Antenna with sensors for accurate pointing
AssigneeViaSat, Inc.
InventorsClifford K. Burdick, Kurt A. Zimmerman, Kevin House, David H. Irvine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Determining movement for alignment of a satellite antenna using accelerometer data and gyroscope data of the satellite antenna. Described techniques include receiving accelerometer data for a first time period from an accelerometer mounted on the antenna and analyzing the accelerometer data to determine a movement time window for a movement event of the antenna. The techniques may include receiving gyroscope data for the first time period from a gyroscope mounted on the antenna and analyzing the gyroscope data during the movement time window to determine an amount of movement of the antenna due to the movement event.
Claims26
A method for aligning an antenna with a target device, the method comprising:
- performing a first positioning process of the antenna, the first positioning process establishing a first alignment of the antenna based at least in part on a signal quality characteristic of first signals received from the target device;
- performing a second positioning process of the antenna based at least in part on the first alignment of the antenna, the second positioning process comprising:
- transmitting, by the antenna, second signals at a plurality of angular positioning steps;
- capturing sensor data from one or more sensors mounted on the antenna during the plurality of angular positioning steps;
- and
- establishing a second alignment of the antenna, wherein the second alignment of the antenna is based at least in part on signal strength information for the second signals transmitted at the plurality of angular positioning steps and angular positioning information for the plurality of angular positioning steps determined from the captured sensor data.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna;
- an antenna communications assembly for receiving first signals from a target device and transmitting second signals to the target device;
- one or more sensors mounted on the antenna, wherein the one or more sensors produce sensor data;
- and
- a movement detection device coupled with the antenna communications assembly and the one or more sensors, wherein the movement detection device:
- establishes a first alignment of the antenna with the target device as part of a first positioning process based at least in part on a signal quality characteristic of the first signals received from the target device;
- and
- establishes, based at least in part on the first alignment of the antenna, a second alignment of the antenna with the target device as part of a second positioning process, wherein the second positioning process comprises:
- initiating transmission by the antenna communications assembly of the second signals at a plurality of angular positioning steps;
- capturing the sensor data from the one or more sensors during the plurality of angular positioning steps;
- and
- determining the second alignment of the antenna, wherein the second alignment of the antenna is based at least in part on signal strength information for the second signals transmitted at the plurality of angular positioning steps and angular positioning information for the plurality of angular positioning steps determined from the captured sensor data.
An apparatus for aligning an antenna with a target device, comprising:
- a processor;
- memory in electronic communication with the processor;
- and
- instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
- establish a first alignment of the antenna with the target device as part of a first positioning process based at least in part on a signal quality characteristic of first signals received by the antenna from the target device;
- and
- establish, based at least in part on the first alignment of the antenna, a second alignment of the antenna with the target device as part of a second positioning process, wherein establishing the second alignment comprises:
- initiating transmission of second signals via the antenna at a plurality of angular positioning steps;
- capturing sensor data from one or more sensors mounted on the antenna during the plurality of angular positioning steps;
- and
- determining the second alignment of the antenna, wherein the second alignment of the antenna is based at least in part on signal strength information for the second signals transmitted at the plurality of angular positioning steps and angular positioning information for the plurality of angular positioning steps determined from the captured sensor data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.