Including Antenna Orientation Patents (Class 342/359)
  • Patent number: 6563471
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically positioning/directing satellite antennas towards a satellite with which it is to communicate. The system and method may use characteristics of symmetry of mutually exclusive orthogonal axes. By using the symmetry of the antenna main beams, the ideal direction of the antenna can be attained and, at the same time, maximum cross-polarization may be achieved. The cross polarization may be required in order not to interfere with the orthogonal polarization. The system and method may position the Antenna on three mutually exclusive orthogonal planes, including the azimuth plane, the elevation plane, and the polarization plane. The system and method may include an indoor unit, which may include a satellite receiver, a telemetric transmission, and supply of voltage to a control system and which may control a drive motor and/or an electronic search device; and an outdoor unit, which may include a supervisory unit, a motor, and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd.
    Inventor: Danny Spirtus
  • Publication number: 20030080898
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: TIA Mobile, Inc.
    Inventors: James June-Ming Wang, Paul K. Sun, Russell Geoffrey Santora, John P. Mahon
  • Patent number: 6542117
    Abstract: A mobile satellite communications terminal (2) comprises a portable computer (68), an interface card (8) containing intermediate frequency (IF) conversion circuitry (28, 52), and an antenna assembly (10) including RF conversion circuitry (34, 50) and an antenna (44). The interface card (8) is connected to the antenna assembly (10) by a detachable cable (32), which carries IF signals. This arrangement reduces RF power losses and interference. The antenna (44) is manually steerable towards a geostationary or quasi-geostationary satellite (12). A navigation signal antenna (56) is mounted on the antenna assembly (10) and is steerable independently of the antenna (44) so as to be vertically aligned, which is the optimum position for receiving navigation signals. The antenna assembly (10) includes orientation sensors (70, 75) which allow the difference between the current and the correct orientation of the antenna (44) to be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Inmarsat Limited
    Inventor: John William Broughton
  • Patent number: 6538602
    Abstract: An axial-discrepancy amount calculating section 21 calculates discrepancy amounts between an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of a satellite 9 in the mobile object-fixed coordinate system computed by a satellite direction computing section 19 and an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of an antenna in the gimbal coordinate system detected after the antenna is directed by a peak direction drive controlling section 12 to a direction in which a peak received signal is given, and then commands an axial-discrepancy amount correcting section 20 to change the axial discrepancy amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Natsume, Tomoaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6538613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aiming an antenna, in which method the antenna (A1, A2) is installed in a desired position in order to aim the antenna (A1, A2) at a target (A1, A2) for the reception, transmission or reception and transmission of radio signals. According to the invention, the direction (LOS) of the target (A1, A2) for selecting the position of the antenna (A1, A2) is determined using an optical sight (S, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5). Further according to the invention the sight (S, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) is fitted in a predetermined position with respect to the position of the antenna (A1, A2) to be aimed, and the sight (S, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) is aimed at the target (A1, A2) in order to determine at the same time the position of said antenna (A1, A2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Juhani Pursiheimo
  • Publication number: 20030048222
    Abstract: An antenna of an earth station is adjusted at a predetermined interval for calibration purposes. A notification of clear sky is received. Signals from a satellite are received upon the receiving of the notification of clear sky. The antenna of the earth station is adjusted to point in various directions while receiving the signals from the satellite. A direction is determined where the antenna of the earth station is pointing where the strongest signal is received from the satellite. The antenna of the earth station is positioned to point in the direction where the strongest signal is received by the satellite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: John Schmid, Stan Kay, Russell Fang, Gregory Ernst, Mark Steber, Kumud Patel, Jeffrey Singer
  • Patent number: 6529161
    Abstract: An antenna controller comprises an antenna beam control unit for controlling the direction of an antenna beam of an antenna, an inertial navigation system for acquiring motion information on a motion of the mobile body, an antenna beam direction calculation unit for calculating the direction of the antenna based on the motion information from the inertial navigation system to direct the antenna beam toward the geostationary satellite, a motion information acquisition unit for separately acquiring motion information on the motion of the mobile body, and a motion estimation unit for estimating a delay of the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system based on the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system and the motion information acquired by the motion information acquisition unit, and for estimating motion information to be sent to the antenna beam direction calculation unit in consideration of the estimated delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Fukushima, Takeo Shimizu, Akio Iida
  • Patent number: 6529707
    Abstract: A dual mode telephone is used with a satellite communication adapter. A cellular-type handportable phone is equipped with a connector for the attachment of accessories. This connector provides a satellite communications adapter accessory access to the handset's signal processing resources which may operate in an alterative mode to process signals received from the satellite and converted by the adapter into a suitable form for processing. The processing translates the satellite signals into voice or data, and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Dent
  • Patent number: 6516272
    Abstract: An improved positioning and data integrating process and system can substantially solve the problems encountered in system integration for personal hand-held applications, air, land, and water vehicles, wherein an integrated global positioning system/inertial measurement unit, enhanced with optional other devices to derive user position, velocity, attitude, and body acceleration and rotation information, and distributes these data to other onboard systems, for example, in case of aircraft application, flight management system, flight control system, automatic dependent surveillance, cockpit display, enhanced ground proximity warning system, weather radar, and satellite communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 6513758
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a movable appendage on an aerospace vehicle independent from the position of the aerospace vehicle. First and second beacons containing actual position information for the movable appendage are tracked and acquired by first and second beacon tracking sites. The beacon tracking sites report the azimuth and elevation data relating to the position of the movable appendage to a processor where a correction command is determined based on an error calculated from the position data and a desired position. The correction command is communicated to the movable appendage so that appropriate correction to the desired position can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Lloyd
  • Publication number: 20030016172
    Abstract: An axial-discrepancy amount calculating section 21 calculates discrepancy amounts between an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of a satellite 9 in the mobile object-fixed coordinate system computed by a satellite direction computing section 19 and an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of an antenna in the gimbal coordinate system detected after the antenna is directed by a peak direction drive controlling section 12 to a direction in which a peak received signal is given, and then commands an axial-discrepancy amount correcting section 20 to change the axial discrepancy amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Natsume, Tomoaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6509934
    Abstract: An antenna is directed to optimally receive an advanced television signal. First, the strength of the signal is measured as a function of the azimuth angle of the antenna, and second the flatness of the signal is measured as a function of the azimuth angle of the antenna. The antenna is then rotated to maximize the flatness of the signal while maintaining the strength of the signal above a minimum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Bao, Victor Sinyansky
  • Patent number: 6507325
    Abstract: An antenna that has an alignment configuration for aligning the antenna with a satellite. In one embodiment, the antenna includes an antenna reflector that has a centerline and a front surface and a rear surface. A reference plane is defined on the rear surface that is perpendicular to the centerline of the reflector. The reference plane is used in connection with alignment devices for orienting the antenna reflector in desired azimuth, elevation, and skew orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Timothy H. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6504504
    Abstract: The antenna system comprises a reflector which can be motionless, a source device and a device for treating the signals received by the source device. The system comprises means for automatically tracking the satellite that deviates from its initial position to an inclined orbital path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Eutelsat S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Tits, Kamal Lotfy
  • Patent number: 6504502
    Abstract: A pointing system and method for directing a first satellite system instrument to a first target is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of computing the orientation of a first satellite system instrument; computing a position of the satellite using measured orbital data; computing a target line of sight (LOS) vector direction from the satellite to the target using the computed orientation and the computed satellite position, and directing the first instrument to the first target according to the computed target LOS vector. The apparatus comprises at least one attitude sensor for the first instrument and a communicatively coupled satellite navigation system. The satellite navigation system determines the satellite position using measured satellite orbital data. The satellite navigation system computes the orientation of the first instrument using the attitude measurements, and computes the satellite position using measured satellite orbital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yeong-Wei Wu, Rongsheng Li
  • Patent number: 6501965
    Abstract: The base station has an antenna system comprising a housing for fixing it to a support and one or several radiating slots. It is designed for transmitting, in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the housing, an electric field with polarization oriented along a second direction substantially parallel to the front surface, and for transmitting, in another direction closer to the second than to the first direction, an electric field with polarization substantially oriented along the first direction. The base station is well adapted to indoor environments in microcells or picocells. It can be fixed vertically on a wall or be horizontally suspended to a ceiling, without requiring separate antenna systems for these two installation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Matra Cellular
    Inventor: Thierry Lucidarme
  • Patent number: 6501423
    Abstract: A system for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite network is disclosed. A transceiver is coupled to the antenna; the transceiver transmits and receives signals over the two-way satellite network. A user terminal is coupled to the transceiver and executes an antenna pointing program. The program instructs a user to initially point the antenna to a beacon satellite using predefined pointing values based upon the location of the antenna. The program receives new antenna pointing parameters that are downloaded from a hub over a temporary channel that is established via the beacon satellite. The program displays the new antenna pointing parameters and instructs the user to selectively re-point the antenna based upon the downloaded new antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Kelly, Mark Petronic, Matthew Baer
  • Patent number: 6476764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring a non-tracking satellite antenna terminal's pointing accuracy in three situations. First, the pointing accuracy is monitored after initial installation of the antenna within a geo-synchronous satellite communications system. Secondly, the method is employed to determine mis-pointing of the antenna terminal as a result of a long term event such as building settlement. Lastly, the method is employed to detect mis-pointing of the non-tracking antenna terminal due to a short term event, such as an earthquake, wind storm, or hurricane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Fang
  • Publication number: 20020158797
    Abstract: A system for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite network is disclosed. A transceiver is coupled to the antenna; the transceiver transmits and receives signals over the two-way satellite network. A user terminal is coupled to the transceiver and executes an antenna pointing program. The program instructs a user to initially point the antenna to a beacon satellite using predefined pointing values based upon the location of the antenna. The program receives new antenna pointing parameters that are downloaded from a hub over a temporary channel that is established via the beacon satellite. The program displays the new antenna pointing parameters and instructs the user to selectively re-point the antenna based upon the downloaded new antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Kelly, Mark Petronic, Matthew Baer
  • Patent number: 6473035
    Abstract: A system and method for pointing a non-tracking antenna in a geo-synchronous satellite-based communication system is provided. A satellite terminal antenna is initially pointed towards the target satellite by any desired method. The antenna bore sight is then aligned towards the center of a satellite station-keeping box for operational use. By pointing the antenna bore sight towards the center of the satellite station-keeping box, the largest excursion between the antenna's bore sight and the actual satellite position is no greater than half the diagonal of the satellite station-keeping box despite the fact that satellite will move within the satellite station-keeping box's outer limits after the installation of the non-tracking antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Fang
  • Patent number: 6473689
    Abstract: The invention specifies a method for navigating a vehicle, in which an output signal from a direction unit is used to determine the direction by processing a difference from a value (drift) which is valid for travel in a straight line. The aim of this is to have more accurate values available for direction determination. The drift is therefore determined by the following steps: a) the absolute direction of the vehicle at a first instant is determined using external auxiliary means, b) the absolute direction of the vehicle at a second instant is determined using external auxiliary means, c) a direction difference is formed from the two absolute directions, d) the direction changes ascertained by the direction unit are summed to form a direction sum, e) a correction variable is calculated using the direction difference and the direction sum, and f) a new drift is formed from a previous drift and the correction variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Egbert Egberts
  • Patent number: 6459408
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to inform a person who adjusts the direction of an antenna 70 of the intensity of a signal received by the antenna 70 without connecting or adding special equipment to the antenna 70 or a connection cable 74. The satellite receiver 20 comprises: a received intensity information outputting means 22 for outputting received intensity information describing the intensity of a signal received from the antenna 70; a modulating means 30 for superimposing the received intensity information on a carrier wave; and a superimposing means 40 for superimposing the carrier wave carrying the received intensity information on a connection cable 74.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Masahiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 6442480
    Abstract: A method for acquiring azimuth information includes the steps of disposing a pair of planar antennas each having a hemispherical antenna pattern for GPS satellite signals back-to-back, parallel to each other and vertical, whereby each planar antenna forms a sky coverage area of antenna sensitivity that is a sky quarter-sphere in the direction the antenna faces; causing a pair of GPS receivers, one connected to each antenna, to scan signals transmitted by GPS satellites in the sky hemisphere; causing the GPS receivers to output respective channel statuses indicating reception of the signal transmitted by each GPS satellite in the sky hemisphere; causing at least one GPS receiver to output satellite azimuth for each GPS satellite in the sky hemisphere; discriminating the sky coverage area in which each GPS satellite that transmitted the signal is present, based oil a comparison of the channel statuses in the GPS receivers; arranging the results of the discriminating step in a ring-like sequence of a specific ro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Communications Research Laboratory, Independent Administrative Institution
    Inventor: Masato Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6441782
    Abstract: A system for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite network is disclosed. A transceiver is coupled to the antenna; the transceiver transmits and receives signals over the two-way satellite network. A user terminal is coupled to the transceiver and executes an antenna pointing program. The program instructs a user to initially point the antenna to a beacon satellite using predefined pointing values based upon the location of the antenna. The program receives new antenna pointing parameters that are downloaded from a hub over a temporary channel that is established via the beacon satellite. The program displays the new antenna pointing parameters and instructs the user to selectively re-point the antenna based upon the downloaded new antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Kelly, Mark Petronic, Matthew Baer
  • Patent number: 6441779
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining a satellite antenna attitude are disclosed. Radio signals from a satellite, such as a GPS satellite, are received by a plurality of coupled antenna elements forming an antenna array. Local attitude values of the antenna array and/or the antenna elements with respect to a reference plane are determined using a shaft encoder or gyro, whereas a carrier-phase antenna attitude is determined from the received radio signals. The array and/or array elements are rotated over a predetermined angle and a correction value of the antenna attitude is determined from a time-averaged difference between the local attitude values and the carrier-phase attitude values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: KVH Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney M. Bennett, Ronald Paradis
  • Patent number: 6433736
    Abstract: An apparatus for an improved antenna tracking system for antennas mounted on an unstable platform. The system comprising a directional antenna, an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) mechanically connected to the at least one directional antenna, a self-scan acquisition and tracking method and an antenna controller connected to the AHRS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: LaMar K. Timothy, Michael L. Ownby, Douglas G. Bowen
  • Publication number: 20020105461
    Abstract: An antenna controller comprises an antenna beam control unit for controlling the direction of an antenna beam of an antenna, an inertial navigation system for acquiring motion information on a motion of the mobile body, an antenna beam direction calculation unit for calculating the direction of the antenna beam based on the motion information from the inertial navigation system to direct the antenna beam toward the geostationary satellite, a motion information acquisition unit for separately acquiring motion information on the motion of the mobile body, and a motion estimation unit for estimating a delay of the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system based on the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system and the motion information acquired by the motion information acquisition unit, and for estimating motion information to be sent to the antenna beam direction calculation unit in consideration of the estimated delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Fukushima, Takeo Shimizu, Akio Iida
  • Patent number: 6427122
    Abstract: An improved positioning and data integrating process and system can substantially solve the problems encountered in system integration for personal hand-held applications, air, land, and water vehicles, wherein an integrated global positioning system/inertial measurement unit, enhanced with optional other devices to derive user position, velocity, attitude, and body acceleration and rotation information, and distributes these data to other onboard systems, for example, in case of aircraft application, flight management system, flight control system, automatic dependent surveillance, cockpit display, enhanced ground proximity warning system, weather radar, and satellite communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Fang Lin
  • Publication number: 20020097183
    Abstract: A remote controlled actuator system has a motor with a drive or screw shaft. The motor drives a sliding element propelled by the screw shaft. The control circuit may include steering diodes to minimize wires where there is sensing or more than one actuator. A remote controller may direct motor movement of individual actuators without a local controller. The remote actuator may be used to sense remote position through the steering diodes. There is a bipolar and bi-level drive circuit providing the step voltage to achieve high performance motor movement. The guideway may have an internal keyway along with an anti-rotation sliding bearing protected against rotation by the keyway. This anti-rotation sliding bearing restricts the piston to linear travel along the driving motor lead screw thread. The position sensor may include a resistive element sliding contact mounted to the sliding piston. A special coaxial mechanical coupling method simplifies installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Richard L. Weinbrenner
  • Patent number: 6421000
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating multipath signal distortion using a multi-element antenna array is provided. The multi-element antenna array is used to discriminate between the desired signal and its multipath components based on spatial angle of arrival. A reference signal, provided by the positioning system receiver, is used to compute element weightings that are utilized to null out the multipath components before they reach the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. McDowell
  • Patent number: 6417803
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting antenna beam misalignment between a transmit antenna and a receive antenna on a mobile platform such as an aircraft. The beam alignment method makes use of sequential lobing to determine the pointing angles in azimuth and elevation of a receive beam received by the receive antenna. For the transmit antenna, sequential lobing is used for the transmit antenna beam transmitted to a transponded satellite and then to a ground station. The ground station performs received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements and transmits these measurements back to the aircraft 16 via the target satellite. From these measurements, the beam misalignment between the receive and transmit antenna beams, both in azimuth and elevation, can be determined and a correction applied to the transmit antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael de La Chapelle, Christopher McLain, David S. Parkman
  • Patent number: 6404385
    Abstract: A telecommunications system antenna for communicating, in transmission and in reception, with a large area whose position relative to the antenna varies. The antenna has motors (80, 82) for pointing the antenna towards the area and radiating elements (74, 76) associated with a control device for modifying the antenna's radiation pattern according to the relative position of the antenna and the area. When the antenna is installed on a telecommunications satellite, as the antenna moves, the antenna can remain constantly in communication with an area of the Earth covering several hundred kilometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Frédéric Croq, Florence Dolmeta, Philippe Voisin, Didier Casasoprana
  • Patent number: 6401036
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices that enable correction of gyroscope bias and gyroscope bias drift in low-cost, vehicular navigation and positioning systems without using estimates of position and heading, and subsequent correction of heading and position errors resulting from gyroscope bias and bias drift, without relying on assumptions regarding gyroscope bias or predetermined time-dependent gyroscope bias drift profiles. The invention improves over existing GPS/DR systems that do not compensate for actual gyroscope bias instability, but instead correct the heading and position error that is induced by the bias instability and then correct estimates of gyroscope bias based on the corrected position and heading. The inventive methods provided herein can be used with any DR vehicle positioning system that uses a gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Geier, Russel Figor, Troy L. Strother
  • Patent number: 6400315
    Abstract: A control system for maximizing performance of an electronically scanned, mechanically augmented phased array (MAPA) antenna. In one preferred form, the control system forms a closed loop system which monitors a signal quality of the received signal from a primary signal source such as a primary satellite, and generates motor control signals for controlling a motor used to rotate the MAPA antenna about an axis so as to point the antenna at least slightly away from the primary signal source while electronically steering the antenna to track the primary signal source. The MAPA antenna is positioned so as to maximize the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNI) ratio, and thus minimize the influence of interfering signal sources operating within a coverage region of the MAPA antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles Otis Adler, Jeffrey Kim Cunningham, Matthew Edward Lavelle
  • Patent number: 6393303
    Abstract: A method of directional radio communication between a first station and a second station comprises the following steps. A first signal transmitted from the second station is received at the first station. The first signal is receivable from a plurality of different directions. A principle beam direction from which the first signal is received by the first station is determined. A plurality of beam directions for transmitting a radiation beam is defined at the first station. Each of the beam directions is selectable. The determined principle beam direction and at least one other auxiliary beam direction is selected at the first station. The at least one auxiliary beam direction is adjacent to the determined principle beam direction. A second signal is transmitted from the first station to the second station in the selected beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventor: Marcos Katz
  • Patent number: 6393255
    Abstract: A satellite antenna pointing system has a reflector antenna for receiving an uplink signal from an earth based ground station and a satellite based phased array assembly for transmitting a downlink signal. Because extraterrestrial communications suffer significant losses during transmission, accurate pointing of both uplink and downlink antennas is desired in order to reduce required signal strength. The present invention uses two different methods for pointing the uplink and downlink antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Steven O. Lane
  • Patent number: 6388614
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for pointing a satellite dish to receive signals from a geo-synchronous satellite. An aperture cover is used to partially block electromagnetic radiation provide to a feed horn and power and/or signal quality measurements are taken with the aperture cover covering various portions of the feed horn opening. Based on these power and/or signal quality measurements, it is determined in what direction and what angle in that direction the satellite dish must be re-oriented to achieve optimal signal strength from a geo-synchronous satellite or other fixed position microwave source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Nick Radonic
  • Patent number: 6384778
    Abstract: A satellite communication system for aircraft having other than top-mounted satellite communication antennas, wherein the system includes an ability to optimize the operation of the system depending on the existence of other than top-mounted antennas and/or the angular distance between a normal line of such antennas and a line drawn from the antenna to a satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas B. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6384779
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving a tracking speed of a satellite antenna comprising the steps of receiving image signals and external light signals of a vehicle; determining if a value of the image signals is greater than a predetermined image signal value; re-positioning a satellite antenna if the value of the image signals is less than the predetermined image signal value such that the value of the image signals is increased; maintaining a present position of the satellite antenna if the value of the image signals is greater than the predetermined image signal value; determining if an absolute value of a previous external light signal value subtracted from a value of the present external light signals is less than a predetermined external light signal value, or if a tail light is illuminated, or if an automatic illumination system is operating; determining that the vehicle is travelling through a tunnel or a similarly obstructed location if any of the three conditions of the above step are met, and maint
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dong-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 6377211
    Abstract: An antenna aiming or pointing apparatus and method is mounted on a vehicle, which may be moving or mobile, for pointing a directional antenna toward a spacecraft in a nongeosynchronous orbit. Since the vehicle moves, its attitude in terms of pitch, roll and azimuth or yaw change from time to time. As a consequence, neither the spacecraft nor the vehicle have a fixed location. The antenna pointing arrangement includes vehicle-mounted sensors for determining roll and pitch, and a compass for determining, with magnetic correction, the azimuth of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle pointing system includes a GPS receiver, which produces signals indicative of the vehicle location and the current time. The system includes memory which is loaded from time to time with spacecraft orbital information as a function of time. The memory can be loaded from the internet by wireless Internet or by hard wire when the vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Chia Yi Hsiung
  • Patent number: 6374096
    Abstract: A method, and related apparatus, for detecting interference at a first communications terminal comprising establishing a communications link between the first communications terminal and a second communications terminal. Then monitoring a noise floor of the communications link over time, the noise floor representing a base level of noise present in the communications link and calculating a long term noise floor power level without interference in response to the monitoring of the noise floor of the communications link over time. Then monitoring a noise floor of a current communication through the communications link, representing a current level of noise present on the communications link and calculating a short term noise floor power level in response to the monitoring of the noise floor of the current communication through the communications link. Finally, comparing the short-term noise floor power level with the long term noise floor power level without interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Parr
  • Patent number: 6369942
    Abstract: A mounting and tracking system for telescopes receives date, time, and geographical position data and, in response, automatically selects and points the telescope to a first alignment star. The user completes the exact centering of the first alignment star. Based on the date, time, and geographical position data, the telescope automatically selects and points to a second alignment star. After the user completes the exact centering of the second alignment star the system automatically points to and tracks any of a large number of celestial bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventors: Rick Hedrick, Manishi Gupta, James Barnaby
  • Patent number: 6359585
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining an orientation of an object wherein a directional antenna of a global positioning system receiver acquires a position of a global positioning system transmitter. An orientation of the directional antenna of the global positioning system receiver is determined with respect to the global positioning system transmitter, the determined orientation of the direction antenna corresponding to the object so as to enable the orientation of the object to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary S. Bechman, Robert I. Bowen
  • Publication number: 20020018016
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for pointing a satellite dish to receive signals from a geo-synchronous satellite. An aperture cover is used to partially block electromagnetic radiation provide to a feed horn and power and/or signal quality measurements are taken with the aperture cover covering various portions of the feed horn opening. Based on these power and/or signal quality measurements, it is determined in what direction and what angle in that direction the satellite dish must be re-oriented to achieve optimal signal strength from a geo-synchronous satellite or other fixed position microwave source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Nick Radonic
  • Patent number: 6345075
    Abstract: For each K subscriber of a cellular mobile radio network who is supplied with one and the same frequency and one and the same time slot a decision-feedback and therefore non-linear antenna pre-processing facility with a decision-feedback structure is used comprising forward filters backward filters and decision circuits for the adaptation of the antenna weighting factors, wherein the backward filters are adapted to the length of the processing window D of MLSE, and the output signals of the forward filters for the actual data detection are taken to the MLSE of the subscriber concerned, before the subtraction of the feedback component takes place. Each of the receiver structures similar to K can be adapted and operated independently from the other K-1 structures. A common vectorial MLSE for the common data detection of all K subscribers can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Telekom Austria Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Fuhl, Ernst Bonek
  • Patent number: 6341223
    Abstract: A method for predicting the characteristics of wave propagation in an urban canyon model considering the effect of polarization is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: numbering a plurality of image antennas corresponding to reflections between transmitting and receiving antennas in an urban canyon; determining the propagation paths corresponding to the respective image antennas; computing the respective first reflection points of the propagation paths corresponding to the image antennas; computing the respective reflection electric field vectors of the propagation paths corresponding to the image antennas; and finding the total received power of the receiving antennas through the reflection electric field vectors of the propagation paths and the unit polarization vector of the receiving antenna. Accurate fading effects can be obtained by assuming a sufficiently large number of propagation pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jee-Yeon Park
  • Patent number: 6337658
    Abstract: An antenna alignment method for example for application to transmit/receive band satellite ground terminals, and a peak search tool for the realization of this method. In the method, from the antenna, a test signal is transmitted over an uplink channel to the satellite. Over a downlink channel from the satellite is received a sequence of alignment accuracy indications for the test signal. On the basis of the sequence of alignment accuracy indications, adjustments to the antenna's orientation for the alignment parameter are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Weiping Tong, Claude Dupuis, Ning Guo
  • Publication number: 20020000931
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite communication system via a graphical user interface (GUI), including receiving via the GUI location information associated with the antenna; downloading via the GUI antenna pointing parameters, displaying via the GUI the antenna pointing parameters; and instructing a user via the GUI to selectively point the antenna based upon the downloaded antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Petronic, Frank Kelly
  • Patent number: 6334218
    Abstract: A satellite broadcast receiver comprises an antenna, a tuner, a modulator, a FEC decoder, a microprocessor, and an antenna driver. The antenna receives the satellite signal and the tuner tunes the satellite signal received by the antenna, and the modulator modulates the satellite signal tuned by the tuner into digital signal, the FEC decoder corrects a position error of the satellite antenna using the signal modulated by the modulator, and outputs a corresponding output signal, and the microprocessor receives the signal modulated by the modulator and the output signal of the error corrector, and outputs a control signal which controls the position of the antenna, and the antenna driver drives the antenna in accordance with the control signal of the microprocessor. The satellite broadcast receiver enables a user to detect satellites fast and see satellite broadcast conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Handan Broadinfocom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Won Jeong, Joong-Jeh Park, Min-Gu Kim, Jang-Hee Lee, Yong-Kook Lee
  • Publication number: 20010045906
    Abstract: A system for directing an antenna for transmission over a two-way satellite network is disclosed. A transceiver is coupled to the antenna; the transceiver transmits and receives signals over the two-way satellite network. A user terminal is coupled to the transceiver and executes an antenna pointing program. The program instructs a user to initially point the antenna to a beacon satellite using predefined pointing values based upon the location of the antenna. The program receives new antenna pointing parameters that are downloaded from a hub over a temporary channel that is established via the beacon satellite. The program displays the new antenna pointing parameters and instructs the user to selectively re-point the antenna based upon the downloaded new antenna pointing parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Frank Kelly, Mark Petronic, Matthew Baer