Determination of spatial orientation
AssigneeSpace Exploration Technologies Corp.
InventorMartin S. McCormick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna assembly configured to transmit and receive beams in time-varying directions, and a beam steering controller configured to determine a first beam pointing vector by searching for a satellite included in the communication system. The antenna assembly maintains a communication link with the satellite in a direction associated with the beam pointing vector, the satellite associated with the beam pointing vector. The beam steering controller is configured to obtain, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more additional satellites. The beam steering controller is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna assembly based on the satellite ephemeris information and the beam pointing vector.
Claims27
An end terminal in a communication system, the end terminal comprising:
- an antenna assembly configured to transmit and receive beams in time-varying directions;
- and
- a beam steering controller electrically coupled to the antenna assembly, wherein:
- the beam steering controller is configured to determine a beam pointing vector by searching for a satellite included in the communication system;
- the antenna assembly maintains a communication link with the satellite in a direction associated with the beam pointing vector, the satellite associated with the beam pointing vector;
- the beam steering controller is configured to obtain, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more of additional satellites;
- and
- the beam steering controller is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna assembly based on one or more of the satellite ephemeris information and the beam pointing vector.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which in response to execution by one or more processors cause an end terminal to perform operations comprising:
- finding and establishing a communication link with a satellite absent information about one or more of satellite ephemerides of the satellite and one or more additional satellites, satellite operating frequency, or end terminal orientation;
- after establishment of the communication link with the satellite, obtaining satellite ephemeris information for the satellite and one or more beam pointing directions to the satellite;
- and
- determining the end terminal orientation based on the satellite ephemeris information and the one or more beam pointing directions.
A method comprising:
- finding and establishing, by an end terminal, a communication link with a satellite absent information about one or more of satellite ephemerides of the satellite and one or more additional satellites, satellite operating frequency, or an end terminal orientation;
- obtaining satellite ephemeris information for the satellite and one or more beam pointing vectors to the satellite after establishment of the communication link with the satellite;
- and
- determining the end terminal orientation based on one or more of the satellite ephemeris information or the one or more beam pointing vectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.