Antenna system for satellite communication and method for tracking satellite signal using the same

• US 6,989,787 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Jeon, Soon-Ik, Yun, Jae-Seung, Son, Seong-Ho, Park, Ung-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US10/744,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 342/359, 455/69, 343/763, 343/766
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is an antenna system for satellite communication and a method for tracking satellite signals using the same, in which moving vehicles or vessels can perform a satellite multimedia communication. The method for tracking a satellite signal using the antenna system includes the steps of: a) setting a satellite signal reception environment by performing an electronic tracking in the elevation direction through an electronic beam steering control and performing a mechanical tracking for driving a rotating element in an azimuth direction; and b) stopping a drive of the rotating element in the azimuth direction, and setting a satellite signal transmission environment by using the satellite signal reception environment. According to the present invention, since both one-dimensional phase array control of the elevation and azimuth and one-dimensional mechanical control are used, it is possible to provide the economical and effective system compared with two-dimensional phase array antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna system for satellite communication including a transmission/reception connecting means for a communication terminal and an information exchanging means for tracking an elevation electronically and tracking a satellite electronically/mechanically, the antenna system comprising:

a plurality of array antennas for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a satellite;

a plurality of reception active channel modules for performing a low noise amplification to a predetermined frequency of a satellite signal inputted through the plurality of array antennas and for shifting the frequency to a desired phase;

a reception active module for receiving the satellite signal from the plurality of reception active channel modules, coupling the satellite signals according to positions of the antenna arrays, and transmitting the coupled satellite signals to the communication terminal through the transmission/reception connecting means;

a first conversion means for receiving the signals from the communication terminal and up-converting the signal into a satellite frequency;

a transmission active module for amplifying/dividing the signals inputted from the first conversion means through the transmission/reception connecting means;

a plurality of transmission active channel modules for controlling a phase of the signals inputted from the transmission active module and transmitting the phase-controlled signals to the array antenna;

a first control means for controlling the plurality of reception active channel modules, the reception active module, the plurality of transmission active channel modules and the transmission active module by using a satellite tracking signal inputted from the reception active module;

a first transmission/reception duplexer for transmitting the output signal of the reception active module to the transmission/reception connecting means and transmitting a signal outputted from the transmission/reception connecting means to the transmission active module; and

a second transmission/reception duplexer for transmitting a signal inputted through the transmission/reception connecting means to the communication terminal and transmitting a signal from the communication terminal to the transmission/reception connecting means,

wherein the transmission active module includes;

an amplifying means for amplifying a signal to be transmitted to the satellite;

a dividing means for diving the signal outputted from the amplifying means and providing the divided signals to the plurality of transmission active channel modules;

a switching means for blocking the transmission of the signal to the satellite; and

an isolating means for preventing a reverse flow of signal between the switching means and the amplifying means to secure characteristics thereof.

2. The antenna system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second control means for receiving an azimuth information of a current satellite from the first control means and generating a current according to the azimuth information;

a drive means for receiving the current from the second control means and driving a rotating member of the antenna system; and

a platform configured to rotate by a rotation driving force.

3. The antenna system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reception active module includes:

a plurality of coupling means for coupling signals of sub-arrays having the same array structure among the array antennas;

a first coupling means for coupling signals of a first array disposed at boundary portions of the sub-arrays among the array antennas;

a first dividing means for dividing signals of the first coupling means and providing the divided signals to the plurality of coupling means;

a second coupling means for coupling signals of a second array, the second array being an array except for the sub-arrays and the first array;

a plurality of dividing means for dividing the signals inputted from the plurality of coupling means;

a third coupling means for coupling the signals of the plurality of coupling means and the signals of second coupling means;

a second converting means for down-converting a frequency of the signal inputted from the third coupling means; and

a tracking beam_forming module for forming a beam signal adjacent to the satellite by using the signals of the plurality of dividing means.

4. The antenna system as recited in claim 3, wherein the tracking beam_forming module includes:

a plurality of phase shifters for shifting phases of the signals outputted from the plurality of dividing means;

a four coupling means for coupling the signals outputted from the plurality of phase shifters; and

a third converting means for down-converting frequencies of the signals outputted from the four coupling means.

5. The antenna system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first control means includes:

a second converting means for converting a strength of the signal inputted from the reception active module into a strength of a DC voltage; and

a third control means for controlling the plurality of reception active channel modules, the reception active module, the plurality of transmission active channel modules and the transmission active module according to the output signal of the second converting means, and for determining a frequency selection of the second converting means.

6. The antenna system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of reception active channel modules and the plurality of transmission active channel modules are integrated with each other.

7. A method for tracking a satellite signal using an antenna system for satellite communication, the antenna system tracking an elevation electronically and tracking a satellite electronically/mechanically, the method comprising the steps of:

a) setting a satellite signal reception environment by performing an electronic tracking in an elevation direction through an electronic beam steering control and performing a mechanical tracking for driving a rotating element in an azimuth direction; and

b) stopping a drive of the rotating element in the azimuth direction, and setting a satellite signal transmission environment by using the satellite signal reception environment,

wherein the step b) includes the steps of;

b1) issuing a command for stopping the rotating element for controlling the azimuth direction;

b2) controlling the transmission active channel module to form the transmission electronic beam and powering on a transmission power;

b3) controlling the tracking beam forming module to form a central tracking beam, an upward tracking beam, a downward tracking beam, a left tracking beam and a right tracking beam, and detecting the satellite signal level at each respective position;

b4) if the satellite signal level is smaller than a reference value, powering off the transmission power;

b5) if the satellite signal level is larger than the reference value, comparing the reference value with the satellite signal levels at the positions of the upward tracking beam, the downward tracking beam, the left tracking beam and the right tracking beam, and determining the position of the maximum satellite signal; and

b6) updating the position of the reception electronic beam with the position of the maximum satellite signal, and feeding back the corresponding azimuth to thereby make an electronic azimuth steering angle to be “

0”

.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of c) if failing to catch the satellite signal, breaking a transmission power, performing a mechanical tracking in an azimuth direction during a predetermined time, and performing an electronic tracking in an elevation direction.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step c) includes the steps of:

c1) issuing a command for repetitively moving right and left within a predetermined range;

c2) returning to the step a) if a repetitive tracking time is exceeded, and controlling a reception active channel module to form a reception electronic beam to a corresponding angle if the repetitive tracking time is not exceeded;

c3) controlling a tracking beam_forming module to form a central tracking beam, and detecting a satellite signal level of the corresponding position; and

c4) if the satellite signal level is larger than a reference value, returning to the step b), and if the satellite signal level is smaller than the reference value, updating the position of the reception electronic beam and repeating the steps c2) and c3).

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step a) includes the steps of:

a1) issuing a command for causing a drive part of the antenna system to rotate at a constant speed in an azimuth direction;

a2) controlling the reception channel module to form the reception electronic beam;

a3) controlling the tracking beam_forming module to form the central tracking beam, and detecting the satellite signal level of the corresponding position; and

a4) if the satellite signal level is smaller than the reference value, updating the position of the reception electronic beam and repeating the steps a2) and a3), and if the satellite signal level is larger than the reference value, returning to the step b).