US 12,265,176 B2
Method for managing a secondary radar operating in mode S to avoid the problem of BDS swap
David Carlier, Ymare (FR); Lionel Matias, Elancourt (FR); Philippe Reuillon, Arlington, VA (US); and Yves Meignan, Limours (FR)
Assigned to THALES, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed by THALES, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed on May 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/744,702.
Claims priority of application No. 2105395 (FR), filed on May 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0031350 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G01S 7/40 (2006.01); G01S 13/87 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4091 (2021.05) [G01S 7/4026 (2013.01); G01S 13/872 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for managing a secondary radar operating in Mode S, said method using only secondary radar measurements, the method comprising, within a given antenna revolution, for each detected aircraft:
a) detecting an aircraft in seeking mode, said seeking mode being implemented until the aircraft is detected by the secondary radar for the first time in said given antenna revolution, the seeking mode comprising a plurality of all-call secondary-radar interrogation periods, and a plurality of roll-call interrogation periods, in a first monitoring window, the first monitoring window comprising a first noise window;
b) detecting the aircraft in tracking mode, said tracking mode being implemented if a valid response to a roll-call interrogation was detected in seeking mode, the tracking mode comprising a plurality of all-call interrogation periods, and a plurality of roll-call interrogation periods, in a second monitoring window, said second monitoring window being around an aircraft position predicted by the secondary radar in response to a previous all-call and/or roll-call interrogation;
the method comprising an intermediate step a1), which is executed between the detection in seeking mode and the detection in tracking mode, said intermediate step comprising:
i) detecting the presence or absence of the reply of the aircraft in a second noise window of the secondary radar;
ii) carrying out at least one roll-call interrogation, using the first monitoring window, if the reply of the aircraft is not located in said noise window.