DUAL-ANGLE ADJUSTMENT OF A SATELLITE-TRACKING ANTENNA WITH A SINGLE MOTOR
First Claim
1. An antenna aiming apparatus, comprising:
- a motor including a motor spindle;
a directional antenna;
an azimuth adjuster operably coupling the motor spindle and the directional antenna, the azimuth adjuster for rotating the directional antenna about an azimuthal axis responsive to a motor rotation;
an elevation adjuster operably coupled with the motor and for rotating responsive to the motor rotation; and
a screw mechanism operably coupled to the elevation adjuster and for modifying an elevation angle of the directional antenna responsive to a rotation of the elevation adjuster.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes an azimuth adjuster coupled between a motor and a directional antenna. Motor rotation causes the azimuth adjuster to rotate the antenna about an azimuthal axis. The motor rotation also causes an elevation adjuster to rotate, which causes a screw mechanism to modify an elevation angle by pivoting the antenna about an elevational axis. To aim the directional antenna, a body-direction vector of a movable body with the antenna attached thereto is determined. Based on an elevational relationship between the body-direction vector and a satellite-direction vector, the elevation adjuster modifies the elevation angle of the antenna by rotating the motor to achieve full-turn amounts to pivot the antenna. The azimuth adjuster modifies an azimuth angle of the antenna based on an azimuthal relationship between the body-direction vector and the satellite-direction vector by rotating the motor to achieve partial-turn amounts of the antenna.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An antenna aiming apparatus, comprising:
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a motor including a motor spindle; a directional antenna; an azimuth adjuster operably coupling the motor spindle and the directional antenna, the azimuth adjuster for rotating the directional antenna about an azimuthal axis responsive to a motor rotation; an elevation adjuster operably coupled with the motor and for rotating responsive to the motor rotation; and a screw mechanism operably coupled to the elevation adjuster and for modifying an elevation angle of the directional antenna responsive to a rotation of the elevation adjuster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An antenna aiming apparatus, comprising:
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a motor including a motor spindle; a directional antenna fixedly attached to the motor spindle; a first gear fixedly attached to the motor; an elevation gear engaged with the first gear, the elevation gear including an elevation spindle; and a screw mechanism coupled between the elevation spindle and the directional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An antenna aiming apparatus, comprising:
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a motor including a motor spindle; a directional antenna; an azimuth adjuster operably coupling the motor and the directional antenna and comprising; a clutch plate fixedly attached to the directional antenna; and a clutch arm fixedly attached to the motor spindle and for engaging with the clutch plate to rotate the directional antenna about an azimuthal axis as the motor spindle rotates; an elevation adjuster operably coupling the motor and the directional antenna and comprising; a solenoid for engaging with the clutch plate to inhibit rotation of the clutch plate; and a conveyor operably coupled to the motor spindle to move the conveyor to and fro as the motor spindle rotates; and a linkage fixedly coupled to the conveyor to pivot the directional antenna about an elevational axis as the conveyor moves to and fro. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An antenna aiming apparatus, comprising:
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a motor; a directional antenna; an azimuth adjuster operably coupling the motor and the directional antenna, the azimuth adjuster adapted to rotate the directional antenna about an azimuthal axis responsive to a motor rotation; an elevation adjuster operably coupled with the motor and for rotating responsive to the motor rotation; and a screw mechanism operably coupling the elevation adjuster and the directional antenna and for modifying an elevation angle of the directional antenna responsive to a rotation of the motor; and a controller operably coupled to the motor for determining a motor rotation amount. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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determining a body-direction vector of a movable body with a satellite-tracking antenna attached thereto; adjusting an elevation angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to an elevational relationship between the body-direction vector and a satellite-direction vector by rotating a motor to achieve full-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna; and adjusting an azimuth angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to an azimuthal relationship between the body-direction vector and the satellite-direction vector by rotating the motor to achieve partial-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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performing a signal strength analysis for a satellite-tracking antenna attached to a movable body; adjusting an elevation angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to the signal strength analysis by rotating a motor to achieve full-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna; adjusting an azimuth angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to the signal strength analysis by rotating the motor to achieve partial-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna; and periodically repeating the performing the signal strength analysis, the adjusting the elevation angle and the adjusting the azimuth angle to enhance a signal strength for the satellite-tracking antenna. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method, comprising:
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periodically determining GPS locations of a movable body with a satellite-tracking antenna attached thereto; determining an elevation of the movable body from at least one of the GPS locations; determining a body-direction vector of the movable body from at least two of the GPS locations; adjusting an elevation angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to the elevation by rotating a motor to achieve full-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna; and adjusting an azimuth angle of the satellite-tracking antenna responsive to an azimuthal relationship between the body-direction vector and the satellite-direction vector to by rotating the motor to achieve partial-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna.
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25. A system, comprising:
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means for determining a body-direction vector of a movable body with a satellite-tracking antenna attached thereto; and means for coupling adjustments to an elevation angle and adjustments to an azimuth angle of a satellite-tracking antenna with a same motor rotation responsive to a relationship between the body-direction vector and a satellite-direction vector, wherein the satellite-tracking antenna rotates responsive to the motor, and wherein; full-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna adjust the elevation angle; and partial-turn amounts of the satellite-tracking antenna adjust the azimuth angle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification