Method and apparatus for automatically aiming an antenna to a distant location
First Claim
1. A method for automatically pointing an antenna to a distant location, comprising steps of:
- storing data for said distant location;
determining a reference azimuth for said antenna;
determining a local location;
computing a pointing azimuth from said local location to said distant location;
computing an azimuthal rotation angle between said pointing azimuth and said reference azimuth; and
rotating said antenna to said azimuthal rotation angle with respect to said reference azimuth for pointing said antenna to said distant location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna aiming method and apparatus for automatically pointing an antenna to a selected distant location. The antenna aiming apparatus includes a database for storing data for distant locations, an electronic compass for determining a reference azimuth for the local antenna, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for determining a local location. A processor computes a pointing direction having an azimuth and an elevation from the local location to the distant location and then computes a horizontal rotation angle between the pointing direction and the reference azimuth and a vertical rotation angle from horizontal to the elevation. An antenna rotator servo-mechanism under processor control rotates the local antenna by the horizontal and vertical rotation angles for pointing the local antenna to the distant location. Optionally, the apparatus further includes electronic roll and pitch inclinometers for providing information to the processor for correcting the horizontal and vertical rotation angles for pitch and roll of the platform.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for automatically pointing an antenna to a distant location, comprising steps of:
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storing data for said distant location; determining a reference azimuth for said antenna; determining a local location; computing a pointing azimuth from said local location to said distant location; computing an azimuthal rotation angle between said pointing azimuth and said reference azimuth; and rotating said antenna to said azimuthal rotation angle with respect to said reference azimuth for pointing said antenna to said distant location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for automatically pointing an antenna to a distant location, comprising:
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a memory for storing data for said distant location; a rotator for rotating said antenna according to an azimuth rotation angle; a compass for determining a reference azimuth for said antenna; a locator for determining a local location; a point-to-point direction code for execution by a processor for computing a pointing azimuth from said local location to said distant location; and a relative angle code for execution by said processor for using said pointing azimuth and said reference azimuth for computing said azimuth rotation angle for rotating said antenna for pointing said antenna to said distant location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification