Self-protecting radio frequency (RF) seekers
Seeker devices and methods of navigation are disclosed. Devices comprise a self-protecting direction finder that can determine direction to a source of RF interference, cancel the interference, and provide direction signals and desirably received signals to the flight controller, which guides navigation with respect to the jammer.
1 . A seeking device for navigating a vehicle comprising a direction finder connected to a flight controller,
the direction finder comprising a combiner connected to at least a first antenna via a first signal path and to a second antenna via a second signal path, the combiner being further connected to a direction finder controller, the flight controller and/or an RF receiver, and
the flight controller being any type that can control navigation of the vehicle in response to direction finding signals and/or signals from the RF receiver,
wherein an output of the combiner includes a power detector;
wherein the direction finder is operable to adjust at least one parameter of the first signal path and/or the second signal path based on an output of the power detector;
wherein the direction finder controller is operable to determine a direction to a jammer and provide the direction finding signals by processing signals from the combiner; and
wherein the flight controller is operable to control navigation of the vehicle in response to the direction finding signals when the signals from the RF receiver are degraded or disrupted.
2 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the direction finder is a jammer mitigation type.
3 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the direction finder is any type that is operable to adjust a phase, an amplitude, and/or a delay of at least a first signal from the first antenna relative to a second signal from the second antenna to reduce an output signal power of the combiner.
4 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the first signal path and/or the second signal path comprise a relative time of arrival adjuster, an amplitude adjuster, and/or a phase adjuster connected to the direction finder controller.
5 . The seeking device of claim 4 , wherein the relative time of arrival adjuster is operable to change an instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) of cancellation to a bandwidth of an RF signal.
6 . The seeking device of claim 4 , wherein the phase adjuster operates by in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) rotation.
7 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the RF receiver is any type that can receive navigation aiding signals.
8 . The seeking device of claim 7 , wherein the flight controller is operable to navigate the vehicle relative to the navigation aiding signals.
9 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the direction finder controller is operable to determine a location of the jammer by determining a plurality of directions to the jammer.
10 . The seeking device of claim 1 , wherein the direction controller is operable to provide the direction finding signals to the flight controller.
11 . A method for navigating a vehicle comprising the steps of providing a direction finder connected to a flight controller; the direction finder comprising a combiner connected to a first antenna via a first signal path and to a second antenna via a second signal path, the combiner being further connected to a direction finder controller and/or an RF receiver;
determining a direction to a jammer and providing direction finding signals using the direction finder controller by processing signals from the combiner;
controlling navigation of the vehicle using the flight controller in response to the direction finding signals and/or signals from the RF receiver;
controlling navigation of the vehicle using the flight controller in response to the direction finding signals when the signals from the RF receiver are disrupted; and
controlling navigation of the vehicle using the flight controller in response to the direction finding signals when a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals from the RF receiver fall below a threshold.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a phase, an amplitude, and/or a delay of a first signal from the first antenna relative to a second signal from the second antenna to reduce an output signal power of the combiner.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the phase comprises in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) rotation of the first signal from the first antenna.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a location of the jammer by determining a plurality of directions to the jammer.
15 . A vehicle, comprising:
a seeking device comprising a direction finder comprising a combiner connected to a first antenna via a first signal path and to a second antenna via a second signal path, the combiner being further connected to a direction finder controller and/or an RF receiver, and
a flight controller being any type that can control navigation of the vehicle in response to direction finding signals and/or signals from the RF receiver;
wherein the direction finder controller is operable to determine a direction to a jammer and provide the direction finding signals by processing signals from the combiner;
wherein the direction finder controller is operable to determine a location of the jammer by determining a plurality of directions to the jammer; and
wherein the flight controller is operable to control navigation of the vehicle in response to the direction finding signals when the signals from the RF receiver are disrupted.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein an output of the combiner includes a power detector.
17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the direction finder is operable to adjust at least one parameter of the first signal path and/or the second signal path based on an output of the power detector.
18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein controlling navigation of the vehicle in response to the direction finding signals comprises navigating away from the jammer, navigating towards the jammer, and/or navigating at an angle relative to the direction to the jammer.
19 . A vehicle, comprising:
a seeking device comprising a direction finder comprising a combiner connected to a first antenna via a first signal path and to a second antenna via a second signal path, the combiner being further connected to a direction finder controller and/or an RF receiver, and
a flight controller being any type that can control navigation of the vehicle in response to direction finding signals and/or signals from the RF receiver;
wherein the direction finder is operable to adjust a relative time of arrival of a first signal of the first signal path relative to a second signal of the second signal path to change an instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) of cancellation to a bandwidth of an RF signal;
wherein the direction finder controller is operable to determine a direction to a jammer and provide the direction finding signals by processing signals from the combiner; and
wherein the flight controller is operable to control navigation of the vehicle in response to the direction finding signals when the signals from the RF receiver are disrupted.