Abstract: A method that determines a physical location of an unknown position device (UPD) in a communication network including a plurality of known position devices (KDPs), in which a message transmitted by the UPD is received by plural KDPs. The method includes measuring a signal quality of each received message received by the plural KDPs from the UPD, and computing the likely physical location of the UPD based on the physical location of the plural KPDs receiving the message from the UPD and the respective signal quality measured at each KPD.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for power management in wireless networks. Based upon receipt of an indication of the link margin of a receiving wireless device, a transmitting wireless device may adjust its transmit power commensurate with the link margin. The indication of the link margin may be transmitted from the receiving wireless device to the transmitting wireless device periodically. Alternatively, the receiving wireless station may provide the indication of the link margin in response to information received from the transmitting wireless device. In this instance, the indication of the link margin may be included in a piggyback acknowledgement (ACK) frame conventionally used to acknowledge receipt of the information transmitted by the transmitting wireless station.

Abstract: A Master Antenna Controller is provided comprising a RET Master which may replace several devices, provide full RET control based on the AISG 1.1 and 2.0 standards, provide extensive, screen-guided, intuitive RET diagnostics functionality, and provide an alignment tool free from the problems of magnetic deviation and cumbersome differential GPS antennae. The RET diagnostics functionality may include measurements of voltage, current, and AISG protocol commands. The RET Master may also include multiple different pre-defined tests (e.g. test one actuator, test one RET cable, test AISG signal from TMA) and also some standard electrical tests, e.g. measuring voltage, current etc. Users will be guided on the screen about how to test and what steps to do and the software will guide the user through several steps for an easy and quick trouble-shooting process.

Abstract: This device combines multiple elements that function like a single smart antenna that performs both connectivity and spatial discrimination functions. The antenna functions in both receive and transmit modes. The apparatus utilizes commonly used components to distinguish and separate desired satellite signals from those signals of satellites in close directional proximity. Disclosed are six methods for optimizing reception of desired satellite signals performed either mechanically or electronically and also included is an optimization technique when data stream reception is ?1 Gbps. The transmission apparatus uses many of the same components as the receiver antenna and additionally uses in-beam nulling to fine tune transmission.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises an antenna with tunable directivity. Furthermore, the portable electronic device comprises an orientation unit adapted to sense an orientation of the portable electronic device. Moreover, the portable electronic device comprises a control unit operatively connected to the orientation unit and the antenna. The control unit is arranged to receive orientation data indicative of the orientation of the portable electronic device from the orientation unit, and to tune the directivity of the antenna based on the received orientation data. A method of operating the portable electronic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, testing, and controlling alignment are provided, including an antenna assembly with an antenna and a receiver, the antenna configured to receive signals from a remote source, the receiver coupled to the antenna and configured to generate signal strength values associated with the signals from the remote source, and where the antenna assembly exhibits an azimuthal alignment relative to an axis determined by the antenna assembly and the remote source. Systems and methods provided herein further generate a first coarse-grained signal strength value from set of signal strength values generated by the receiver while the antenna assembly is at a first azimuthal alignment offset, and generate a measure that the first azimuthal alignment offset is at least one of: less than a predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, approximately equal to the predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, and greater than the predetermined azimuthal alignment magnitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking a remote source and monitoring and controlling the angular orientation of an antenna array, including a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion, are provided, including a sum-difference structure coupled to a first output of the first antenna portion and a second output of the second antenna portion, where the sum-difference structure provides both a sum power signal and a difference power signal, and where both the sum power signal and the difference power signal have associated RSSI values generated by an RSSI circuit. Systems and methods provided herein further include a sum-delta processor configured to utilize the RSSI values to generate an off-bore-sight angle of the antenna array relative to a position of a transmitting radiofrequency signal source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for controlling the direction of an antenna beam includes a location identifier, an orientation sensor, and an antenna beam controller. The location identifier determines a transmit antenna location indicating the location of a transmit antenna, where the transmit antenna produces an antenna beam. The orientation sensor determines a transmit antenna orientation indicating the orientation of the transmit antenna. The antenna beam: accesses target data describing a receive antenna of a target, the target data comprising a location of the receive antenna relative to the transmit antenna; calculates a deviation value from the transmit antenna location, the transmit antenna orientation, and the target data; and adjusts the direction of the antenna beam to reduce the deviation value.

Abstract: A portable satellite tracking antenna utilizes a tiltable reflector surface, and a parabolic reflector surface to direct a satellite signal to a feed horn. A fixed flat reflector surface is utilized in conjunction with the parabolic reflector surface to increase the strength of a signal that is transmitted from the parabolic reflector surface to the feed horn. In one preferred embodiment the parabolic reflector surface is fixed, and the feed horn and tiltable reflector surface are rotatable to selected azimuth settings. The cant of the tiltable reflector surface is adjusted by pivoting the tiltable reflector surface.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for estimating sensor signals to stabilize a posture of a mobile satellite tracking antenna.

Abstract: Tracking system for flat mobile antenna, which includes: sensors for angular velocity (1), which sense the rotation of the antenna around their axes; sensors, sensing the orientation of the antenna according to vertical axis (2); control block (3), which calculates necessary corrections of the direction of antenna beam and which is connected to outputs of sensors (1, 2) and with inputs of driving block (4) and beam control block (5); at least one motor (7), which changes the orientation of the antenna and which is connected to the output of driving block (4) and which drives the antenna panel (8); block for electronic beam steering (5), which is connected to antenna panel (8); power supply block, which converts the voltage from the electrical network of the vehicle into suitable values for providing of power supply of all blocks of the system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with a first signal transmitted by a first satellite in the satellite configuration, and aligning the reflector in tilt with a second signal transmitted by a second satellite in the satellite configuration, wherein aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with the first signal and in tilt with the second signal aligns the reflector with at least a third signal transmitted from a third satellite.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and techniques for using composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure antenna elements and arrays to provide radiation pattern shaping and beam switching.

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.

Abstract: A smart antenna system may exploit space diversity by employing an array of antennas whose radiation pattern can be aligned in a direction of arrival (DoA) of a specific signal to be decoded. Smart antennas can be installed on a base station side and/or on a user terminal side. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for computationally efficient and accurate searching of the DoA of a specific transmitted signal. The proposed methods utilize Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) coordinates to determine the DoA.

Abstract: A method of automatic alignment of two directional beams having a known path attenuation, and an antenna gain pattern, for mutual transmission, comprises: determining a beam width between two angles of minimal detectable connection on either side of a beam maximum; then mapping points onto a scan field in a regular pattern, the pattern based on the beam width, such that a beam with the determined beam width is detected once if the beam is in the scan field at all; scanning the first antenna over the mapped scan points; and for each point allowing the second antenna to scan over all of its own set of mapped scan points, thereby providing a coarse alignment of the two antennas to achieve at least a minimal mutual connection. The coarse alignment may be followed by a fine alignment to maximize the signal.

Abstract: An antenna device includes: an antenna base portion; an antenna mount portion which is supported by the antenna base portion and rotated around an azimuth axis and which supports a main reflector with two struts; a frame structure group including a plurality of frame structures which are provided in the antenna base portion and the antenna mount portion, with six degrees of freedom restrained, respectively; a displacement gauge group which measures a displacement of the frame structure group; a metrology correction portion which calculates a pointing error of an antenna based on measured data of the displacement gauge group and calculates a metrology correction amount by removing an error amount arising depending on an azimuth angle from the calculated pointing error; and a control circuit which controls a driving of the antenna by correcting a drive command value of the antenna with the metrology correction amount.

Abstract: An improved control system for controlling the electrical tilt, i.e. the electrically controlled inclination of a radiated beam, of a base station antenna (70) with a vertical row of antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna includes a phase shifting device (73) including a tilt adjusting mechanism with a displaceable mechanical element for adjusting an electrical tilt setting of the antenna lobe being radiated from the antenna. The control system is divided into two parts, namely a first part, including the entire tilt adjusting mechanism (73), an electrical motor (75) and a position sensor (74), these elements constituting internal components being arranged inside the antenna casing (70), and a second part, including the remaining components of the control system, including an electrical motor control circuit (51; 61), and a logic circuit (56; 66) determining the electrical tilt setting.

Abstract: A retro-directive antenna for communicating with a geostationary satellite autonomously detects the direction from which a signal is received, and transmits a beam that points back along the same direction. An array feed is used to illuminate a parabolic reflector. Each feed element of the retro-directive antenna is associated with a unique pointing direction of the beam in the far field. As the transmit energy is switched to different feed elements, the far-field beam is scanned, making it possible to track a geostationary satellite in a slightly inclined orbit. This eliminates the need for mechanical tracking and maintains high antenna gain in the direction of the geostationary satellite. The use of a toroidal reflector with multiple linear array feeds spaced in the azimuth direction enables multi-beam operation, allowing multiple geostationary satellites, spaced by up to fifteen beam widths in azimuth, to be tracked simultaneously and independently.

Abstract: A system for estimating an antenna boresight direction. The novel system includes a first circuit for receiving a Doppler measurement and a line-of-sight direction measurement corresponding with the Doppler measurement, and a processor adapted to search for an estimated boresight direction that minimizes a Doppler error between the Doppler measurement and a calculated Doppler calculated from the estimated boresight direction and the line-of-sight direction measurement. The line-of-sight direction measurement is measured relative to the true antenna boresight, and the calculated Doppler is the Doppler calculated for a direction found by applying the line-of-sight direction measurement to the estimated boresight direction. In a preferred embodiment, the first circuit receives a Doppler measurement and a line-of-sight direction measurement from each of a plurality of pixels, and the processor searches for an estimated boresight direction that minimizes a sum of squares of Doppler errors for each of the pixels.

Abstract: The antenna unit 100 includes a first antenna 10 positioned so as to face in the direction of gravity when the unit is oriented transversely, and a second antenna 20 positioned so as to face in the direction of gravity when the unit is oriented longitudinally. Based on the output of a sensor 50 that detects whether the antenna unit 100 is oriented transversely or oriented longitudinally, a switch controller 42 performs switching of an RF switch 30 so that the first antenna is used for reception or transmission of vertically polarized waves when the antenna unit 100 is oriented transversely, and the second antenna is used for reception or transmission of vertically polarized waves when the antenna unit 100 is oriented longitudinally.

Abstract: A satellite ready building comprises a plurality of studs and satellite wires positioned adjacent to the studs having a first termination and a second termination. A connector is coupled to the second termination of the wires. The first termination is coupled through the roof or the siding of the building. Drywall is installed in the house after the wires are installed. The first termination may be installed in a radome positioned on the roof of the building.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steering a beam from a phased array antenna mounted on a mobile platform. Rate sensors mounted on the phased array antenna are used to update lower bandwidth data from the mobile platform, resulting in improved pointing performance.

Abstract: A method includes determining if a dynamics requirement for an antenna positioner is exceeded, and employing a combination of mechanical and electronic beam steering techniques to steer a single antenna beam if the dynamics requirement is exceeded.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the ‘best’ distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.

Abstract: A system and method is for orientating and monitoring orientation of telecommunications antennas. The system includes an AISG compliant tilt sensor system mounted in-line between a telecommunications antenna enclosure and a communications cable, and positioned to measure the elevation tilt and slant of a telecommunications antenna enclosure relative to a reference axis. The tilt sensor system measures the angle of tilt and angle of slant of the enclosure with respect to a reference axis, and communicates the values through the communications cable using the AISG protocol for analysis by a telecommunications system operator. A printed circuit board with suitable microprocessor and circuitry receives and processes the tilt sensor data and reports directional alignment information to the user via a user interface.

Abstract: An antenna orientation sensor, having a base, a pivoting support coupled to the base. An actuator operable to move the pivoting support through a calibration movement with respect to the base. A magnetic sensor on the pivoting support and a position sensor operable to sense the position of the pivoting support within the calibration movement.

Abstract: A system and method to provide a means of communication, command and control between a mobile antenna and a satellite receiver that allows the receiver to send tuning information to the antenna and the antenna to provide feedback to the receiver when a signal has been acquired. The antenna and the receiver can share the appropriate states and stats such as diagnostics, test, GPS coordinates, etc.

Abstract: A wide-angle null-fill antenna with no null in the depression angle range, an omni antenna using the same, and radio communication equipment. A null-fill antenna comprises a first antenna array including antenna elements arranged with a prescribed point as the center, and a second antenna array having amplitude characteristics substantially equal to those of the antenna elements forming the first antenna array. The first antenna array is excited so that the excitation amplitude distribution is to have symmetry with respect to the prescribed point, while the excitation phase distribution is to have point symmetry with respect to the prescribed point. The phase center of the first antenna array is substantially coincident with that of the second antenna array.

Abstract: A system and method for communication with an autonomous air vehicle are provided. The system comprises a steerable antenna array including a plurality of directional antenna elements each selectable to receive a video signal from the air vehicle. An antenna control unit is operatively coupled to the antenna elements and includes a magnetometer for determining an orientation for each of the antenna elements. A ground control station is in operative communication with the antenna array and comprises a ground data terminal in operative communication with the antenna control unit, and an operator control unit in operative communication with the data terminal and the antenna control unit. The operator control unit is configured to obtain positions of the air vehicle and the ground control station from the data terminal.

Abstract: A direction detection apparatus transmits radar waves, with resultant reflected waves being received as incident waves by elements of an array antenna. Normally the direction of a target object is calculated based on analyzing respective received signals from the antenna elements, in calculations utilizing an estimated total number of incident wave directions. In an antenna direction adjustment mode, an actual number of target objects, and hence actual number of incident wave directions, is utilized in place of the estimated value, thereby enabling direction detection information to be obtained which does not fluctuate with time, thus facilitating the adjustment.

Abstract: A payload (108) to be mounted onto a satellite (102) can include a first steerable antenna (302) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a first user terminal; a second steerable antenna (304) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a second user terminal; a switching network (306) coupling the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna; and a payload control unit (120) controlling the switching network to select one of the downlink to the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the downlink to the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna, and one of the uplink from the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the uplink from the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with a first signal transmitted by a first satellite in the satellite configuration, and aligning the reflector in tilt with a second signal transmitted by a second satellite in the satellite configuration, wherein aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with the first signal and in tilt with the second signal aligns the reflector with at least a third signal transmitted from a third satellite.

Abstract: Gimbal system angle compensation methods and systems are provided. A particular method includes pointing an antenna at a first target using an initial set of at least four gimbal angles and determining first bore sight pointing errors resulting from a pointing direction of the antenna relative to the first target. The method also includes estimating values of a plurality of independently observable error variables based on the first bore sight pointing errors. The method further includes determining a set of gimbal angle corrections based on the values of the plurality of independently observable error variables.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna system, including: an antenna which can switch directivity thereof when receiving an analog television broadcasting signal; a switching section to switch the directivity of the antenna; a measurement section to measure radio wave quality of the analog television broadcasting signal received by the antenna by analyzing the analog television broadcasting signal when the directivity of the antenna is switched by the switching section; a storage section to store data of radio wave quality in different directions measured by the measurement section for each channel; and a control section to control the switching section to switch the directivity of the antenna to one direction having a highest radio wave quality among the different directions corresponding to a desired channel when the desired channel is designated.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for identifying a target satellite in a satellite communication antenna. The apparatus includes: a power splitting unit for splitting a signal inputted through the satellite communication antenna to more than two signals; a tuner unit for receiving the split signals from the power splitting unit and passing only signal of a predetermined channel frequency band; an analog-to-digital converting unit for converting each of signal intensities passed in the tuner unit to a digital value; and a controlling and identifying unit for determining whether a satellite traced by the satellite communication antenna is a target satellite using each of the signal intensities of the predetermined channel frequency band inputted from the A/D converting means, and controlling an orientation direction of the satellite communication antenna.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal includes a terminal body portion, a display portion mounted on the terminal body portion to be rotatable to a first display position and a second display position while being substantially parallel to a surface of the terminal body portion and a single satellite radio receiving antenna provided on the display portion to be integrally rotatable with the display portion and formed to be located on a first rotational position when the display portion is located on the first display position and to be located on a second rotational position when the display portion is located on the second display position, wherein a direction of directivity of the satellite radio receiving antenna is set to a direction inclined upward with respect to a display surface of the display portion by a prescribed angle.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration.

Abstract: A system and method wirelessly communicates signals between a device on a gimbal and a stationary transceiver. An exemplary system has a gimbal with a moveable portion, a device affixed to the moveable portion, a gimbal transceiver coupled to the moveable portion, and a stationary transceiver, wherein the gimbal transceiver and the stationary transceiver are configured to communicate with each other using a wireless signal.

Abstract: A obstacle detection system comprises a transmission antenna operable to radiate a radio frequency (RF) signal and a transmitter operable to control transmission of the RF signal from the antenna. The obstacle detection system also comprises a receiver antenna operable to receive a reflection of the RF signal; and processing circuitry operable to analyze a plurality of characteristics of a radar cross section (RCS) of the received reflection to identify an obstacle and one or more physical attributes of the obstacle.

Abstract: It is disclosed an antenna system drivable in at least one degree of freedom, comprising a target value provider configured to provide at least one target value, a data-bus configured to relay the at least one target value, at least one sensor unit configured to provide a current position in the at least one degree of freedom via the data-bus to the target value provider, and at least one antenna drive unit configured to drive the drivable antenna in the at least one degree of freedom according to the at least one target value.

Abstract: A television receiver is connected to a multi-directional antenna having multiple receiving directions for receiving a television signal by making one receiving direction active, and comprises a clock, a tuner, a memory for storing a receiving direction table having content containing channel numbers and a best receiving direction, and a microprocessor for controlling the receiver. Based on the time measured by the clock, the microprocessor renews the content of the table at a preset time, and outputs, to the antenna, a control signal to command a receiving direction for receiving one channel based on the renewed content of the table. The receiver can properly adapt to the variations in time of the receiving conditions of terrestrial broadcasts based on the renewed content of the table, and can automatically renew the content of the table in a time zone when a user does not view a television program.

Abstract: An electronic ID tag (2) for mounting in a body (18), in which at least the identity of the body (18) is to be remotely readable, the electronic ID tag (2) including an identifiable chip (24) which is electrically connected to at least one adjacent antenna (26), the identifiable chip (24) being arranged to receive energy via the adjacent antenna (26) and by means of this energy to transmit, via the adjacent antenna (26), a signal including the identity of the electronic ID tag to a distant antenna (1), and there being arranged, between the adjacent antenna (26) and the identifiable chip (24) and between the identifiable chip (24) and a ground-plane plate (28) impedance-matched inductances (34, 40), the electronic ID tag (2) being placed, with advantage, in the box portion or pin (44) of a body (18), whereby it is protected against mechanical wear.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving a signal in a communication system with a plurality of antennas are provided. Received modulation symbols of channel coded transmission information data are generated using a space-time mapping scheme and processed to RF symbols. The RF symbols are transmitted through antennas among the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: There is described a method for the alignment of an earth station antenna with a satellite antenna, wherein a reference signal, emitted by the earth station antenna is analyzed in a monitoring station, wherein the reference signal is used as a carrier for authentication information about the earth station.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided. In use, a plurality of coordinates is identified. Further, at least one aspect of an antenna is adjusted based on the coordinates. In addition, the coordinates include source coordinates that indicate a location of a source of a signal received by the antenna. Additionally, the at least one aspect of the antenna is adjusted includes an orientation of the antenna, where the orientation is further determined based on a strength of the signal received by the antenna.

Abstract: Antennas with steerable antenna patterns and techniques for using such antennas are described. In accordance with the invention, antenna patterns with one or more NULLs are used. Through the use of digital control signals the antenna pattern is steered so that a source of signal interference, e.g., a multipath signal, will be located in a NULL. In this manner the received signal's S/N ratio can be maximized thereby facilitating demodulation. The techniques of the invention can be applied to television, computer devices, mobile devices and a wide range of other systems. Digital commands to control an antenna may include multiple information fields, e.g., a direction field, a channel field, a gain field and a polarity field. Antennas incapable of supporting the specified fields disregard information in fields which are not supported. Information in each supported field is decoded and used to adjust the corresponding antenna characteristic.

Abstract: In a receiving apparatus equipped with a plurality of tuners, if a reception antenna is controlled in such a manner that a reception condition of a channel tuned by one tuner may become suitable, then a reception condition of the channel tuned by another tuner does not always become suitable. The receiving apparatus is provided with an antenna control unit which controls a reception antenna whose reception condition can be set, a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit, and a storage unit which stores thereinto tuning information such as a tuning channel, signal quality information, and a reception antenna setting condition. The receiving apparatus calculates a setting condition of the reception antenna capable of obtaining suitable receiving conditions in both the first and second receiving units by employing tuning information in a first channel and tuning information in a second channel.

Abstract: GPS gyro calibration methods and systems are described. In an embodiment, a ground station can receive antenna position data for a spot beam antenna from a global positioning system (GPS) platform where the antenna position data indicates a boresight direction of the spot beam antenna. GPS-enabled receiver(s) can receive scan signals transmitted via the spot beam antenna of the GPS platform, and the GPS-enabled receivers can determine signal power measurements for each of the scan signals. The ground station can receive the signal power measurements from the GPS-enabled receiver(s) and estimate a pointing error of the spot beam antenna based on the signal power measurements and the antenna position data received from the GPS platform. The ground station can then determine gyro calibration parameters from the estimated pointing error and communicate the gyro calibration parameters to the GPS platform to calibrate for gyro drift errors.

Abstract: A controller controls the automatic positioning of an antenna. The controller is arranged to position the antenna dependent upon a channel selected by a user, a location of a receiver tuned to the selected channel, and a location of a source of a signal associated with the selected channel.