Directional Antennae for Aircraft Ground Data Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems between aircraft and ground stations rely on omni-directional antennae, leading to low transmission outputs and interference, which reduces spectral efficiency, and predominantly use analog transmission methods prone to noise and interference.

Innovation Solution

Implementing directional digital data transmission using directional antennae on both aircraft and ground stations, with beam forming and steering techniques to optimize signal directionality, reduce interference, and enable digital data transmission directly between the aircraft and ground stations without satellites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If omni-directional antennae are used for data transmission between aircraft and ground stations, then coverage area is improved, but transmission output and spectral efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidtransmission output

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies directional antennae that concentrate transmission energy in specific directions rather than uniformly in all directions. This creates local quality enhancement in the transmission beam direction, improving power efficiency and spectral efficiency while maintaining adequate coverage through coordinated use of multiple antennae on aircraft and ground stations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If omni-directional antennae are used for data transmission, then coverage area is improved, but interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Directional antennae create localized transmission beams that target specific ground stations or aircraft, reducing the spatial spread of transmission energy. This localization minimizes interference with other communication channels while maintaining coverage through coordinated directional transmission between paired antennae

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of multi-directional transmission into benefit by using directional beams to serve multiple purposes: the same directional transmission that reduces interference also improves spectral efficiency and transmission output, creating a beneficial transformation of the transmission characteristic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If analog transmission methods are used, then system complexity is reduced, but transmission reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidtransmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces analog transmission methods with digital transmission methods. This substitution introduces error protection measures and correction measures such as signal reconstruction, equalization, and error protection coding, which significantly improve transmission reliability despite increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of signal representation from analog continuous values to digital discrete values. This parameter change enables the use of error protection coding and correction measures, transforming the transmission system's reliability characteristics while accepting increased processing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly increases the capacity of the communication system, reduces user fees, and provides more reliable digital data transmission by minimizing interference and utilizing error-correcting codes, while ensuring efficient frequency spectrum use and aerodynamic compatibility.

Implementation Method 1

providing a first antenna for an aircraft and a second antenna for a first ground station, wherein at least one of the first and second antennae is a directional antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8786492B2Method for directional digital data transmission between an aircraft and a ground station

Publication Date: 2014.07.22 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for digital and directional data transmission between aircraft and ground stations. In this arrangement data is exchanged digitally and directly, in other words directly by means of directional antennae, between the aircraft and the ground stations. Furthermore, transmission lobes are adapted during flight, and the directional antennae on the aircraft only illuminate regions on the ground that are located at a minimum distance across the flight path of the aircraft.