Tracking arrangement for a communications system on a mobile platform
First Claim
1. A method for orienting an antenna in a communications system on a mobile platform to orient a peak of the antenna pattern in a direction associated with a signal source comprising:
- receiving a signal from a signal source at the antenna;
measuring a signal strength from the received signal;
predicting a signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis according to a previous estimate of the signal strength, a previous estimate of the misalignment of the antenna, an estimated change in the signal strength, and a known change in the antenna orientation;
updating the predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna; and
adjusting the orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for orienting an antenna in a communications system on a mobile platform to orient a peak of the antenna pattern in a direction associated with a signal source. A signal from a signal source is received at the antenna. A signal strength is measured from the received signal. A signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis are predicted according to a previous estimate of the signal strength, a previous estimate of the misalignment of the antenna, an estimated change in the signal strength, and a known change in the antenna orientation. The predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna are updated according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna. The orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern is adjusted according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for orienting an antenna in a communications system on a mobile platform to orient a peak of the antenna pattern in a direction associated with a signal source comprising:
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receiving a signal from a signal source at the antenna; measuring a signal strength from the received signal; predicting a signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis according to a previous estimate of the signal strength, a previous estimate of the misalignment of the antenna, an estimated change in the signal strength, and a known change in the antenna orientation; updating the predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna; and adjusting the orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communications system configured to allow communications between a mobile platform and a signal source comprising:
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an antenna assembly comprising an antenna; a modem configured to determine a signal strength of a signal received at the antenna; an attitude control assembly that is configured to employ a Kalman filter to estimate a misalignment of the antenna from a plurality of parameters comprising at least the determined signal strength, an orientation of the antenna at a previous time, an estimated signal strength at the previous time, and an estimated change in the signal strength; and an orientation system configured to alter the orientation of the antenna according to the estimated current orientation at the Kalman filter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium storing executable instructions configured to determine a misalignment of a peak response of an antenna from a signal source, the executable instructions comprising:
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a modem interface configured to measure a signal strength from a signal received at the antenna; a Kalman filter configured to predict a signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis as a state of the Kalman filter and update each of the predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna; and an attitude control element configured to provided instructions to an antenna assembly as to adjust the orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification