Abstract:
An antenna system is disclosed. The antenna systems includes a base, a beam carried by the base, a global positioning system antenna carried near a first end of the beam, and a monopole antenna carried near a second end of the beam.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/100,795, filed Jan. 7, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to avionics, and more specifically to Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    ADS-B is an aircraft surveillance and traffic management technology and system for enhancing situational awareness, in which location messages are sent periodically by aircraft without the need for interrogation from a ground station. The system is dependent on aircraft being equipped with high integrity position sources, such as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. ADS-B provides real-time surveillance services to both Air Traffic Control stations and to appropriately equipped aircraft. 
         [0004]    ADS-B makes use of two operating frequencies—978 MHz and 1090 Mhz: Aircraft may transmit position information (referred to as ADS-B OUT) at 1090 MHz using an Extended Squitter equipped transponder or, if limited to operating below flight level 180 (approximately 18,000 feet), at 978 MHz using Universal Access Transceiver (UAT). ADS-B OUT information may be directly received by other similarly-equipped aircraft and by ground stations within line-of-sight. 
         [0005]    Aircraft may receive position information of other aircraft and about obstacles, as well as weather and other information (referred to as ADS-B IN). ADS-B equipped 1090 MHz aircraft may directly receive both position information from other ADS-B equipped 1090 MHz aircraft and Traffic Information Services Broadcasts (TIS-B) from ground stations. Similarly, ADS-B equipped 978 MHz aircraft may directly receive both position information from other ADS-B equipped 978 MHz aircraft and TIS-B from ground stations. TIS-B provides traffic and obstacle information within a cylindrical volume of airspace about the aircraft. TIS-B data includes self-reported position data from both 1090 MHz and 978 MHz ADS-B OUT equipped aircraft and basic position data from non-ADS-B OUT equipped aircraft within radar range of the ground station. Moreover, ADS-B equipped 978 MHz aircraft may receive Flight information Services Broadcasts (FIS-B) which includes subscription-free graphical and textual weather data. Due to congestion of the 1090 MHz frequency, FIS-B is only provided at 978 MHz. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Embodiments are described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the upper left side of a quick mount detachable antenna and mount system according to an embodiment, showing a quick-mount base for removable attachment to a ground support vehicle or the like, a beam carried by the quick-mount base, and a global positioning system receiver antenna and a 1090 MHz transponder antenna carried by the beam; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the right side of the quick mount detachable antenna and mount system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the right side of the quick mount detachable antenna and mount system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the of the left side of a quick mount detachable antenna and mount system according to an embodiment, showing a base in cradle system; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the left side of the quick mount detachable antenna and mount system of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the apparatus in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. 
         [0013]    Large airports, particularly class B airports, are complex systems in which many ground support vehicles must operate. A ground-based ADS-B transmitter or transceiver may be provided on service vehicles that operate in aircraft movement area of airports to help eliminate runway incursions and taxiway interference of ground support vehicles with aircraft. Because of capital costs, it may be desirable to provide a fleet of vehicles with a fewer number of portable ground ADS-B systems, which may be transferred between vehicles as appropriate. The present disclosure describes a quick mount detachable antenna and mount system for use with portable ADS-B systems for ground support vehicles. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a quick mount detachable antenna and mount system  100  according to one or more embodiments. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , quick mount detachable antenna and mount system  100  may include a base  110  for mounting atop a vehicle (not illustrated), for example. Base  110  may have a rounded forward end  112  to minimize aerodynamic drag. Base  110  may be manufactured using a variety of materials and processes. For example, base  110  may be a molded polymer, stamped aluminum, or the like. However, any suitable material and/or manufacturing technique may be used. 
         [0015]    The top  118  of base  110  may include a mounting plate  120  arranged for carrying a beam  130 . In an embodiment, mounting plate  120  may be made of steel or other ferromagnetic material. Mounting plate  120  may be affixed to base  110  with fasteners  119 . Beam  130  may be mounted atop mounting plate  120  so as to be longitudinally aligned with the forward  112  and rear ends of base  110  to minimize aerodynamic drag and yaw forces as the vehicle (not illustrated) is moving. Beam  130  may be mounted to plate  120  using fasteners  131 , for example. In an embodiment, beam  130  may be a U-shaped channel, although other profiles may be used as appropriate. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, beam  130  carries a GPS receiver antenna  150  and a 978 MHz or 1090 MHz (L-band) ¼ wavelength monopole ADS-B antenna  170 . Beam  130  may have a longitudinal length to provide a distance sufficient to minimize electromagnetic coupling of antennas  150  and  170 . GPS receiver antenna  150  may be mounted to a bracket  152  with fasteners  153 , which in turn may be mounted to beam  130  via fasteners  133 . Bracket  152  may be made of a ferromagnetic material such as steel, which may be electrically coupled to beam  130 , so as to provide an adequate ground plane for operation of GPS antenna  150 . ADS-B antenna  170  may be directly mounted within an aperture  172  formed through beam  130  using fastener  171 . 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the bottom  114  of base  110  may include one or more magnets  116 . Magnets  116  may be used to removably attach base  110  to an upper ferromagnetic surface of a vehicle (not illustrated). In other embodiments, the bottom  114  of base  110  may include suction cups (not illustrated), for attachment to the vehicle, or base may be mounted using a tie-down strap (not illustrated) or other temporary or more permanent fasteners, for example. Antennas  150 ,  170  may be connected to ADS-B transceiver equipment located within the vehicle by coaxial cables (not illustrated). In yet another embodiment, an ADS-B transceiver (not illustrated) may be included in base  110 , which may be controlled from within the vehicle by a Bluetooth radio link or the like. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a quick mount detachable antenna and mount system  200  according to one or more embodiments. System  200  may include quick mount detachable antenna and mount system  100  as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-3  and a cradle  210  which removably receives base  110  Like base  110 , cradle  210  may have a rounded forward end  212  to minimize aerodynamic drag. Cradle  210  may be manufactured using a variety of materials and processes. For example, cradle  210  may be a molded polymer, stamped aluminum, or the like. However, any suitable material and/or manufacturing technique may be used. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the bottom  214  of cradle  210  may include one or more magnets (not illustrated), which may be used to removably attach cradle  210  to an upper ferromagnetic surface of a vehicle (not illustrated). In other embodiments, the bottom  214  of cradle  210  may include suction cups (not illustrated), for attachment to the vehicle, or base  110  may be mounted using a tie-down strap (not illustrated) or other temporary or more permanent fasteners, for example. In yet another embodiment, an ADS-B transceiver (not illustrated) may be included in cradle  210 , which may be connected to antennas  150 ,  170  via coaxial cables (not illustrated) and controlled from within the vehicle by a Bluetooth radio link or the like. 
         [0020]    Cradle  210  may include a recess  216  into which base  110  may be received, such as by sliding. A spring loaded detent  214  may be provided in cradle  210  to removable secure base  110  within recess  216 . Detent  214  may be depressed to allow base  110  to be slid in or out of recess  216 , as indicated by arrow  220 . 
         [0021]    Various embodiments may include methods of use for base  110  and cradle  210 . In one exemplary embodiment, a human operator, such as a driver of a vehicle or a vehicle fleet crewmember may determine that it is appropriate to mount a quick mount antenna system, such as system  100  or  200 , to a vehicle. The vehicle may include any of a variety of vehicles, such as a truck, a car, or specialized airport equipment, e.g., a towing vehicle, a luggage retrieving vehicle, fueling vehicle, deicing vehicle, fire truck, or a snowplow. The scope of embodiments is not limited to any particular ground-moving vehicle. In fact, systems  100 ,  200  may be used as appropriate on any vehicle where ADS-B or other radio communications are desired. 
         [0022]    The human operator may determine that it is appropriate to mount system  100 ,  200  to a vehicle by, for example determining that the vehicle will be moving about in an area in which radio communications are required or desirable. For instance, in a fleet of vehicles, some may be parked or garaged for an extended period of time and, therefore, do not require the use of ADS-B. Other vehicles may be used in the vicinity of a terminal but simply do not operate in taxiways or cross runways, and accordingly may not require the use of ADS-B. However, out of a fleet of vehicles, one or more particular vehicles may be subject to a requirement for ADS-B. Accordingly, the human user may determine that such vehicles should have mounted antenna systems, such as antenna system  100  or  200 . 
         [0023]    The human operator may then mount antenna system  100  to the top of the vehicle (such as the roof of a cab of the vehicle) such that the longitudinal dimension of beam  130  may be aligned with the longitudinal dimension of the vehicle. Mounting the antenna system  100  may include using attractive force of magnet  116  in base  110  to quickly and removably adhere the antenna system to the vehicle. In another example, the human operator may use another mounting technique, such as a tie-down strap (not shown) that affixes the system to the top of the vehicle. The tie down strap may extend across a lateral dimension of the vehicle and attach to various suitable tie down points. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, antenna system  200  with cradle  210  may be used. For instance, the human operator may first affix cradle  210  to the vehicle, using for example, magnets or a tie-down strap. The operator may then slide base  110  into recess  216  until base  110  is held firmly within recess  216 . In this example, both cradle  210  and base  110  may be oriented so that the longitudinal dimension of beam  130  is aligned with the longitudinal dimension (and expected direction of movement) of the vehicle. 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, each vehicle in a fleet expected to possibly require ADS-B may have cradle  210  semi-permanently affixed to the top of the vehicle, such as by bolts, screws, or adhesive. Then, the operator may simply slide base  110  into recess  216  when needed. 
         [0026]    Regardless of how antenna system  100  or  200  is mechanically attached to a vehicle, the human operator may then electrically couple antennas  150  and  170  to an ADS-B transceiver or other electronic device. For example, the coupling may be quickly made using bayonet or threaded Neill-Concelman (BNC, TNC) coaxial connectors or the like. Thus, in one example, one or more electrical cables may extend from antennas  150  and  170  and be directed into an transceiver within the vehicle, through an open window or dedicated opening. In another example, the transceiver may be included as part of the antenna system on top of the vehicle, and communication from the transceiver to the human operator within the cab may be performed wirelessly by, for example, Bluetooth. For example, the operator may use an electronic tablet, iPad, or similar device for wireles sly controlling and communicating with a transceiver mounted with quick mount antenna system  100  or  200 . However, the scope of embodiments is not limited to any particular technique for providing a connection between a transceiver and one or more antennas  150  and  170 . 
         [0027]    The human operator may then operate the vehicle, while an ADS-B transceiver with GPS receiver receives accurate GPS location information via antenna  150  and transmits position messages to aircraft and/or a ground station via antenna  170 , thus enhancing ground control operations and minimizing the chance of collision between aircraft and ground vehicles. 
         [0028]    The method may further include the human operator determining that antenna system  100  or  200  may be removed from the vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be parked or garaged for an extended period of time such that ADS-B capability is not needed or desired for a period of time. The human operator may then detach antenna system  100  or  200  from the vehicle by removing cradle  210  and/or by removing base  110 . In some examples, the human operator may leave cradle  210  mounted to the vehicle while sliding base  110  from recess, thereby removing base  110  to unmount the antenna system. An mounting antenna system  100  may further include uncoupling antennas  150  and  170  from a transceiver. At another time, the human operator may remount antenna system  100  to the same vehicle or another vehicle using a technique the same as or similar to the one described above. 
         [0029]    The scope of embodiments is not limited to the particular method described above. Other embodiments may add, omit, rearrange, or modify one or more actions. For example, a user may choose to mount an antenna system to a vehicle and leave it there for such a time that it is effectively a permanent mounting. Also, the example above refers to a human operator, though the scope of embodiments includes scenarios in which the various actions may be performed by different human users, machines, and/or a combination of humans and machines. 
         [0030]    While various embodiments have been illustrated in detail, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown. Modifications and adaptations of the above embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and adaptations are in the spirit and scope of the invention.