# US 10,483,637 B2 · Method and apparatus for beam-steerable antenna with single-drive mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,637 B2 - Document ID: US10483637B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/960,276 - Filed: 2018-04-23 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-10 - Assignees: ViaSat, Inc. - Applicants: Viasat, Inc. - Inventors: Donald L Runyon; Edward Mitchell Blalock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483637B2 ## CPC - H01Q 3/005: {using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning} - H01Q 1/125: {Means for positioning} - H01Q 3/04: for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation - H01Q 3/06: over a restricted angle - H01Q 3/08: for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation - H01Q 3/20: wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable - H01Q 15/14: Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures {(electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract In one embodiment, an antenna assembly is described. The antenna assembly includes and antenna and an antenna positioner coupled to the antenna. The antenna positioner includes a single drive interface and a plurality of gears. The plurality of rotate in a first manner in response to a first drive direction applied through the single drive interface, and rotate in a second manner in response to a second drive applied through the single drive interface. The antenna positioner also includes a threaded rod that moves in a first rod direction and a second rod direction in response to rotation of the plurality of gears in the first manner and the second manner respectively. The antenna positioner also includes a tilt plate contacting the threaded rod. The tilt plate tilts about a pivot line in response to movement of the threaded rod to move a beam of the antenna in a spiral pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of antenna pointing, the method comprising: providing an antenna assembly comprising an antenna, an antenna positioner coupled to the antenna, and an auto-peak device, wherein the antenna comprises a reflector and a feed oriented for direct illumination of the reflector to produce a beam, and wherein the antenna positioner comprises a tilt assembly to tilt the reflector relative to the feed to move the beam in a spiral pattern via drive applied to a single drive interface by a bi-directional motor in response to a control signal provided from the auto-peak device; providing, by the auto-peak device, the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in a plurality of tilt positions to move the beam along the spiral pattern while measuring corresponding signal strength of a signal communicated via the antenna at each of the plurality of tilt positions; selecting, by the auto-peak device, a tilt position from the plurality of tilt positions based on the measured signal strength; and providing, by the auto-peak device, the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected tilt position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selected tilt position corresponds to a maximum of the measured signal strength. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the auto-peak device, if the selected tilt position is less than a threshold amount from an end of the overall range of adjustment of the tilt assembly, and wherein the providing the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected tilt position is performed if the selected tilt position is less than the threshold amount from the end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising notifying an installer to move the antenna via a mounting bracket assembly of the antenna positioner if the selected tilt position is greater than the threshold amount from the end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing, by the auto-peak device, the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in a second plurality of tilt positions to move the beam along the spiral pattern while measuring corresponding second signal strength of a second signal communicated via the antenna at each of the second plurality of tilt positions; selecting, by the auto-peak device, an updated tilt position from the second plurality of tilt positions based on the measured second signal strength; and providing, by the auto-peak device, the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected updated tilt position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the providing the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in the second plurality of tilt positions is in response to detection of performance degradation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the performance degradation is due to a change in pointing of the beam at a target, and the providing the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected updated tilt position reduces pointing error of the beam at the target. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tilt assembly includes a pivot plate coupled to a back of the reflector, the antenna positioner further comprises a mounting bracket assembly coupled to a base plate of the tilt assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the feed is coupled to a position between the tilt assembly and the mounting bracket assembly, such that a location of the feed relative to the antenna positioner is fixed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna assembly further includes a flexible coupling to deter rotation of the reflector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a receive signal of the antenna. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a transmit signal of the antenna. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a projection onto a plane of successive turns along the spiral pattern are of continually increasing distance from a center of spiral pattern. ### Claim 14 An antenna assembly comprising: an antenna comprising a reflector and a feed oriented for direct illumination of the reflector to produce a beam; an antenna positioner comprising a tilt assembly to tilt the reflector relative to the feed to the move the beam in a spiral pattern via drive applied to a single drive interface by a directional motor in response a control signal; and an auto-peak device to: provide the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in a plurality of tilt positions to move the beam along the spiral pattern while measuring corresponding signal strength of a signal communicated via the antenna at each of the plurality of tilt positions; select a tilt position from the plurality of tilt positions based on the measured signal strength; and provide the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected tilt position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the selected tilt position corresponds to a maximum of the measured signal strength. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the auto-peak device further determines if the selected tilt position is less than a threshold amount from an end of the overall range of adjustment of the tilt assembly, and wherein the providing the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected tilt position is performed if the selected tilt position is less than the threshold amount from the end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The antenna assembly of claim 16, wherein the auto-peak device further notifies an installer to move the antenna via a mounting bracket assembly of the antenna positioner if the selected tilt position is greater than the threshold amount from the end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the auto-peak device further: provides the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in a second plurality of tilt positions to move the beam along the spiral pattern while measuring corresponding second signal strength of a second signal communicated via the antenna at each of the second plurality of tilt positions; and selects an updated tilt position from the second plurality of tilt positions based on the measured second signal strength; and provides the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected updated tilt position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The antenna assembly of claim 18, wherein the auto-peak device provides the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly in the second plurality of tilt positions is in response to detection of performance degradation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The antenna assembly of claim 19, wherein the performance degradation is due to a change in pointing of the beam at a target, and the providing the control signal to tilt the tilt assembly to the selected updated tilt position reduces pointing error of the beam at the target. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the tilt assembly includes a pivot plate coupled to a back of the reflector and the antenna positioner further comprises a mounting bracket assembly coupled to a base plate of the tilt assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the feed is coupled to a position between the tilt assembly and the mounting bracket assembly, such that a location of the feed relative to the antenna positioner is fixed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, further comprising a flexible coupling to deter rotation of the reflector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the signal is a receive signal of the antenna. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein the signal is a transmit signal of the antenna. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein a projection onto a plane of successive turns along the spiral pattern are of continually increasing distance from a center of spiral pattern.