Method and system of improving altimeter accuracy by use of a separate peak return signal tracking
US7463187B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/882
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method to control a track gate and a level gate in an altimeter tracking an altitude of an airborne vehicle comprising emitting signals, directed toward a terrain, from the airborne vehicle, receiving terrain echo signals, positioning the track gate to a selected reference amplitude on the rising edge of the terrain echo signals, positioning the level gate to within a selected range of the peak amplitude level of the terrain echo signals, measuring a change in a location of the peak amplitude between sequentially received terrain echo signals, and varying a separation between the track gate and the level gate based on the measured change in the location of the peak amplitude. The terrain echo signals comprise reflections of the emitted signals from the terrain, and each terrain echo signal has a rising edge and a peak amplitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.