Abstract: A navigation system for emulating navigation signals for an aircraft. The navigation system comprises a global-positioning system receiver configured to determine a geographic position of the aircraft. The navigation system additionally comprises a memory configured to store position data for at least one waypoint. The navigation system further comprise an emulation system configured to compare the geographic position of the aircraft with the position data of the waypoint and to generate a composite navigation signal indicative of a relative position between the aircraft and the waypoint. The navigation system is configured to provide the composite navigation signal to a course direction indicator having an integral converter unit for decoding the composite navigation signal into a control signal that drives an indicator needle of the course direction indicator.

Abstract: An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics device for use in an aircraft with a transponder and an antenna comprises a first port, a second port, a transmitter, a switch, and a processing element. The first port may electrically couple to the transponder, and the second port may electrically couple to the antenna. The transmitter generates data to be transmitted over the antenna. The switch includes a first mode in which the transponder is electrically coupled to the antenna and a second mode in which the transmitter is electrically coupled to the antenna. The processing element is programmed to switch the switch from the first mode to the second mode, instruct the transmitter to transmit an ADS-B Out data packet to the second port, and switch the switch from the second mode to the first mode after the packet is transmitted.

Abstract: An Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics device for use in an aircraft with a transponder and an antenna comprises a first port, a second port, a transmitter, a switch, and a processing element. The first port may electrically couple to the transponder, and the second port may electrically couple to the antenna. The transmitter generates data to be transmitted over the antenna. The switch includes a first mode in which the transponder is electrically coupled to the antenna and a second mode in which the transmitter is electrically coupled to the antenna. The processing element is programmed to switch the switch from the first mode to the second mode, instruct the transmitter to transmit an ADS-B Out data packet to the second port, and switch the switch from the second mode to the first mode after the packet is transmitted.

Abstract: Techniques are described that allow a system, such as a portable ADS-B-enabled device, to automatically determine whether the aircraft in which the system is employed is included in air traffic information (e.g., TIS-B air traffic information) broadcast by an air traffic control (ATC) ground station. The system includes a receiver assembly to receive a first transmission from a transponder of the aircraft that includes an identification address (e.g., an ICAO address) that identifies the aircraft. The receiver assembly also receives a second transmission from the ATC ground station that includes air traffic information and a client list including identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The identification address of the aircraft is retrieved from the first transmission and used to determine whether the aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing the identification address with the identification addresses in the client list.

Abstract: An electronic device is described that includes a range indicator for conveying a range of travel until the electronic device ceases operation due to loss of power. In implementations, the electronic device includes a display device, a memory operable to store one or more modules, and at least one processor coupled to the display device and the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause display of navigation information at the display device. The navigation information includes a map graphic representing an area an aircraft is traversing. The navigation information also includes an end of use situation that represents a range of travel for the aircraft until the electronic device ceases operation due to a loss of power.

Abstract: An ADS-B system associated with an aircraft is configured to furnish an indication whether the aircraft is within coverage of air traffic information transmitted by an air traffic control ground station. The ADS-B system receives transmissions from an air traffic control ground station that include air traffic information and a client list comprising identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The ADS-B system determines whether the aircraft is within a range of a second aircraft and whether the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing an identification address of the second aircraft with the identification addresses in the client list. The ADS-B system furnishes an indication that the aircraft is within coverage of the air traffic information when the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information and the aircraft is within the range of the second aircraft.

Abstract: An electronic device is described that includes a range indicator for conveying a range of travel until the electronic device ceases operation due to loss of power. In implementations, the electronic device includes a display device, a memory operable to store one or more modules, and at least one processor coupled to the display device and the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause display of navigation information at the display device. The navigation information includes a map graphic representing an area an aircraft is traversing. The navigation information also includes an end of use situation that represents a range of travel for the aircraft until the electronic device ceases operation due to a loss of power.

Abstract: Techniques are described that allow a system, such as a portable ADS-B-enabled device, to automatically determine whether the aircraft in which the system is employed is included in air traffic information (e.g., TIS-B air traffic information) broadcast by an air traffic control (ATC) ground station. The system includes a receiver assembly to receive a first transmission from a transponder of the aircraft that includes an identification address (e.g., an ICAO address) that identifies the aircraft. The receiver assembly also receives a second transmission from the ATC ground station that includes air traffic information and a client list including identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The identification address of the aircraft is retrieved from the first transmission and used to determine whether the aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing the identification address with the identification addresses in the client list.

Abstract: An ADS-B system associated with an aircraft is configured to furnish an indication whether the aircraft is within coverage of air traffic information transmitted by an air traffic control ground station. The ADS-B system receives transmissions from an air traffic control ground station that include air traffic information and a client list comprising identification addresses of aircraft included in the air traffic information. The ADS-B system determines whether the aircraft is within a range of a second aircraft and whether the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information by comparing an identification address of the second aircraft with the identification addresses in the client list. The ADS-B system furnishes an indication that the aircraft is within coverage of the air traffic information when the second aircraft is included in the air traffic information and the aircraft is within the range of the second aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus having a graphical touch screen for flight planning and navigation of an aircraft by a pilot. The touch screen may be a graphical interface operable to detect the presence and location of a physical object on or in proximity to the touch screen. The touch screen may be used to perform functions previously only accessible by knobs and buttons on avionic navigational and/or flight planning units. The apparatus may comprise the touch screen and a control device configured to receive and interpret signals from the touch screen. The control device may command the touch screen to display a map and to modify a stored route, such as a flight plan, based on pilot selections input via various gestures of the object on or proximate to the touch screen.

Abstract: An apparatus having a graphical touch screen for flight planning and navigation of an aircraft by a pilot. The touch screen may be a graphical interface operable to detect the presence and location of a physical object on or in proximity to the touch screen. The touch screen may be used to perform functions previously only accessible by knobs and buttons on avionic navigational and/or flight planning units. The apparatus may comprise the touch screen and a control device configured to receive and interpret signals from the touch screen. The control device may command the touch screen to display a map and to modify a stored route, such as a flight plan, based on pilot selections input via various gestures of the object on or proximate to the touch screen.

Abstract: Techniques are described that allow information to be acquired by an ADS-B system of an aircraft without the installation of ADS-B dedicated flight crew controls or wired data interfaces in the aircraft. In one or more implementations, a receiver is associated with the ADS-B system in the aircraft. The receiver is configured to receive reply transmissions from a transponder of the aircraft, such as a Mode A/C or Mode S radar, or the like. A transmitter may also be associated with the ADS-B system to transmit an interrogation to the transponder of the aircraft that is configured to cause the transponder of the aircraft to transmit the reply transmission. Information used by the ADS-B system is extracted from the received reply transmissions and furnished to the ADS-B transceiver for broadcast over the ADS-B data link.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for time-multiplexing a single VOR receiver to determine bearings from two or more VOR stations and thus determine a relative position of an object such as an aircraft. The invention employs a software-programmable digital signal processor (DSP) to process the VOR signals and control the amplifier stage. The gain control parameters that are used to process the VOR signals are stored for each processed carrier frequency so that the VOR signals may be quickly and reliably acquired; thus, enabling the time-multiplexing of the VOR receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for time-multiplexing a single VOR receiver to determine bearings from two or more VOR stations and thus determine a relative position of an object such as an aircraft. The invention employs a software-programmable digital signal processor (DSP) to process the VOR signals and control the amplifier stage. The gain control parameters that are used to process the VOR signals are stored for each processed carrier frequency so that the VOR signals may be quickly and reliably acquired; thus, enabling the time-multiplexing of the VOR receiver.