US 5,471,219 A · Method for automatically positioning a satellite dish antenna to satellites in a geosynchronous belt

Abstract

A receiver connected to the satellite dish antenna receives signals from an electronic compass for generating a magnetic direction signal. The approximate latitude and longitude values of the parked vehicle are displayed and the user of the system manually selects the latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the parked vehicle location. The receiver determines an initial search position for the satellite dish antenna based upon the magnetic reading and the entered latitude and longitude values. The satellite dish antenna is moved from an unstowed position to an initial search position. The satellite dish antenna is then moved in a first rectangular spiral search pattern to obtain a rough-tune position corresponding to the detection of a signal peak for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite. The frequency selected is not present in corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite. A fine-tune search is then performed and the method calculates all the azimuth and elevation positions of all remaining satellites.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An automated method for positioning a satellite dish antenna mounted on the roof of a parked vehicle in order to receive signals from a plurality of satellites located in a geosynchronous belt, a receiver in the vehicle connected to receive signals from the satellite dish antenna, said automated method comprising:

(a) moving the satellite dish antenna in the azimuth and elevation directions to an initial search position in response to signals from the receiver, and
(b) with the satellite dish antenna in the initial search position, moving the satellite dish antenna to reading positions at intervals in predetermined search patterns in the azimuth and elevation directions until detecting in the receiver a signal peak reading for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite located in the geosynchronous belt, the selected audio subcarrier frequency being unique in that the frequency of the selected audio subcarrier is not present in the corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite.

A method for positioning a satellite dish antenna mounted on a parked vehicle in order to receive signals from a plurality of satellites located in a geosynchronous belt, a receiver in the vehicle connected to receive signals from the satellite dish antenna and an electronic compass connected to the mount of the satellite dish antenna for generating a direction signal corresponding to the magnetic direction of the satellite dish antenna, said method comprising:

(a) automatically delivering the direction signal from the electronic compass to the receiver at the request of the receiver,
(b) manually entering the approximate latitude and longitude values of said parked vehicle into the receiver,
(c) determining in the receiver an initial search position for the satellite dish antenna based upon said entered latitude and longitude values and the direction signal,
(d) moving the satellite dish antenna in the azimuth and elevation directions to the initial search position in response to the aforesaid step of determination, and
(e) with the satellite dish antenna in the initial search position, moving the satellite dish antenna to reading positions at intervals in at least one predetermined search pattern in the azimuth and elevation directions until detecting in the receiver a signal peak reading for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite located in the geosynchronous belt, the selected audio subcarrier frequency being unique in that the frequency of the selected audio subcarrier is not present in the corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite.

2 more elements

A method for positioning a satellite dish antenna mounted on a parked vehicle in order to receive signals from a plurality of satellites located in a geosynchronous belt, a receiver connected to receive signals from the satellite dish antenna and an electronic compass connected to the satellite dish antenna for generating a direction signal corresponding to the magnetic direction of the satellite dish antenna, said method comprising:

(a) automatically delivering the direction signal from the electronic compass to the receiver at the request of the receiver,
(b) manually entering the approximate latitude and longitude values of said parked vehicle into the receiver,
(c) determining in the receiver an initial search position for the satellite dish antenna based upon said entered latitude and longitude values and the direction signal,
(d) moving the satellite dish antenna in azimuth and elevation directions to the initial search position in response to the aforesaid step of determination,
(e) with the satellite dish antenna in the initial search position, moving the satellite dish antenna to reading positions at intervals in a first predetermined search pattern until obtaining a rough-tune position corresponding to the detection by the receiver of a first signal peak reading for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite located in the geosynchronous belt, the selected audio subcarrier frequency being unique in that the frequency of the selected audio subcarrier is not present in corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite, and
(f) with the satellite dish antenna in the rough-tune position, moving the satellite dish antenna to reading positions at intervals in a second predetermined search pattern until obtaining a fine-tune position corresponding to the detection of a second signal peak reading for the selected audio subcarrier frequency.

3 more elements

An automatic method for positioning a satellite dish antenna mounted on a parked vehicle in order to receive signals from a plurality of satellites located in a geosynchronous belt, a receiver connected to receive signals from the satellite dish antenna and an electronic compass connected to the satellite dish antenna for generating a direction signal corresponding to the magnetic direction of the satellite dish antenna, and motors moving the satellite dish antenna from a stowed position to a receiving position, said automatic method comprising:

(a) activating the motors to move the satellite dish antenna in azimuth and elevation directions from the stowed position to an initial search position in response to signals from the receiver by first raising the satellite dish antenna a predetermined amount in the elevation direction, and
(b) with the satellite dish antenna in the initial search position, activating the motors to move the satellite dish antenna to reading positions at intervals in a predetermined search pattern until detecting in the receiver a signal peak for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite located in the geosynchronous belt, the selected audio subcarrier frequency being unique in that the frequency of the selected audio subcarrier is not present in corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for automatically positioning a satellite dish antenna to satellites in a geosynchronous belt

Life of this patent

Method for automatically positioning a satellite dish antenna to satellites in a geosynchronous belt

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25