Method and apparatus for an improved antenna tracking system mounted on an unstable platform

• US 6,433,736 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ownby, Michael L., Timothy, LaMar K., Bowen, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,680
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 342/359, 343/757
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/18 Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

An apparatus for an improved antenna tracking system for antennas mounted on an unstable platform. The system comprising a directional antenna, an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna, a self-scan acquisition and tracking method and an antenna controller connected to the AHRS.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an improved antenna tracking system for an antenna mounted to an unstable platform, the system comprising:

at least one directional antenna;

at least one attitude heading reference system (AHRS) directly mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna; and

at least one antenna controller connected to the at least one AHRS.

2. An apparatus for an improved antenna tracking system as in claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna controller further comprises:

an antenna pointing processor;

an open-loop pointing calculator connected to the antenna pointing processor;

a navigational bias calculator connected to the open-loop pointing calculator;

a navigational bias corrector connected to the navigation bias calculator, the navigational bias corrector having means for receiving navigational data;

a radio frequency (RF) pointing error calculator connected to the navigational pointing bias calculator; and

a beacon analog to digital converter (ADC) connected to the RF pointing error calculator.

3. A method for closed loop radio frequency (RF) tracking of an energy source by a directional antenna mounted to an unstable platform, the method comprising the steps of:

directly mechanically attaching an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) to the directional antenna;

receiving the mobile platform'"'"'s internal navigation data or alternatively, receiving navigation data from the attitude heading reference system (AHRS);

determining a satellite orbit pattern;

searching the satellite orbit pattern for an RF beacon;

detecting the satellite RF beacon; and

initiating self scan tracking upon detection of the satellite RF beacon.

4. A method as in claim 3 where the step of determining a satellite orbit pattern further comprises the steps of:

calculating an orientation of the satellite orbit pattern; and

calculating optimal degree of freedom (DOF) limits.

5. A method as in claim 3 where the step of searching the satellite orbit pattern for an RF beacon further comprises the step of maneuvering the directional antenna in a starfish pattern.

6. A self scan radio frequency (RF) tracking antenna apparatus with directly mechanically mounted attitude reference heading system (AHRS) system, for use onboard a seagoing platform, the apparatus comprising:

at least one directional antenna;

at least one AHRS directly mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna; and

at least one antenna controller connected to the at least one directional antenna.

7. A self scan radio frequency (RF) tracking antenna apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the at least one AHRS mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna further comprises:

the directional antenna having a focusing parabola reflector; and

the AHRS mechanically connected to the focusing parabola reflector.

8. A self scan radio frequency (RF) tracking antenna apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the at least one AHRS mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna further comprises:

the directional antenna having a supporting pedestal; and

the antenna mechanically connected to the supporting pedestal.