Computer graphics techniques for aircraft EMC analysis and design

A comprehensive computer-aided system for the prediction of the potential interaction between avionics systems, with special emphasis on antenna-to-antenna coupling, is described. The methodology is applicable throughout the life cycle of an avionic/weapon system, including system upgrades and retrofits. As soon as aircraft geometry and preliminary systems information becomes available, the computer codes can be used to selectively display proposed antenna locations, emitter/receptor response characteristics, electromagnetic interference (EMI) margins and the actual ray-optical paths of maximum antenna-antenna coupling for each potential interacting antenna set. Antennas can be interactively relocated by track-ball (or joystick) and the analysis repeated at will for optimization or installation design study purposes. The codes can significantly simplify the task of the designer/analyst in effectively identifying critical interactions among an overwhelming large set of potential ones. In addition, it is an excellent design, development and analysis tool which simultaneously identifies both numerically and pictorially the EMI interdependencies among subsystems.