Satellite antenna aiming device featuring real time elevation and heading adjustment

• US 6,049,306 A
• Filed: 01/04/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sal Amarillas
• Original Assignee: Sal Amarillas
• Inventors: Amarillas, Sal
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US08/781,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,193 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/714, 343/761, 343/763, 343/765, 343/766, 343/781, 343/782, 343/840, 343/880, 343/881, 343/882, 343/359
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

An satellite antenna aiming device for continuous real time adjustment of the elevation and direction of a satellite antenna to receive the optimum signal to and from a desired satellite. The Device features motor driven gears for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the antenna to the proper desired elevation and direction. The aim of the antenna is controlled by an on board computer programmed to use information from one or all of a number of position communicating devices including an accelerometer, a keypad for entering pre determined position codes, an magnetometer, or a global positioning locator or GPS device. Software containing logarithms using information from the positioning devices calculate the optimum elevation and direction for the antenna to communicate with the satellite and activate the motors to adjust the satellite.

Claims

1. An satellite antenna aiming apparatus for use with electronic equipment requiring communication with earth orbiting satellites comprising:

an satellite antenna,

a base plate;

a base support member said base support member rotatable upon a mount communicating with said base plate;

a first support mounting and a second support mounting both attached upon said base support member;

a first axil having two ends and a second axil having two ends,

said first axil communicating at one end with said first support housing and at the other end with said satellite antenna;

said second axil communicating at one end with said first support housing and at the other end with said satellite antenna;

said satellite antenna rotatable between said first and second support housings upon said first axis and said second axis;

means for determining an optimum elevation and an optimum heading of said antenna;

means for elevation adjustment of said satellite antenna communicating with said first axil, whereby said first axil may be rotated thereby rotating said satellite antenna;

means for heading adjustment of said satellite antenna connected to said base member whereby said base member may be rotated thereby rotating said satellite antenna; and

a controller, said controller communicating with said means for elevation adjustment and with said means for heading adjustment, said controller activating said means for elevation adjustment and said means for heading adjustment to maintain the optimum elevation and the optimum heading of said satellite antenna.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for heading adjustment of said antenna is a base gear mounted to said base member, said base gear communicating with a first powered gear attached to a motor means whereby said base member may be rotated when said motor means rotates said first powered gear which rotates said base gear.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for elevation adjustment of said antenna comprises an elevational gear mounted upon said first axil and communicating with a drive gear, said drive gear powered by and communicating with a second motor means, whereby elevation of said satellite antenna may be adjusted when said drive gear rotates said elevational gear thereby rotating said first axil and said satellite antenna.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for continuous real time calculation of said optimum antenna elevation and said optimum antenna heading, said means for continuous real time calculation in communicating with said controller, whereby said controller maintains both of said means for elevation adjustment and said means for heading adjustment in said optimum elevation and said optimum heading while the antenna is moving.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to determine said optimum elevation of said satellite antenna and said means for determine the optimum heading of said satellite antenna comprise:

a magnetometer;

a microprocessor communicating with said magnetometer; and

software pre programmed into said microprocessor to calculate said optimum elevation and said optimum heading based on information received from said magnetometer.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to determine said optimum elevation and said means for determine the optimum heading of said satellite antenna comprise:

an accelerometer;

a microprocessor communicating with said accelerometer; and

software pre programmed into said microprocessor to calculate said optimum elevation and said optimum heading based on information received from said accelerometer.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to determine said optimum elevation of said satellite antenna and said means for determine the optimum heading of said satellite antenna comprise:

a keypad for entering pre determined position codes;

a microprocessor communicating with said keypad; and

software pre programmed into said microprocessor to calculate said optimum elevation and said optimum heading based on information received from said keypad.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for determine said optimum elevation and said means for determine said optimum heading for said satellite antenna comprise:

an accelerometer;

a keypad for entering pre determined position codes;

a magnetometer;

a microprocessor communicating with said accelerometer and said keypad and said magnetometer;

a global positioning satellite locator; and

software pre programmed into said microprocessor to calculate said optimum elevation and said optimum heading based on information received from said accelerometer and said keypad and said magnetometer and said global positioning satellite locator.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for continuous real time calculation of said optimum elevation and said optimum heading of said satellite antenna comprise:

an accelerometer;

a keypad for entering pre determined position codes;

a microprocessor communicating with said accelerometer and said keypad; and

software pre programmed into said microprocessor to calculate optimum elevation and optimum heading based on information received from said accelerometer and said keypad and said magnetometer wherein said optimum elevation and said optimum heading are continually communicated to said controller causing said controller to engage said means for elevation adjustment and said means for heading adjustment to maintain said optimum elevation and said optimum heading.

10. The invention as defined in claim 8 further comprising:

a global positioning satellite locator in communication with said microprocessor; and

said microprocessor receiving information for optimum elevation and heading calculation therefrom.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said satellite antenna is a relatively flat rectangular shaped antenna.

12. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said satellite antenna is a parabolic dish.

13. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

an UHF/VHF antenna located upon said satellite antenna for reception of local television and radio signals.

14. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said antenna is rotatable upon both of said axis to a position substantially parallel to said base for compact storage.

15. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said antenna is rotatable upon both of said axis to a position substantially parallel to said base for compact storage.