base, the chassis composed of metal;an RF circuit board mounted to a first side of the planar portion of the chassis such that the RF circuit board is parallel to the planar portion of the chassis, the RF circuit board including a transceiver front end;a digital circuit board mounted to a second side of the planar portion of the chassis such that the digital circuit board is parallel to the planar portion of the chassis, the second side reverse of the first side, the digital circuit board including at least one processing device; andwherein the chassis and the plurality of circuit boards are configured to be inserted through the second aperture and disposed inside the aircraft when the base is mounted to the external surface of the aircraft. 17. The radar altimeter of claim 16, comprising: a power supply board mounted to the chassis such that the power supply board is parallel to the planar portion of the chassis and outward from the second side of the planar portion. 18. The radar altimeter of claim 17, comprising: a first isolation cover disposed between the digital circuit board and the power supply board and disposed to cover a side of the digital circuit board that is reverse of the planar portion;a second isolation cover disposed to cover a side of the RF circuit board that is reverse of the planar portion; anda third isolation cover disposed to cover a side of the power supply board that is reverse of the first isolation cover. 19. The radar altimeter of claim 16, comprising: an environmental housing disposed over and around the chassis, the RF circuit board, and the digital circuit board. 20. The radar altimeter of claim 19, comprising: a lightning protection circuit board oriented parallel to the base and disposed outward from an edge of the planar portion of the chassis that is opposite the base.