KA/KU antenna alignment

• US 20070080860A1
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norin, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises adjustments in azimuth, elevation, and skew, wherein the alignment mechanism is used to provide a first alignment to the satellite configuration, and a tool, used to access a database, wherein the database, comprises data related to satellite configuration positional data, including a position of at least one satellite in the satellite configuration at a given point in time, data related to the antenna, including at least data related to an alignment mechanism coupled to the antenna, data related to polarizations and frequencies of signals being transmitted by the satellite configuration, and data related to the geoposition of the antenna being aligned, wherein the database calculates at least one offset for the alignment of the reflector, wherein the at least one offset is used to reposition the antenna using the alignment mechanism.

Claims

1. A system for aligning a reflector of an antenna with a satellite configuration, comprising:

an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises adjustments in azimuth, elevation, and skew, wherein the alignment mechanism is used to provide a first alignment to the satellite configuration; and

a tool, used to access a database, wherein the database comprises;

data related to satellite configuration positional data, including a position of at least one satellite in the satellite configuration at a given point in time;

data related to the antenna, including at least data related to the alignment mechanism coupled to the antenna;

data related to polarizations and frequencies of signals being transmitted by the satellite configuration; and

data related to the geoposition of the antenna being aligned, wherein an offset is calculated for the alignment of the reflector using the data related to the geoposition of the antenna being aligned;

wherein the at least one offset is used to reposition the antenna using the alignment mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a processor.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an input section, coupled to the processor, for inputting commands to the processor.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a memory, coupled to the processor, for storing commands used by the processor.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a data port, coupled to the processor, for inputting electronic commands from an external source to the processor.

6. A tool for aiding in alignment of a reflector of an antenna with a satellite configuration, comprising:

at least one connector, coupled to a feedhorn assembly of the antenna;

a divider, coupled to the at least one connector, for dividing signals received by the feedhorn assembly;

a power supply, coupled to the at least one connector, for powering the feedhorn assembly of the antenna and for selecting a specific feedhorn of the feedhorn assembly;

a tuner/demodulator section, coupled to the divider, for tuning to a specific signal and demodulating the specific signal;

a processor, coupled to the tuner/demodulator, for processing the demodulated specific signal; and

a display section, coupled to the processor, for displaying characteristics of the demodulated specific signal.

7. The tool of claim 6, further comprising an input section, coupled to the processor, for inputting commands to the processor.

8. The tool of claim 7, further comprising a memory, coupled to the processor, for storing commands used by the processor.

9. The tool of claim 8, further comprising a data port, coupled to the processor, for inputting electronic commands from an external source to the processor.