Multiband Surveillance Signal Demodulation via Merged Receiver Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle surveillance communication systems require multiple receivers and antennas to handle different frequency bands, leading to increased complexity, weight, and cost due to the need for separate transceivers and radio systems for protocols like TCAS, ATC transponder, and UAT, with no efficient method to demodulate signals across non-overlapping bands.
Innovation Solution
A receiver system utilizing a set of splitters and combiners to generate and combine signals across multiple frequency bands, followed by down-conversion and sampling using analog-to-digital converters, allowing for the demodulation of surveillance messages in non-overlapping bands with reduced component count and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate receivers and antennas are used for different frequency bands, then each surveillance protocol can be received independently, but the system complexity, weight, and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate receivers into a single integrated receiver that can process multiple surveillance protocols simultaneously. The receiver includes multiple down-converters, each capable of processing different frequency bands (L-band, S-band, C-band), and a single ADC that samples all down-converted signals. This merging approach maintains reliable reception of TCAS, ATC transponder, and UAT protocols while reducing system complexity, weight, and cost compared to using separate receivers for each protocol.
2Reliability
If multiple separate receivers and antennas are used for different frequency bands, then each surveillance protocol can be received independently, but the system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple receiver functions into a single integrated receiver unit that processes multiple frequency bands. By sharing common components such as the ADC, signal processing circuitry, and housing among different protocol receivers, the overall system weight is reduced while maintaining the ability to reliably receive TCAS (1090 MHz), ATC transponder (1030 MHz), and UAT (978 MHz) surveillance signals.
3Reliability
If multiple separate receivers and antennas are used for different frequency bands, then each surveillance protocol can be received independently, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple receiver functions into a single manufactured unit, reducing the total number of components that need to be sourced, assembled, and tested. The single receiver design with multiple down-converters and a shared ADC reduces bill of materials costs, assembly labor, and testing requirements compared to assembling multiple separate receivers, while maintaining reliable reception of all surveillance protocols.
4Device complexity
If a single receiver processes multiple frequency bands, then component count and complexity are reduced, but signal separation and processing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into distinct bands using multiple down-converters, each tuned to a specific frequency range. The first down-converter processes L-band signals (TCAS at 1090 MHz), the second down-converter processes S-band signals (ATC transponder at 1030 MHz), and the third down-converter processes C-band signals (UAT at 978 MHz). This segmentation allows the single receiver to easily separate and process different surveillance protocols without interference, despite handling multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
5Reliability
If multiple separate receivers are used, then each protocol has dedicated processing, but the overall system form factor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protocol-specific processing functions into a single integrated receiver volume. The receiver includes multiple down-converters and processing circuits within one housing, eliminating the need for separate receiver boxes for TCAS, ATC transponder, and UAT protocols. This integration maintains dedicated processing for each protocol while reducing the overall system form factor from multiple discrete units to a single compact receiver assembly.
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
The system effectively demodulates surveillance signals across multiple frequency bands using a single receiver setup, reducing the number of components and costs while maintaining operational performance, and minimizing the form factor, thus optimizing weight and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a set of mixers configured to down-convert the combined signals
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
In some examples, a system includes at least two antennas configured to receive signals encoding first, second, and third messages in first, second, and third frequency bands. The system also includes a set of splitters configured to generate separate signals in the first, second, and third frequency bands. The system further includes a set of combiners, wherein each combiner of the set of combiners is configured to combine two or more of the separate signals. The system includes a set of mixers configured to down-convert the combined signals and at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the down-converted signals. The system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine data in the first, second, and third messages based on an output of the at least one analog-to-digital converter.