Patent ID: 9239381
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: G01S

Claim Text:
1. A radioaltimeter having a signal generator-receiver and signal transceiver means connected to the signal generator-receiver, the signal transceiver means having a transceiver main member for sending a signal towards ground (S) overflown by an aircraft in order to determine a height (H) between the transceiver main member and the ground (S), the radioaltimeter further including switch means together with a control unit, the signal transceiver means including a plurality of transceiver secondary members for detecting obstacles other than the ground (S), the transceiver main member and each of the plurality of transceiver secondary members being connected to the switch means, the radioaltimeter further including at least one position-determination member configured to determine the position of the aircraft, the control unit being connected to the switch means to alternately put the transceiver main member and the transceiver secondary members in direct connection with the signal generator-receiver one transceiver member at a time at least one time each in a cycle with a frequency at which the transceiver secondary members are put in direct connection with the signal generator-receiver during the cycle being dependent on a position of the aircraft, provided by the at least one position-determination member, while no obstacle other than the ground is detected by any of the transceiver secondary members, such that depending on the position of the aircraft at least one of the transceiver secondary members is put in direct connection with the signal generator-receiver at a greater frequency during the cycle than at least one other of the transceiver secondary members, and to modify the cycle when an obstacle other than the ground is detected.