application

application
note
Instrument Landing System
Receiver Testing
by David Owen

The 2030/40/50 series Signal Generators

are available with Option 6, which adds an
ILS (Instrument Landing System) and VOR
(VHF Omni Range) waveform generator to
the modulation system. The performance
of this waveform generator is required to be
much better than the typical characteristics
of an Avionics receiver in order to reduce
measurement uncertainty.

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The IFR 2030/40/50 Avionics Signal Generators use a ILS Waveform Generation
patented method of generating ILS waveforms, which As stated previously an ILS Localizer or ILS Glidescope
considerably improves the stability and accuracy of the audio waveform requires two tones to be generated - one at 90 Hz
source. In addition the Avionics Signal Generator is capable and the other at 150 Hz. The relative phase of the tones is
of generating VOR, Marker Beacon and ADF Test Signals. fixed by ICAO standards and the frequencies of the tones
Instrument Landing System - ILS result in a composite waveform whose shape repeats at a 30
An Instrument Landing System is used to assist aircraft as Hz rate. The magnitude of each tone must be controlled such
they approach the end of a runway for landing. The system that the arithmetic Sum of Depth Modulation (SDM) of each
has two parts - the Localizer that controls the horizontal tone is constant and the DDM between the two tones can be
alignment and the Glidescope that controls the angle of varied in a precise manner.
approach. The Localizer and Glidescope operate at different DDM can be expressed either in terms of percentage (%)
carrier frequencies. or as a modulation index. A DDM of 1% is equivalent to
From the aircraft receiver perspective, each part of the 0.001 DDM. In this article, DDM will be expressed in terms
landing system uses two transmitters operating at the same of modulation index.
frequency. One transmitter generates a carrier frequency that
is AM modulated with a 90 Hz tone. The other transmitter
generates a carrier frequency that is AM modulated with a
150 Hz tone. As shown in Figure 1, the transmitters are
arranged to produce beams that overlap. Beam shaping at
the transmitter is produced using an antenna array.

Figure 2 - ILS waveform with 0 DDM

Using Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) techniques it is simple
to generate two tones whose relative phase is controlled to
the requirements of the ICAO standard. However, to provide
fine control of the DDM requires great accuracy in the control
of the level of the two tones. Furthermore, if the two
synthesizers generating the tones exhibit small differences in
stability with time or temperature the effect on the accuracy
of the DDM can be dramatic.
As an example, consider the situation where two DDS's are
used to generate an ILS waveform. If a 12 bit DAC (digital to
analog converter) is used to control the audio output level of
each tone the level control has a resolution of approximately
Figure 1 - Localizer and Glidescope systems of ILS installation
1 part in 4000. Assuming full scale is arranged to represent
The ILS receiver of the aircraft detects both the 90 Hz and 100% AM depth then the DAC level resolution is 0.025%
150 Hz AM components of the signal. When the AM depths depth. In order to keep the SDM constant for every 0.025%
of the two tones are equal the aircraft is aligned with the increase in the depth of one tone the other tone depth has
runway and is said to be “ON COURSE”. to be reduced by 0.025%. In other words the DDM resolution
When emulating the ILS signals detected at the aircraft in this case is 0.0005 DDM. Taking into account that a real
receiver input, it is essential to have good Difference of Depth DAC is never perfect the implication is that to provide good
of Modulation (DDM) accuracy, since any error will result in DDM control and accuracy using two independent sources 16
the aircraft receiver showing misalignment with the approach bit of level control resolution is required.
path. The problems are potentially even more serious if stability
is taken into account. If a stability of DDM of say 0.0001
DDM is required over a temperature range of ±20°C then
each audio channel will be required to have a stability of
0.005% or 5 in 105. Over a temperature range of 20°C this

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represents a temperature coefficient of 2.5 in 106 per °C.

This is not easily routinely achieved.
For this reason IFR has not used this method in
implementing the Avionics version of the signal generator.
Instead a method has been patented which virtually
eliminates many sources of error. The method used also
ensures that the required waveforms can be generated using
relatively non-critical parts. The technique makes use of the
fact that a DDS can be used to generate any repetitive
waveform that can be stored in a look up table. The ILS
waveform repeats at a 30 Hz rate so one of the waveforms
generated is an ILS waveform that has 0 DDM present. As a
result since both tones are sent through the same level Figure 4 - ILS waveform with the phase of the 150 Hz tone shifted by
control circuits, provided these circuits are linear and have 180° compared to Figure 2.
adequate bandwidth (a relatively easy requirement), any The advantage of using this technique is that introducing
changes in gain in the circuits have no effect on the DDM. the phase-reversed signal can easily control the DDM. The
Consequently a 0 DDM signal can be generated which is very stability of the reversed signal has little effect on the accuracy
precise and stable. Provided the correct look up table is of the resulting signal when small DDM settings are
installed there is very little that can go wrong in the waveform requested since the amount of reversed signal used is small.
generator. The resolution problem of the DAC's are also greatly eased
because for small DDM the level of the reversed signal can
be reduced using a simple attenuator before it is added to the
0 DDM signal.
VOR System
The VOR system is designed to provide bearing information
for the aircraft from the VOR transmitter. By using more than
one VOR transmitter the position of the aircraft can be
derived. Modern VOR transmitters transmit a carrier with a
30 Hz AM tone. At the same carrier frequency a second AM
tone is produced at 9.96 kHz whose frequency is modulated
by ±480 Hz at 30 Hz rate. The phase of the 30 Hz AM tone
and the 30Hz FM tone on the 9.96 kHz sub-carrier are
Figure 3 - Simplified schematic of the modulation drive system used in compared to derive bearing information of the aircraft from
Option 6 the beacon.
In practice however, waveforms need to be generated
which have a non-zero DDM. In principal the look up table
could be computed and re-loaded for each requirement.
However the DAC used in the DDS would need fine
resolution, and computing the waveform and loading it each
time would not be convenient. Computing the waveform in a
DSP is possible, but there are still D to A converter issues and
the problem of validating the DSP code under all conditions.
The method adopted for the 2030 Avionics Signal Generator
is to generate a second ILS waveform with 0 DDM, but with
the relative phase of the 150 Hz tone reversed compared to
the 90Hz tone. A small amount of the signal generated from
this reversed source is added to the 0 DDM source. If a DDM Figure 5 - Modulation Spectrum of a VOR Signal
of 0.001 DDM is required then the signal from the reversed
source is added at a level corresponding to 0.05% AM depth.
The two 90 Hz tones add in amplitude but because the
150 Hz tone is phase inverted the 150 Hz tone subtracts and
consequently the tone depth is reduced. As a result a DDM
of 0.001 DDM is produced.

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VOR Generation environmental conditions have a negligible affect on AM

To simulate VOR signals a source is required that performance, giving the user confidence in the signal
generates a 30 Hz tone and 9.96 kHz sub-carrier with 30 Hz generator output under all conditions.
rate frequency modulation superimposed on it. The phase of The generator provides the user with very low residual
the frequency modulation and the 30 Hz tone are controlled DDM error, conservatively specified at just 0.0003 DDM.
to give the required bearing information. This would normally Other Avionics Options
require the 9.96 kHz oscillator to be frequency modulated. The 2030 series signal generators can also be supplied
Although this can be done, it is not an easy task and IFR has with options configured to aid the testing of DME systems.
used a solution which is much simpler and less prone to Option 9 adds an internal pulse generator that can be used
errors. to drive the Option 10 DME system. The DME (Distance
Again use is made of the fact the sub-carrier waveform Measuring Equipment) allows the user to generate Gaussian
with its frequency repeats at a 30 Hz rate. A DDS is used shaped pulses for stimulating DME receivers.
which uses a look up waveform that contains a complete Applications
cycle of the 30 Hz FM signal on the 9.96 kHz sub-carrier. The The avionics options on the 2030/40/50 series are used
second DDS generates a simple 30 Hz tone and the two extensively in avionics and associated industries. The 2030 is
signals are combined to form the composite AM signal. To used extensively for checking airfield ILS monitor systems to
control the bearing setting the relative phase of the two make sure the automatic alarm systems are working
sources is controlled by the microprocessor using timers to correctly. The signal generator is also used to check the
generate the required phase control. Since this can be calibrated receivers used in aircraft that perform flight
simply done using digital electronic circuits the use of analog inspection tests of ILS installations.
frequency modulation can be avoided. Manufacturers and aircraft workshops use the 2030 series
Testing avionics performance to check the performance of aircraft ILS, VOR and VHF radios.
The method used for generating the avionics waveforms In manufacturing the excellent accuracy of the RF output
also considerably simplifies the task of assessing the signal ensures that the 2030 series signal generators meet
performance of the signal generator when it is in service. The even the most demanding applications.
test procedures simply require that the key AM performance The 2040 series when fitted with avionics options provides
specifications (accuracy, distortion and bandwidth) are met very low noise signals that can test the selectivity of the
and that the ILS or VOR mode is generating the correct aircraft receivers in the presence of other signals. The low
waveforms. phase noise of the 2040 series ensures the test results are
In the case of ILS, 0 DDM values use just one of the DDS not influenced by limitations in the signal generator noise,
waveforms and as the DDM is increased more of the second particularly at offset frequencies of between 6 kHz and
waveform is introduced. Ultimately when the DDM is set to be 30 kHz. As the aviation frequency bands become more
equal to the SDM only one tone (90 or 150 Hz) should be crowded the performance level required of both the
present. navigation receivers (ILS, VOR) and the radio systems
This gives the user a high confidence that the signal become more critical, making it essential that adjacent
generator is performing correctly without the use of expensive channel rejection and blocking tests are performed.
specialized equipment. The 2050 series signal generators are capable of
2030/40/50 performance generating signals conforming to the VDL standards with low
The 2030 based signal generators have excellent AM levels of adjacent channel power, extending the application of
performance. The AM is generated using envelope feedback the generator to digital avionics receivers.
techniques and a high performance amplitude modulator
which provide excellent AM accuracy and stability. The
linearity of the AM system is optimized during calibration to
ensure that the AM system has very low distortion. The
envelope feedback system has a BW of typically 100 kHz or
more in the avionics bands, ensuring that there is little phase
error introduced between the 90 Hz, 150 Hz tones for ILS
systems and the 30 Hz, 9.96 kHz tones in VOR. Changes in

IFR, 10200 West York Street, Wichita, Kansas, IFR, Longacres House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage SG1 2AN,
67215-8999, USA. E-mail: [email protected] United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected]
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As we are always seeking to improve our products, the information in this document gives only a general indication of the product capacity, performance and suitability, none of which shall form part of any
contract. We reserve the right to make design changes without notice. All trademarks are acknowledged. Parent Company IFR Systems, Inc. © IFR Ltd. 2001.

2030/40/50 Part no. 46891-899

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