Easy set-up, low profile, vehicle mounted, in-motion tracking, satellite antenna

• US 20030080898A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TIA Mobile Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TIA Mobile Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahon, John P., Wang, James June-Ming, Sun, Paul K., Santora, Russell Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 6,657,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/192 with dual offset reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate 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

A low profile, vehicle mounted, in-motion tracking, satellite antenna includes a pair of antenna assemblies mounted in parallel on a rotatable platform. Each antenna assembly includes two subreflectors with a plastic matching element. The outputs of the two antenna assemblies are coupled with a single phase shifter. The combined outputs are retransmitted to a receiver inside the vehicle. The satellite antenna also includes a receiver for receiving channel selection data and/or for providing two-way communication with equipment inside the vehicle. The antennae, transmitter and receiver are self-powered by a storage device which is charged by a wind driven generator. A retractable radome lowers to a lower profile when the antenna is not in use.

Claims

11. A low profile satellite antenna system for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

a) two parabolic cylindrical reflectors mounted parallel to each other, each parabolic cylindrical reflector being coupled to a respective waveguide; and

b) means for combining signals from said respective waveguides, wherein

said antenna system is adapted to receive signals in the wavelength of communication satellites.

12. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) mounting means for mounting the antenna system on the exterior of a vehicle.

13. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) retransmission means coupled to said means for combining for retransmitting combined signals at a wavelength longer than the wavelength of communication satellites.

14. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) two subreflectors having a nonconductive spacer between them which allows nonreflected satellite signal to pass between the sub reflectors.

15. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) a phase shifter coupled to one of said waveguides and to said means for combining such that the phase of the signal from the one of said waveguides is shifted before it is combined with the signal from the other of said waveguides.

16. The antenna system according to claim 15, further comprising:

d) a gain balancing means coupled to one of said waveguides and to said means for combining such that the strength of the signal from both of said waveguides is substantially the same before the signals are combined.

17. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) tracking means coupled to said reflectors for aiming the antenna assembly at a particular communications satellite.

18. The antenna system according to claim 17, wherein:

said tracking means includes azimuth adjustment means for adjusting the azimuth of said reflectors and elevation adjustment means for adjusting the elevation of said reflectors.

19. The antenna system according to claim 18, wherein:

said tracking means includes motion sensor means for automatically correcting the aim of said reflectors as the vehicle is in motion.

20. The antenna system according to claim 11, further comprising:

c) a retractable radome covering said antenna assembly; and

d) means for retracting said radome when said antenna assembly is not in use.

21. A satellite antenna system, comprising:

a) a first reflector dish;

b) a second reflector dish arranged parallel to said first reflector dish; and

c) elevation aiming means coupled to said first and second reflector dishes for adjusting the elevation angle of said dishes relative to a first plane, said elevation aiming means including means for altering the position of one of said reflector dishes in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

22. The antenna system according to claim 21, further comprising:

d) mounting means for mounting the antenna system on the exterior of a vehicle.

23. The antenna system according to claim 21, wherein:

each of said reflector dishes has two subreflectors with a nonconductive spacer between them which allows nonreflected satellite signal to pass between the sub reflectors.

24. The antenna system according to claim 22, further comprising:

e) tracking means coupled to said elevation aiming means for aiming the antenna assembly at a particular communications satellite.

25. The antenna system according to claim 24, wherein:

said tracking means includes azimuth adjustment means for adjusting the azimuth of said reflector dishes.

26. The antenna system according to claim 25, wherein:

said tracking means includes motion sensor means for automatically correcting the aim of said reflectors as the vehicle is in motion.

27. The antenna system according to claim 21, further comprising:

d) a retractable radome covering said antenna assembly; and

e) means for retracting said radome when said antenna assembly is not in use.

28. A satellite antenna, comprising:

a) a bifurcated reflector dish having a first reflector part and a second reflector part defining a first space therebetween;

b) a bifurcated subreflector having a first subreflector part and a second subreflector part defining a second space therebetween, wherein

said first space and said second space are arranged such that satellite signals reflected by said reflector dish and said subreflector mix constructively with unreflected satellite signals passing through said first and second spaces.

1. A low profile satellite antenna system for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:

a) two parabolic cylindrical reflectors mounted parallel to each other, each parabolic cylindrical reflector being coupled to a beam forming network; and

b) means for combining signals from each beam forming network, wherein

said antenna system is adapted to receive signals in the wavelength of communication satellites.

2. The antenna system according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) mounting means for mounting the antenna system on the exterior of a vehicle.

3. The antenna system according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) retransmission means coupled to said means for combining for retransmitting combined signals at a wavelength longer than the wavelength of communication satellites.

4. The antenna system according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) two subreflectors having a nonconductive spacer between them which allows nonreflected satellite signal to pass between the sub reflectors.

5. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) a phase shifter coupled to one of said beam forming networks and to said means for combining such that the phase of the signal from the one of said beam forming networks is shifted before it is combined with the signal from the other of said beam forming networks.

6. The antenna assembly according to claim 5, further comprising:

d) a gain balancing means coupled to one of said beam forming networks and to said means for combining such that the strength of the signal from both of said beam forming networks is substantially the same before the signals are combined.

7. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) tracking means coupled to said reflectors for aiming the antenna assembly at a particular communications satellite.

8. The antenna assembly according to claim 7, wherein:

said tracking means includes azimuth adjustment means for adjusting the azimuth of said reflectors and elevation adjustment means for adjusting the elevation of said reflectors.

9. The antenna assembly according to claim 8, wherein:

said tracking means includes motion sensor means for automatically correcting the aim of said reflectors as the vehicle is in motion.

10. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) a retractable radome covering said antenna assembly; and

d) means for retracting said radome when said antenna assembly is not in use.

30. The antenna according to claim 28, further comprising:

c) mounting means for mounting the antenna system on the exterior of a vehicle.

31. The antenna according to claim 30, further comprising:

d) tracking means coupled to said bifurcated reflector dish for aiming the antenna assembly at a particular communications satellite.

32. The antenna according to claim 31, wherein:

said tracking means includes azimuth adjustment means for adjusting the azimuth of said bifurcated reflector dish and elevation adjustment means for adjusting the elevation of said bifurcated reflector dish.

33. The antenna according to claim 32, wherein:

said tracking means includes motion sensor means for automatically correcting the aim of said bifurcated reflector dish as the vehicle is in motion.

33-1. The antenna according to claim 28, further comprising:

c) a retractable radome covering said antenna assembly; and

d) means for retracting said radome when said antenna assembly is not in use.