AUTOMATED BEAM PEAKING SATELLITE GROUND TERMINAL

• US 20110109501A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Wachter, Friedhelm, Corman, David W., Buer, Kenneth V.
• Application Number:
  US12/758,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/354
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/122 Waveguide switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/161 sustaining two independent orthogonal modes, e.g. orthomode transducer combining or separating polarisations and frequencies H01P1/2131
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00

Abstract

This disclosure may relate generally to systems, devices, and methods for a phased array illuminated reflector dish RF antenna combining a phased array with a microwave reflector dish and using beam steering to align the antenna beam to maximize antenna performance. The phased array may be connected in communication with one of a transmitter, a receiver, and a transceiver. In various exemplary embodiments the phased array illuminated reflector dish RF antenna includes a boom arm supporting the microwave reflector dish and the phased array. In one exemplary embodiment, the phased array only communicates signals with a remote source of the signals via the microwave reflector dish (not directly). The RF antenna system may be configured to be rough pointed by mechanically aiming the RF antenna system, and the RF antenna system is configured to fine tune aim the beam of said RF antenna system by beam steering.

Claims

1. A phased array illuminated reflector dish RF antenna system, comprising:

a phased array, wherein said phased array is connected in communication with one of a transmitter, a receiver, and a transceiver;

a microwave reflector dish; and

a boom arm supporting said phased array and said microwave reflector dish;

wherein said phased array only communicates signals with a remote source of said signals via said microwave reflector dish, and not directly;

wherein the RF antenna system is configured to be rough pointed by mechanically aiming said RF antenna system, and wherein the RF antenna system is configured to fine tune aim the beam of said RF antenna system by beam steering.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said beam steering optimizes the performance of the phased array reflector dish RF antenna system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said beam steering improves reception in the phased array reflector dish RF antenna system compared to a reflector dish RF antenna system that does not use electronic aiming.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said beam steering reduces transmission interference of the phased array reflector dish RF antenna system compared to a reflector dish RF antenna system that does not use electronic aiming.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said beam steering increases service availability, channel capacity or service quality of the phased array reflector dish RF antenna system compared to a reflector dish RF antenna system that does not use electronic aiming.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said phased array reflector dish RF antenna system further comprises mechanical alignment components for use to rough aim said phased array reflector dish RF antenna system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system does not comprise an OMT, polarizer, and feed horn.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a block up converter and wherein said receiver is a low noise block down converter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said fine tune aiming of the beam of said RF antenna system is based on maximizing the receive signal strength.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said RF system is one of a point to point system and a point to satellite system.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system installation can be performed (a) in less time, (b) for less cost, (c) with a lower skill set, and/or (d) more likely by self install—

than installation of a comparable performance system that does not combine a phased array with a microwave reflector dish and use beam steering for alignment.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to facilitate aiming the antenna in an automated manner.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to facilitate re-adjusting the alignment of the antenna at a time subsequent to the installation and original alignment.

14. A method of aligning an RF transmission antenna system, comprising:

rough aiming an antenna, via mechanical methods, approximately at the target, wherein said antenna is a phased array reflector dish RF antenna system; and

fine tuning the alignment of said antenna by beam steering, wherein said fine tuning is based on feedback indicating the quality of the current aiming of said antenna.

15. The method according to claim 14, where in said fine tuning is based on an algorithm for maximizing the signal strength of a receive signal.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said feedback comprises information regarding the strength of a signal received by said antenna system.

17. A method for communicating RF signals comprising:

receiving a transmit signal from a modem at a transmitter;

upconverting said transmit signal in said transmitter;

transmitting said signal via a transmit portion of a phased array antenna combined with a reflector dish;

beam steering to aim said signal of said phased array antenna combined with said reflector dish at a satellite;

receiving a receive signal from said satellite;

beam steering to aim a receive portion of a phased array antenna combined with a reflector dish;

down converting said receive signal from said satellite.

18. A method for aligning an RF antenna system comprising:

rough aiming the RF antenna system, wherein the RF antenna system comprises a phased array, transceiver, and a reflector dish; and

fine turning of the aim of the RF antenna system by electronically beam steering.

19. A terrestrial microwave communications terminal for aligning an RF antenna system comprising:

a solid state, non-motorized pointing system having fine pointing/automated peaking capability.

20. The terrestrial microwave communications terminal of claim 19, wherein said terrestrial terminal comprises a point to point terminal.

21. The terrestrial microwave communications terminal of claim 19, wherein said terrestrial terminal comprises a ground terminal configured for communication with a satellite.

22. A terrestrial microwave communications terminal comprising:

a phased array, wherein said phased array is connected in communication with one of a transmitter, a receiver, and a transceiver;

a microwave reflector dish; and

a boom arm supporting said phased array and said microwave reflector dish;

wherein said phased array only communicates signals with a remote source of said signals via said microwave reflector dish, and not directly; and

wherein said antenna system is configured to electronically switch polarization of said integrated phased array feed transceiver; and

wherein said terrestrial microwave communications terminal is one of a point to point terminal and a satellite terminal.

23. The antenna system of claim 22, wherein the RF antenna system is configured to be rough pointed by mechanically aiming said RF antenna system, and wherein the RF antenna system is configured to fine tune aim the beam of said RF antenna system by beam steering.