Patent ID: 6792058
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A Mode-S digital receiving system for receiving and processing Mode-S signals in an aircraft operating in a dense environment of aircraft comprising:a. a spatial array of Mode-S antenna elements mounted on the aircraft; b. a signal processing receiver for producing and processing a separate signal for each separate antenna element; c. at least one analog to digital (A/D) converter for converting the signals for the separate antenna elements to corresponding digital signals; d. a multiplexer for sequentially and periodically coupling at least one signal or digital signal from the separate antenna elements; e. a squitter filter for determining the presence of a squitter preamble in a Mode-S signal received by the receiving system; f. a digital signal processing unit, responsive to the determined presence of the Mode-S signal, for processing and adjusting complex weights of the digital signals for the separate antenna element to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the received Mode-S signal; g. a Mode-S receiver, coupled to the output of the digital signal processing unit, for processing and identifying technical data conveyed by the Mode-S signal.