Patent US6473050B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6473050B2
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US
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Motor-drive device for sensors in a receiver and/or transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens and receiver and/or transmitter comprising such a device
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 2001-03-30
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Granted: 2002-10-29
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Expires: 2021-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A motor-drive device for sensors around a spherical electromagnetic lens, for example a Luneberg type lens using in a system of transmission and/or reception, comprises, for each module, at least one piezoelectric motor rigidly connected to the module, the module moving in the vicinity of the surface of the lens by the reptation of the piezoelectric motor on this surface. The disclosed device can be applied especially to receivers and/or transmitters carrying out multiple-satellite tracking, for example in the field of communications by orbiting satellites.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Foncin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/06; H01Q19/062; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/12; H01Q3/14; H01Q5/00; H01Q5/40; H01Q5/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A motor-drive device for transmission and/or reception modules in a receiver and/or transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens, the device comprising, for each module, at least one piezoelectric motor rigidly connected to the module, the module moving along the surface of the lens by the reptation of the piezoelectric motor on the surface of the lens, wherein the module is capable of moving across the surface of the lens in at least a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A motor-drive device for transmission and/or reception modules in a receiver and/or transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens, the device comprising, for each module, at least one piezoelectric motor rigidly connected to the module, the module moving along the surface of the lens by the reptation of the piezoelectric motor on the surface of the lens, wherein the module is capable of moving across the surface of the lens in at least a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1 , further comprising support means for supporting the piezoelectric motor along the surface of the lens, and wherein motion of the support means is controlled by motion of the piezoelectric motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein the support means comprises at least one base plate, a part shaped like an arc of a circle in free rotation about the lens along a first axis, the base plate moving freely along the part shaped like an arc of a circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 3 , wherein the part shaped like an arc of a circle comprises a second motion of free rotation about a second axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 4 , wherein the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 5 , wherein the part shaped like an arc of a circle is supported by a free-rotation part with a free rotational motion with respect to the first axis, the free-rotation part having a motion of free rotation about the second axis of rotation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
41 words
A device according to any of the claims 3 to 6 wherein, with the part shaped like an arc of a circle comprising a rail, the base plate comprises one or more pairs of rollers that work together with the rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 3 , wherein the base plate supports the module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A receiver and/or transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens, using a device according to claim 1 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to claim 8 , wherein the lens is covered, at least on a half-surface, by a coating with a given coefficient of friction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to any of the claims 8 or 9 , wherein the lens is bonded to an upper part of a radome.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to claim 8 , comprising means for controlling the piezoelectric motor and for processing microwave signals, said means for controlling and means for processing being connected by a single cable to an assembly constituted by a transmission and reception module and a piezoelectric motor, wherein a frequency bandplan enables multiplexing of the microwave signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to claim 12 , wherein the cable conveys at least the microwave signals and control signals of the piezoelectric motors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to claim 8 , wherein the lens is a Luneberg lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A receiver and/or transmitter according to claim 8 , comprising two transmission and reception modules.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
A motor-drive device assembly for use with at least one of a receiver and a transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens, said assembly comprising: at least one of a transmission module and a reception module; and a piezoelectric motor connected to the module, wherein the module is adapted to move along a surface of the lens by reptation of the piezoelectric motor in at least a first direction and a second direction, said first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A motor-drive device assembly for use with at least one of a receiver and a transmitter with spherical electromagnetic lens, said assembly comprising: at least one of a transmission module and a reception module; and a piezoelectric motor connected to the module, wherein the module is adapted to move along a surface of the lens by reptation of the piezoelectric motor in at least a first direction and a second direction, said first direction being substantially perpendicular to said second direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly according to claim 16 , further comprising means for supporting the piezoelectric motor along the surface of the lens, wherein motion of the support means is controlled by the piezoelectric motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the support means comprises at least one base plate and an arc-shaped part adapted to be in free rotation about the lens along a first axis of rotation, and wherein the base plate is adapted to move freely along the arc-shaped part.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the arc-shaped part is freely rotatable about a second axis of rotation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly according to claim 20 , wherein the arc-shaped part is supported by a free-rotation part capable of free rotational motion with respect to the first axis, the free-rotation part having free rotation of motion about the second axis of rotation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly according to one of claims 18 to 21 , wherein the arc-shaped part comprises a rail and wherein the base plate comprises one or more pairs of rollers adapted to cooperate with the rail.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the base plate is adapted to supports the module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly according to claim 23 , wherein at least half of the surface of the lens is covered by a coating with a given coefficient of friction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The assembly according to claim 23 , wherein the lens is bonded to an upper part of a radome.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The assembly according to claim 23 , further comprising: means for controlling the piezoelectric motor; and means for processing microwave signals, wherein the means for controlling and means for processing are connected by a single cable to an assembly comprised of a transmission and reception module and a piezoelectric motor, and wherein a chosen bandplan enables multiplexing of signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly according to claim 26 , wherein the cable is adapted to convey at least the microwave signals and control signals of the piezoelectric motor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly according to claim 23 , wherein the lens is a Luneberg lens.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly according to claim 23 , comprising two transmission and reception modules.
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) | 2005-10-28 | 2006-04-29 | 2006-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | 2010-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-28 | 2014-04-29 | 2014-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |