Satellite Tracking Method and Apparatus Thereof
First Claim
1. A method for tracking an inclined orbit geostationary satellite at a ground station, the method comprising a learning step and a tracking step, the learning step comprising:
- performing multiple instances of a peaking process for a satellite at constant predetermined intervals over a period of a full inclination cycle;
storing results of said peaking process instances, wherein said stored peaking results are motor state values corresponding to antenna positions and to satellite positions along an inclination path;
applying a filter to the stored peaking results for reducing alignment errors; and
replacing the stored peaking results with corresponding values resulting from said filter application.
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Abstract
A satellite communication ground station configured for communicating over an inclined orbit geostationary satellite may include a tracking antenna having three fixed axis and one moving axis, a motor for swinging the antenna along the moving axis, a controller for controlling the motor, a receiver configured to receive a signal arriving from the satellite via the tracking antenna and an estimator configured to estimate reception quality of a signal received by the receiver. The invention described herein presents a method for tracking an inclined orbit geostationary satellite, the method comprising a learning step and a tracking step, wherein the learning step includes use of a filter for reducing alignment errors and reducing the amount of peaking required for aligning the antenna with the satellite and tracking its movement.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for tracking an inclined orbit geostationary satellite at a ground station, the method comprising a learning step and a tracking step, the learning step comprising:
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performing multiple instances of a peaking process for a satellite at constant predetermined intervals over a period of a full inclination cycle; storing results of said peaking process instances, wherein said stored peaking results are motor state values corresponding to antenna positions and to satellite positions along an inclination path; applying a filter to the stored peaking results for reducing alignment errors; and replacing the stored peaking results with corresponding values resulting from said filter application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A ground station configured to communicate via an inclined orbit geostationary satellite, the ground station comprising:
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a tracking antenna having three fixed axis and one moving axis; a motor configured to swing the antenna along the moving axis; a controller configured to control the motor; a receiver configured to receive a signal from a satellite via the tracking antenna; and an estimator configured to estimate reception quality of a signal received by the receiver, wherein the controller is further configured to track the satellite by performing a learning step and a tracking step, said learning step comprising; performing multiple instances of a peaking process for the satellite at constant predetermined intervals over a period of a full inclination cycle; storing results of said peaking process instances, wherein said stored peaking results are motor state values corresponding to antenna positions and to satellite positions along an inclination path; applying a filter to the stored peaking results for reducing alignment errors; and replacing the stored peaking results with corresponding values resulting from said filter application. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for tracking an inclined orbit geostationary satellite at a ground station, the method comprising a peaking process for aligning an antenna with a satellite, the method comprising:
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recording an initial motor state value for a motor at the ground station, the initial motor state value corresponding to an initial antenna position; receiving a signal from the satellite and recording a reception quality figure for the received signal; and driving the antenna exactly one step from the initial antenna position by commanding the motor with a state value one unit either higher or lower than the initial motor state value; determining whether the new value commanded to the motor is higher or lower than the initial motor state value; and based on said determination, determining a starting direction for said peaking process. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification