Patent ID: 6577272
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
Passive moving signal source relative-locating apparatus comprising the combination of:a time difference of arrival interferometer algorithm airborne signal locating system disposed within signal reception range of said moving signal source; multi-channel signal reception port apparatus disposed in physically segregated locations attending an aircraft carrying said airborne signal locating system; said multi-channel signal reception apparatus including first signal reception port apparatus disposed on a first physical portion of said aircraft and connected with a receiver apparatus within said aircraft by a first signal delay-calibrated signal transmission path; said multi-path signal reception apparatus also including second signal reception port apparatus disposed proximate said aircraft and connected with said receiver apparatus within said aircraft by a second signal delay-calibrated signal transmission path; said multi-path signal reception apparatus also including third signal reception port apparatus disposed proximate said aircraft and connected with said receiver apparatus within said aircraft by a third signal delay-calibrated signal transmission path; said receiver apparatus within said aircraft including time difference of arrival measurement apparatus selectively connecting with said first, second and third signal reception port apparatus by said first path, second path and third path signal delay-calibrated signal transmission paths respectively; said time difference of arrival measurement apparatus including angular measurement computation apparatus determining from selected pairs of measured time difference of arrival signals first, second and third angular relationships respectively between said first, second and third signal reception ports of said moving aircraft carrying said airborne signal locating apparatus and said moving airborne signal source; said time difference of arrival measurement apparatus further including distance computation apparatus determining from selected pairs of said first, second and third angular relationships a straight line measurement between said moving aircraft carrying said airborne signal locating apparatus and said moving airborne signal source.