Systems and methods for the selection of antennas in aircraft navigation systems

摘要

Systems and methods for the selection of antennas in aircraft navigation systems are provided. In one embodiment, a navigation receiver system for an aircraft comprises: a first aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from fixed-location ground transmitters and a second aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from the fixed-location ground transmitters, wherein the first aircraft antenna has a first gain pattern that is different from a second gain pattern of the second aircraft antenna; a switch coupled to a first receiver and the first and second aircraft antenna; and a switch controller coupled to the switch. The switch controller operates the switch to electrically couple the first receiver to either the first or second aircraft antenna based on a determination of whether the first gain pattern or the second gain pattern provides higher gain in a direction of a first fixed-location ground transmitter of the fixed-location ground transmitters.

主权项

1. A navigation receiver system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
a first aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from fixed-location ground transmitters and a second aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from the fixed-location ground transmitters, wherein the first aircraft antenna has a first gain pattern that is simultaneously different from a second gain pattern of the second aircraft antenna, wherein the first aircraft antenna and the second aircraft antenna are physically distinct; a switch coupled to a first receiver and coupled to the first aircraft antenna and the second aircraft antenna; and a switch controller coupled to the switch, wherein the switch controller operates the switch to electrically couple the first receiver to either the first aircraft antenna or the second aircraft antenna based on a determination of whether the first gain pattern or the second gain pattern provides higher gain in a direction of a first fixed-location ground transmitter of the fixed-location ground transmitters, wherein the determination of whether the first gain pattern or the second gain pattern provides higher gain in the direction of the first fixed-location ground transmitter is made based on an orientation of the aircraft relative to the first fixed-location ground transmitter as determined at least in part from position information for the aircraft and attitude information for the aircraft, and wherein the determination includes a calculation of a vector between the aircraft and the first fixed-location ground transmitter, and a rotation of the vector into a frame of reference in which the first and second gain patterns are mapped.