ODU alignment procedure using circularly polarized squint

• US 7,978,142 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mui, Benjamin, Stroes, Gustave R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso; Huedung
• Application Number:
  US11/971,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757, 343/756, 343/760, 455/12.1, 455/427, 342/359, 342/760
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/12 wherein the surfaces are concave H01Q19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/007 using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device for operation on different wavebands H01Q5/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle

Abstract

A method and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises coarsely pointing the reflector to an orbital slot used in the satellite configuration, wherein at least one satellite in the orbital slot transmits first circularly polarized signals, and adjusting the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a reflector, a power meter coupled to the reflector, wherein the power meter and reflector are tuned to receive first circularly polarized signals, and an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism is manipulated to point the reflector at an orbital slot wherein at least one satellite in the orbital slot transmits the first circularly polarized signals, and to adjust the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot.

Claims

1. A method for aligning a reflector of an antenna with a satellite configuration, comprising:

coarsely pointing the reflector to an orbital slot used in the satellite configuration, wherein at least one satellite in the orbital slot transmits first circularly polarized signals; and

adjusting the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot, wherein a squint is used during the adjustment, the squint being an offset between the at least one satellite in the orbital slot and a center of the orbital slot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one other satellite in the orbital slot transmits second circularly polarized signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite in the orbital slot transmitting first circularly polarized signals is located at a squint half-angle away from the center of the orbital slot.

4. A system for aligning a reflector of an antenna with a satellite configuration, comprising:

a reflector;

a power meter coupled to the reflector, wherein the power meter and reflector are tuned to receive first circularly polarized signals;

an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism is manipulated to point the reflector at an orbital slot wherein at least one satellite in the orbital slot transmits the first circularly polarized signals, and to adjust the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot, wherein a squint is used during the adjustment, the squint being an offset between the at least one satellite in the orbital slot and a center of the orbital slot.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one other satellite in the orbital slot transmits second circularly polarized signals.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the satellite in the orbital slot transmitting first circularly polarized signals is located at a squint half-angle away from the center of the orbital slot.

7. A system for receiving satellite signals, the satellite signals being transmitted from a plurality of orbital slots, comprising:

a reflector; and

an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism is manipulated to point the reflector at an alignment point in a selected orbital slot in the plurality of orbital slots, wherein only one satellite in the selected orbital slot transmits the first circularly polarized signals, the alignment point in the selected orbital slot being one-half squint angle away from the center of the orbital slot, and a squint being an offset between the satellite in the orbital slot and a center of the orbital slot.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one other satellite in the selected orbital slot transmits second circularly polarized signals.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising offsetting the reflector from the alignment point.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the satellite in the orbital slot transmits in a Ka-band of frequencies.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the alignment point is determined by a signal strength of the first circularly polarized signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the reflector is offset from the alignment point based on a total number of satellites located at the selected orbital slot.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the satellite in the orbital slot transmitting first circularly polarized signals is located at a squint half-angle away from the center of the orbital slot.