Patent ID: 7916084

Claim:
An emergency beacon ( 10 ) for a rotorcraft, the beacon comprising a housing ( 11 ) fitted with a connector ( 12 ) for connecting the beacon to an antenna ( 13 , 14 ) external to the housing, the beacon ( 10 ) being portable for recovering in the event of a crash comprising, inside the housing, a power supply device for the beacon, an incident sensor ( 15 ), a transmitter ( 16 ), and a detection and control member ( 18 ) that is connected to the sensor ( 15 ) and to the transmitter ( 16 ) and that is arranged to trigger operation of the transmitter in the event of an incident being detected, the beacon further including, inside the housing: an incorporated antenna ( 19 ); a changeover switch ( 20 ) inserted between the transmitter and the connector, and also between the transmitter and the incorporated antenna; and a sensitive member ( 21 ) that is sensitive to the electromagnetic power Pi conveyed to the connector and the electromagnetic power Pr returned from the connector, which sensitive member ( 21 ) is connected to or incorporated in the detection and control member ( 18 ); and wherein the detection and control member ( 18 ) is connected to the changeover switch and is arranged to cause the signals provided by the transmitter to be delivered to the external antenna or else to the incorporated antenna, depending on the state of the sensitive member ( 21 ); said detection and control member ( 18 ) being programmed to monitor the state of the sensitive member ( 21 ) at regular time intervals after an incident has been detected, said sensitive member ( 21 ) measuring the voltage standing wave ratio VSWR in a transmission line connecting an outlet of the changeover switch to the connector.