Patent US4090201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4090201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rate augmented step track system
Assignee: Harris Corp
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Filing: 1976-09-08
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Granted: 1978-05-16
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Expires: 1996-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A step track antenna system adapted for tracking rapidly moving signal sources, in which systematic step commands cause antenna rotation in fixed angular increments about each of two orthogonal axes so as to maximize the strength of the received signal. In each axis, the direction, or polarity, of each step is selected in response to a comparison of the signal strength existing before and after the last step that was taken about that axis. A determination is made from this comparison as to which direction a step must be taken in, to produce an increase in signal strength. The step tracking rate is augmented by generating a signal representative of the time integral of the polarity indications. The antenna servo system responds to this signal by imparting a corresponding, continuous rate of motion to the antenna. The effect of this rate augmentation is to reduce the amount of antenna motion which must be accounted for by the step tracking process.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Whitman, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/14; G01S3/38; G01S3/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for controlling the tracking rate of an antenna to provide optimum reception of a signal and comprising: tracking means for imparting a continuous tracking rate to said antenna; rate alteration means for systematically changing said tracking rate imparted to said antenna by said tracking means; signal change detection means responsive to signals received by said antenna for determining, following each said change of said tracking rate, whether said change produced an improvement in signal reception; and, polarity selection means responsive to said signal change detection means for selecting the polarity of each said change of said tracking rate produced by said rate alteration means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for controlling the tracking rate of an antenna to provide optimum reception of a signal and comprising: tracking means for imparting a continuous tracking rate to said antenna; rate alteration means for systematically changing said tracking rate imparted to said antenna by said tracking means; signal change detection means responsive to signals received by said antenna for determining, following each said change of said tracking rate, whether said change produced an improvement in signal reception; and, polarity selection means responsive to said signal change detection means for selecting the polarity of each said change of said tracking rate produced by said rate alteration means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rate alteration means includes means for systematically changing said tracking rate by an amount having a preselected magnitude and selectable polarity, said polarity being selected by said polarity selection means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tracking means includes counter means for providing a sum signal indicative of a desired tracking rate, and drive means responsive to said sum signal provided by said counter means for imparting said continuous tracking rate to said antenna in accordance therewith and wherein said rate alternation means serves to systematically cause said counter means to incrementally alter said sum signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rate alteration means includes means for systematically providing increment and decrement commands to said counter means, and further wherein said counter means is responsive to said increment and decrement commands to respectively increase and decrease the value of said sum signal by a selected amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tracking means further includes means for presetting said sum signal provided by said counter means to a selected initial value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for controlling antenna tracking comprising the steps of cyclically providing a step command having a predetermined magnitude and a selectable polarity to an antenna drive servo motor, selecting the polarity such that the antenna is stepped to maximize returns, supplying a servo command to the servo motor indicative of continuous motion, accumulating the time integral of the polarities of the step commands, and varying the magnitude of the servo command in response to the time integral.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for controlling antenna tracking comprising the steps of cyclically providing a step command having a predetermined magnitude and a selectable polarity to an antenna drive servo motor, selecting the polarity such that the antenna is stepped to maximize returns, supplying a servo command to the servo motor indicative of continuous motion, accumulating the time integral of the polarities of the step commands, and varying the magnitude of the servo command in response to the time integral.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of supplying a servo command includes the step of preselecting a commanded rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of accumulating the time integral of the polarities of the step commands comprises supplying a signal indicative of the polarity of each step to a counting circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of varying the magnitude of the servo command in response to the time integral includes the step of adding the time integral to the preselected rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-15 | 1981-11-14 | 1982-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-15 | 1985-11-14 | 1986-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-15 | 1989-11-14 | 1990-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |