Method and apparatus for tracking satellites in inclined orbits
AssigneeHts LLC
InventorsW. Daniel Gorton, James Burr, Timothy Morris, David C. Tigwell, Michael Cavanaugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computerized antenna mount system for continuously tracking a satellite in geosynchronous orbit that has an inclined orbit with respect to the equator. An antenna mount that automatically adjusts the declination angle of a ground station satellite antenna as a function of time after iteratively compiling the declination angle history from one complete orbit of a satellite. Different satellite orbits may be so compiled with selection of each satellite and its corresponding orbit information from memory.
Claims29
An antenna mount for adjusting the declination position of an earth station antenna for geosynchronous orbit satellite communications, comprising:
- a mounting pole adapted for connection to a fixed structure;
- a fixed declination polar axis platform rotatably movable in a geosynchronous orbit arc, said fixed platform adjustably connected to said mounting pole;
- means for declination adjustment, said declination adjustment means pivotally connected to said fixed platform;
- a movable declination platform having a front face for mounting the antenna thereon, said platform pivotally connected to said declination adjustment means;
- and
- a coaxially wound coil spring, said coil spring connected to said declination adjustment means to prevent declination position error caused by backlash.
A method for continuously tracking the orbital inclination of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit by adjusting the declination position of an earth station communications antenna mount with a motorized actuator, comprising the steps of:
- calibrating a position signal representative of travel distance to an upper declination position of the antenna mount;
- calibrating a position signal representative of travel distance to a lower declination position of the antenna mount;
- initializing the declination position of the antenna mount to a midpoint of travel;
- calibrating equatorial position of the antenna mount by establishing signal reception from a non-inclined orbit geosynchronous satellite;
- iteratively moving the declination position of the antenna mount so as to peak the signal of an inclined orbit geosynchronous satellite;
- establishing an orbital tracking data base comprised of data values representative of antenna mount position representative of peak signal strength, each of said data values corresponding to a time interval within one orbital cycle;
- and
- changing the declination position of the antenna mount in accordance with said tracking data base thereafter as a function of time.
An apparatus for continuously tracking the orbital inclination of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit by adjusting the declination position of an earth station communications antenna mount with a motorized actuator comprising:
- means for calibrating a position signal representative of travel distance to an upper declination position of the antenna mount;
- means for calibrating a position signal representative of travel distance to a lower declination position of the antenna mount;
- means for initializing the declination position of the antenna mount to a midpoint of travel;
- means for calibrating equatorial position of the antenna mount by establishing signal reception from a non-inclined orbit geosynchronous satellite;
- means for iteratively moving the declination position of the antenna mount so as to peak the signal of an inclined orbit geosynchronous satellite;
- means for establishing an orbital tracking data base comprised of data values representative of antenna mount position representative of peak signal strength, each of said data values corresponding to a time interval within one orbital cycle;
- and
- means for charging the declination position of the antenna mount in accordance with said tracking data base thereafter as a function of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.