EP0154240A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Satellite tracking antenna system
Assignee: Comsat Telesystems Inc
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Filing: 1985-02-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A ship borne antenna (16) using a gimballed mount for establishing a two degree of freedom unstabilized structure. A ring (22) is mounted for rotation on a radome (14) and carries an antenna (16) mounted for rotation relative to the ring (22). The ring (22) and antenna (16) are respectively driven by stepper motors (60,74). Variations in stability occurring by pitch, yaw or roll of the ship are corrected on a real time basis using a microprocessor that dynamically drives the ring (22) and the antenna (16) to maintain lock-on with a satellite.
Inventors
- 👤 William Henry Mcguire
- 👤 Thomas James Tilden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/02; H01Q3/08; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/18; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/34; H01Q1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A satellite tracking system characterised by: a mount (14) fixed to an unstabilized movable structure (10); a ring (22) journalled for rotation on said mount (14) and arranged such that the axis of rotation of said ring is aligned with a principal axis of said structure (10); means (60,58,62,64) for rotating said ring (22) relative to said mount (14); an antenna (16) journalled for rotation on said ring (22), said antenna (16) having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said ring; and means (74,76,78) for rotating said antenna (16) relative to said ring (22).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A satellite tracking system characterised by: a mount (14) fixed to an unstabilized movable structure (10); a ring (22) journalled for rotation on said mount (14) and arranged such that the axis of rotation of said ring is aligned with a principal axis of said structure (10); means (60,58,62,64) for rotating said ring (22) relative to said mount (14); an antenna (16) journalled for rotation on said ring (22), said antenna (16) having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said ring; and means (74,76,78) for rotating said antenna (16) relative to said ring (22).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said ring (22) comprises: a stepper motor (60) fixed to said mount (14), and gear means (62,64) for converting stepper motor movement into rotation of said ring (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
.A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said mount (14) is a radome and said stepper motor (60) is fixed to the wall thereof with said gear means (62,64) positioned inside said radome.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
48 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said means for rotating said antenna comprises a stepper motor (74) fixed to said antenna (16) and gear means (72,76) for converting stepper motor movement into rotation of said antenna (16) relative to said ring (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 4 further comprising a diplexer (73) for said antenna (16) mounted on the back of said antenna to counterbalance said stepper motor (74) and said gear means (72,76).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system according to claim 4 further comprising a circumferential flange (66) on said antenna (16), opposed brackets (68) mounted on said flange (66), and shafts (70) coupling said brackets (68) to said ring (22) to permit antenna rotation relative to said ring (22), said gear means (72,76) comprising at least one gear mounted on one of said shafts (70) and rotating with said antenna (16).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
30 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said antenna comprises a parabolic dish (16), said dish formed from graphite fiberglass without any additional conductive layer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
26 words
A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising means (80,82) for moving said mount relative to said unstabilized movable structure (10).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein said means for rotating said mount comprises a motor (80) fixed to said mount (14), a shaft (18) coupling said mount (14) to said unstabilized movable structure (10) and gear means coupling said motor (80) to said shaft (18).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A satellite tracking system characterised by: an unstabilized housing (14) carried by a movable structure (10); a platform (22) mounted in said housing and journalled for rotation about a first axis; means (58,60,62,64) for rotating said platform (22) relative to said housing (14); an antenna (16) mounted on said platform (22) and journalled for rotation relative to said platform (22) along a second axis; and means (72,74,76,78) for rotating said antenna (16) relative to said platform (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A satellite tracking system characterised by: an unstabilized housing (14) carried by a movable structure (10); a platform (22) mounted in said housing and journalled for rotation about a first axis; means (58,60,62,64) for rotating said platform (22) relative to said housing (14); an antenna (16) mounted on said platform (22) and journalled for rotation relative to said platform (22) along a second axis; and means (72,74,76,78) for rotating said antenna (16) relative to said platform (22).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tracking system according to claim 10 wherein said housing comprises a radome (14), bearing means (52, 56) mounted in the walls of said radome (14) for supporting said platform (22), said means (58,60,62,64) for rotating said platform (22) fixed to said radome (14) and including gear means (58,62) for rotating said platform (22) on said bearings (52,56) relative to said radome (14).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tracking system according to claim 10 or 11 wherein said platform comprises a ring (22) and said antenna (16) is mounted inside said ring (22).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tracking system according to claim 10, 11 or 12 further comprising means to move said unstabilized housing (14) relative to said movable structure (10), said movable structure comprising a ship.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tracking system according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said means for rotating said antenna (16) comprises a stepper motor (74) mounted on said antenna (16), a diplexer (73) being mounted on said antenna (16) to counterbalance said stepper motor (74).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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