Antenna system

• US 8,761,663 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Original Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Inventors: Kaplan, Ilan, Gross, David, DiFonzo, Daniel Francis, Bruestle, Kevin Arthur, Boyanov, Victor, Kamenopolski, Stanimir Dimitrov
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US13/048,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20110217976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.3, 342 74- 81, 342/350, 342/352, 342/354, 3423572-35725, 342/358, 342/359, 342367-368, 343878-882, 343/824, 343/826, 343/835, 343/844, 343/893
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/245 provided with means for varying the polarisation polarising devices H01Q15/24; tracking by comparing linear polarisation compounds G01S3/146; reducing depolarisation effects H04B7/00; polarisation diversity H04B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

A multi-band low-profile, low-volume two-way mobile panel array antenna system is described. Operation of the antenna may automatically switch between bands based on various user-entered parameters.

Claims

1. An antenna system, comprising:

a low-volume enclosure;

a motor-driven rotatable assembly within the enclosure;

a flat panel array antenna mounted on the rotatable assembly within the enclosure and configured to communicate in a first satellite frequency band;

a secondary antenna within the enclosure and mounted on the rotatable assembly, configured to communicate in a second satellite frequency band different from the first;

a processor, configured to automatically switch between the first and second bands for two-way satellite communication in each band; and

a dual-channel rotary joint connecting a block upconverter unit to the motor-driven rotatable assembly, wherein the block upconverter unit is configured to be a stationary mount, while the rotating assembly is configured to rotate with respect to the block upconverter unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to automatically switch between the first and second bands based on user-entered parameters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to automatically switch between the first and second bands based on signal strength requirements and a predefined priority between the bands.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the parameters identify different priorities for different geographic locations.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the parameters identify different priorities for different times of day.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the parameters identify different priorities for different satellite look angles.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the parameters identify different priorities for different amounts of available bandwidth on the first and second bands.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third antenna, configured to communicate in a terrestrial wireless frequency band.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the terrestrial wireless frequency band is a cellular telephone frequency.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to autonomously acquire and track a satellite while the antenna system is in motion.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the parameters identify different priorities for different bandwidth costs on the first and second bands.

12. An antenna system, comprising:

a block upconverter unit;

a low-volume enclosure mounted on the block upconverter unit;

a rotating assembly mounted on the block upconverter unit and within the enclosure;

two flat panel antennas within the enclosure, wherein the antennas are configured to communicate with satellites in different frequency bands;

a processor, configured to use the antennas to track and communicate with satellites in the different frequency bands, and to automatically switch between the different frequency bands; and

a dual-channel rotary joint connecting the block upconverter unit to the rotating assembly, wherein the block upconverter unit is configured to be a stationary mount, while the rotating assembly is configured to rotate with respect to the block upconverter unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to switch between the different frequency bands based on data transmission need characteristics of a device communicatively coupled to the system, and on respective bandwidth availability of the different bands.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to switch between the different frequency bands based on data transmission need characteristics of a device communicatively coupled to the system, and on bandwidth cost parameters for the different bands.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to switch between the different frequency bands based on satellite look angles for satellites using the different frequency bands.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a third antenna mounted on the rotating assembly and within the enclosure, and configured to communicate using terrestrial cellular telephone communications.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS), wherein the processor is further configured to use the GPS to determine which panel and frequency will be used to service a user device communicatively connected to the system.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the low-volume enclosure has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of less than thirteen inches and a height of less than ten inches.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein one of the antennas is a Ku or Ka band antenna mounted on an elevation mount, while the other one of the antennas is an L-band antenna that is mounted without an elevation mount.