An antenna array (501) for use in an aviation application setting comprises an external covering (503) and at least four radio frequency antennas that are disposed underneath and that are protected by the external covering. This external covering is at least partially permeable to radio frequency signals and will provide at least a substantial barrier against external moisture and objects that might otherwise harm the antennas. This external covering is also configured and arranged to be disposed, at least in part, in a fixed position proximal to an exterior surface (206) of an aircraft. The four radio frequency antennas are electrically discrete from one another and are each configured and arranged to receive radio frequency signals for a corresponding different radio frequency platform. These four radio frequency antennas are also configured and arranged as an integral mechanical structure.
A group multiplexed output (208) operably couples to each unique intermediate frequency received signal output as corresponds to a plurality of aviation radio frequency receiver front ends (502). By one approach, this can comprise, in particular, multiplexing, in frequency, each of the discrete received signal outputs for each of the plurality of aviation radio frequency receiver front ends with one another. By one approach, each such aviation radio frequency receiver front end is configured and arranged to receive radio frequency signals for a corresponding different radio frequency platform (as may each correspond, for example, to a different aviation operational purpose).
An aviation radio frequency receiver front end (502) and a corresponding antenna (501) are coupled together. The antenna is configured and arranged to be disposed during use in a fixed position proximal to an exterior surface of the aircraft fuselage. By one approach the antenna and the aviation radio frequency receiver front end are disposed in close physical proximity to one another. This can comprise, for example, having these elements comprise a single integrated physical structure. This can also comprise, where desired, disposing a corresponding aviation radio frequency receiver back end in close proximity to such components.
H04B 7/04 - Systèmes de diversitéSystèmes à plusieurs antennes, c.-à-d. émission ou réception utilisant plusieurs antennes utilisant plusieurs antennes indépendantes espacées
4.
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE MULTIPLEXING LIGHT IN A SHARED OPTICAL CONDUIT
One provides a source of optical power (101, 202), a source of optical lighting (102, 204), and a source of optically-encoded data (103, 206, 208). The outputs of these various sources are then multiplexed (104) together such that the optical power, the optical lighting, and the optically-encoded data all share a common optical conduit (210). By one approach, this multiplexing can comprise frequency division multiplexing. By this approach, for example, the optical lighting occupies one range of frequencies, the optical power occupies another, different range of frequencies, and the optically-encoded data occupies yet another, different range of frequencies.
H04J 14/02 - Systèmes multiplex à division de longueur d'onde
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
5.
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE TRANSMITTING DATA USING MULTIPLE OPTICAL DATA STREAMS
One provides a source of data (101) along with a plurality of differing optical data streams (104). These differing optical data streams are then used, in parallel, to transmit the data over a shared optical transport media. By one approach, these differing optical data streams differ from one another with respect to their carrier frequencies. By this approach, a single optical transport media, such as a fiber optic cable, can now carry considerably more data than might otherwise be associated with a given upper switching speed for the enabling light emitters being employed.
H04J 14/02 - Systèmes multiplex à division de longueur d'onde
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
6.
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE ICE-ACCUMULATION ABATEMENT
A light source (401) is disposed in an aircraft (400) along with a light-to-electricity converter (403) and an optical pathway (404) that transports light (402) from that light source to the light-to-electricity converter. An energy storage component (407, 409) operably couples to the light-to-electricity converter to store at least some of the electricity from the light-to-electricity converter. At least one electrically-powered heating element (410) can be disposed on the aircraft in a location (411) where ice-accumulation abatement is desired and a heating element controller (413) then used to provide at least some of the stored electricity from the energy storage component to the electrically-powered heating element(s) in pulses (201, 301). These pulses can use a duty cycle that is insufficient to necessarily melt all ice but which is sufficient to melt ice such that other forces acting on the ice are able to effect removal of at least substantial portions of the ice.
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
B64D 15/12 - Dégivrage ou antigivre des surfaces externes des aéronefs par chauffage électrique
B64D 15/14 - Dégivrage ou antigivre des surfaces externes des aéronefs par chauffage électrique commandé cycliquement sur la longueur de la surface
7.
DETERMINATION OF A METRIC REGARDING A CONDITION OF INTEREST
An optical conduit (204) directs (101) a pulse of light energy (205) from a light source (201) in a vehicle (200) to a phosphor material (202) that is exposed to an ambient condition of interest. By detecting (102) when the phosphor material begins to fluoresce in response to the pulse of light energy, the corresponding duration of time between the pulse of light energy and when the phosphor material begins to fluoresce can be used (104) to determine a metric regarding the ambient condition of interest. This can comprise, for example, the temperature of the phosphor material and hence (at least under some operating conditions) the local temperature in the vicinity of the phosphor material. This can comprise, for example, the local air temperature, the temperature of an object upon which the phosphor material is located, and so forth.
G01K 11/20 - Mesure de la température basée sur les variations physiques ou chimiques, n'entrant pas dans les groupes , , ou utilisant des matériaux thermo-luminescents
G01K 11/32 - Mesure de la température basée sur les variations physiques ou chimiques, n'entrant pas dans les groupes , , ou utilisant des changements dans la transmittance, la diffusion ou la luminescence dans les fibres optiques
8.
METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE PROVIDING A SYNTHETIC VIEW OF TERRAIN FOR USE IN A MOVING VEHICLE
Specific determinations are made in a moving vehicle (901) and with respect to a person in the vehicle who has an ordinary expected gaze directionality while in the moving vehicle. These determinations can comprise automatically determining a position (101) of the moving vehicle with respect to terrain past which the moving vehicle is traveling, and automatically determining an orientation attitude (102) of the moving vehicle with respect to the terrain, and then automatically using (103) this position and orientation attitude to determine (in the absence of executable program instructions) a synthetic view to provide to the person in the vehicle. By one approach this synthetic view comprises a view of the terrain that comports with the ordinary expected gaze directionality of the person in the vehicle.
G01C 23/00 - Instruments combinés indiquant plus d’une valeur de navigation, p. ex. pour l’aviationDispositifs de mesure combinés pour mesurer plusieurs variables du mouvement, p. ex. la distance, la vitesse ou l’accélération
9.
APPARATUS AND METHOD PERTAINING TO LIGHT-BASED POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A VEHICLE
A vehicle (400) such as an aircraft is provided (101) with a source of light (401). An optical conduit is then used to couple (104) this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus (408). So configured, the optical conduit delivers light from this source of light to the light-to-electricity conversion apparatus such that the light source then serves as a source of electricity in the vehicle.
D03D 15/00 - Tissus caractérisés par la matière, la structure ou les propriétés des fibres, des filaments, des filés, des fils ou des autres éléments utilisés en chaîne ou en trame
10.
APPARATUS AND METHOD PERTAINING TO LIGHT-BASED POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A VEHICLE
A vehicle (400) such as an aircraft is provided (101) with a source of light (401) that provides both a power wavelength component (404) as well as a safety-pilot wavelength component (102, 415). An optical conduit (405) is then used (104) to couple this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus. So configured, the optical conduit delivers light from this source of light to the light-to-electricity conversion apparatus such that the light source then serves as a source of electricity in the vehicle while the safety-pilot wavelength component serves, at least in part, as a visual warning and/or beneficial reaction-inducement to onlookers.
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
11.
APPARATUS AND METHOD PERTAINING TO LIGHT-BASED POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A VEHICLE
A vehicle (400) such as an aircraft is provided (101) with a source of light (401). An optical conduit is then used to couple (104) this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus (408). which then converts (105) such light into electricity. A rechargeable power supply (407), such as a battery, uses (106) at least part of the electrical power output of the light-to-electricity conversion apparatus to be charged.
A vehicle such as an aircraft (400) is provided (101) with a source of power having a power output such as a source of light (401). This power output can then be combined with an identifier (103, 416) that is substantially unique to the aircraft. An optical conduit (405) can then be used (104) to couple this source of light to a light-to-electricity conversion apparatus (406). So configured, the optical conduit delivers light from this source of light to the light-to-electricity conversion apparatus such that the light source then serves as a source of electricity in the vehicle and as a source of a substantially unique identifier as corresponds to the vehicle is available for such use as may be appropriate.
These teachings present triple data transport redundancy in the form of three data bus interfaces (201A-201C) that are each designed and manufactured independently from one another and compatible with a common data handling protocol. This protocol can be one that includes no error correction. These interfaces can each couple to a corresponding first, second, and third data bus that may comprise optical data busses Information gauges (901) can be realized through use a memory that stores a plurality of images comprising views of an information gauge (or gauges) (901) of interest showing a variety of different readings. Upon receiving information regarding a monitored parameter of interest (via, for example, the aforementioned data busses and data bus interfaces (201 A-201C), this information can be used to address the stored information gauge view that corresponds to the present parameter value. That particular view can be recalled and displayed to thereby provide the corresponding information to a viewer.
These teachings present triple data transport redundancy in the form of three data bus interfaces that are each designed and manufactured independently from one another and compatible with a common data handling protocol. This protocol can be one that includes no error correction. These interfaces can each couple to a corresponding first, second, and third data bus that may comprise optical data busses. Information gauges can be realized through use a memory that stores a plurality of images comprising views of an information gauge (or gauges) of interest showing a variety of different readings. Upon receiving information regarding a monitored parameter of interest (via, for example, the aforementioned data busses and data bus interfaces), this information can be used to address the stored information gauge view that corresponds to the present parameter value. That particular view can be recalled and displayed to thereby provide the corresponding information to a viewer.
These teachings present triple data transport redundancy in the form of three data bus interfaces that are each designed and manufactured independently from one another and compatible with a common data handling protocol. This protocol can be one that includes no error correction. These interfaces can each couple to a corresponding first, second, and third data bus that may comprise optical data busses. Information gauges can be realized through use a memory that stores a plurality of images comprising views of an information gauge (or gauges) of interest showing a variety of different readings. Upon receiving information regarding a monitored parameter of interest (via, for example, the aforementioned data busses and data bus interfaces), this information can be used to address the stored information gauge view that corresponds to the present parameter value. That particular view can be recalled and displayed to thereby provide the corresponding information to a viewer.
brevets