Abstract:
A system for facilitating installation of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna on an aircraft may include, a GNSS antenna, a transducer, a cable operably coupling the GNSS antenna to the transducer, and a global positioning systems (GPS) receiver operably coupled to the transducer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 62/305,638 filed Mar. 9, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Various example embodiments relate generally to antenna technology, and more particularly relate to a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Aircraft may have navigation equipment on board that interfaces with other equipment located at ground based, satellite based, or aircraft based sites via antennas. The navigation equipment may be regulated by the FAA or other government agencies. However, the current standard under which navigation equipment is regulated is changing to accommodate the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). GNSS uses multiple satellites in order to locate the aircraft. Antenna structures may not be designed to accommodate the GNSS, and manufacturers of aircrafts may not understand how to properly install a GNSS antenna. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A system for facilitating installation of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna on an aircraft may include, a GNSS antenna, a transducer, a cable operably coupling the GNSS antenna to the transducer, and a global positioning systems (GPS) receiver operably coupled to the transducer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0005]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of an installation of a GPS system according to the pre-GNSS standards that is known in the prior art; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an example embodiment of a block diagram of an installation of a GNSS; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a further example embodiment of a block diagram of an installation of a GNSS; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates an even further example embodiment of a block diagram of an installation of a GNSS. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of an installation of a GPS system according to the pre-GNSS standards that is known in the prior art. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system may include a GPS antenna  100 , a cable  110 , and a GPS receiver  120 . The GPS antenna  100  may be operably coupled by the cable  110  to the GPS receiver  120 . 
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an example embodiment of an installation of a system having a GNSS antenna  200 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the system may include a GNSS antenna  200 , a cable  210 , a transducer  230 , and the GPS receiver  120 . In some cases, the system may also include an external DC supply  290  to supply the required DC current or voltage needed by the system in the event the GPS receiver  120  cannot. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 2A , the cable  210  may operably couple the transducer  230  to the GNSS antenna  200  at a first connection  240  and to the GPS receiver  120  at a second connection  250 . In particular, the transducer  230  will filter the signal from the GNSS antenna  200  before it is received by the GPS receiver  120 . The transducer  230  may include a first and second high pass filter  260 ,  280  and a band bass filter  270 . The signal from the GNSS antenna  200  will be filtered initially through the first high pass filter  260 , then through the band pass filter  270 , and then finally the second high pass filter  280  before being sent to the GPS receiver  120 . In further example embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the transducer  230  may only include the band pass filter  270  which filters the signal from the GNSS antenna  200  before sending it to the GPS receiver  120 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates an even further example embodiment of an installation of system having a GNSS antenna. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the system may include a GNSS antenna  200 , a cable  310 , and a GNSS receiver  320 . When the GNSS antenna  200  and the GNSS receiver  320  are used in the installation, no transducer is needed and the cable  310  operably couples the GNSS antenna  200  directly to the GNSS receiver  320 . 
         [0015]    Some example embodiments, therefore, may provide a capable system for aircraft antenna installation to support multiple satellites such as in a GNSS and that may allow GNSS receivers to replace GPS receivers with minimal effort to improve system performance. Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.