Two axis mount pointing apparatus

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system mountable to a moving body, the satellite tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said antenna pointing arm being mounted to said universal joint and rotatable about first and second control axes, said first and second control axes each having an orientation relative to said base, said universal joint being constructed and arranged so that said orientation of said first control axis varies as said antenna pointing arm is rotated about said second control axis, and so that said orientation of said second control axis varies as said antenna pointing arm is rotated about said first control axis;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for rotating said antenna pointing arm about said first and second control axes when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the satellite so that said antenna is continuously pointed in the direction of the satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system mountable to a moving body, the satellite being positioned in a hemisphere above the moving body, the satellite tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said antenna pointing arm being movably mounted to said universal joint, said universal joint being constructed and arranged to point said antenna at any location in the hemisphere above the moving body without any singularities of control;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for moving said antenna pointing arm within said universal joint when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the satellite so that said antenna is continuously pointed in the direction of the satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system mountable to a moving body, the satellite tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• a first gear assembly pivotably mounted to said base, said antenna pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said first gear assembly, said first gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said antenna pointing arm about a first control axis;
• a second gear assembly pivotably mounted to said base, said antenna pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly, said second gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said antenna pointing arm about a second control axis;
• said first gear assembly being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly so that rotation of said antenna pointing arm about said first control axis causes said second gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base, and so that rotation of said antenna pointing arm about said second control axis causes said first gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for rotating said antenna pointing arm about said first and second control axes when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the satellite so that said antenna is continuously pointed in the direction of the satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system mountable to a moving body, the satellite tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base fixedly mountable to the moving body;
• a first shaft pivotably mounted to said base;
• a pair of first axis mating gears connected to said first shaft;
• a second shaft;
• a pair of first axis drive gears connected to said second shaft, said first axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said first axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a housing mechanically coupled to said first and second shafts;
• a guide member coupled at opposite ends to said housing, said guide member having a slot formed therein;
• a pair of second axis mating gears, each mounted to said housing;
• a pair of second axis drive gears, each mounted to said guide member, said second axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said second axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a first motor coupled to said pair of first axis drive gears, said first motor driving said first axis drive gears for rotation about said first axis mating gears in response to a first control signal;
• a second motor coupled to said pair of second axis drive gears, said second motor driving said second axis drive gears for rotation about said second axis mating gears in response to a second control signal;
• an antenna pointing arm pivotably mounted to said second shaft so that rotation of said first axis drive gears causes rotation of said antenna pointing arm about a first control axis, said antenna pointing arm passing through said slot so that rotation of said second axis drive gears causes rotation of said antenna pointing arm about a second control axis;
• and
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for generating said first and second control signals to drive said first and second axis drive gears to adjust said position of said antenna pointing arm when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the satellite so that said antenna is continuously pointed in the direction of the satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a selected satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system for tracking a plurality of satellites, each satellite being positioned in a hemisphere above said antenna pointing apparatus, the satellite tracking system generating at least one location signal indicating the location of the selected satellite relative to said antenna pointing apparatus, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said antenna pointing arm being movably mounted to said universal joint, said universal joint being constructed and arranged to point said antenna at any location in the hemisphere above the antenna pointing apparatus without any singularities of control;
• and
• control means, responsive to the location signal, for moving said antenna pointing arm within said universal joint so that said antenna is pointed in the direction of the selected satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a selected satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system for tracking a plurality of satellites, the satellite tracking system generating at least one location signal indicating the location of the selected satellite relative to said antenna pointing apparatus, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• a first gear assembly, said antenna pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said first gear assembly, said first gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said antenna pointing arm about a first control axis;
• a second gear assembly, said antenna pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly, said second gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said antenna pointing arm about a second control axis;
• said first gear assembly being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly so that rotation of said antenna pointing arm about said first axis causes said second gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base, and so that rotation of said antenna pointing arm about said second axis causes said first gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base;
• and
• control means, responsive to the location signal, for rotating said antenna pointing arm about said first and second control axes so that said antenna is pointed in the direction of the selected satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a selected satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system for tracking a plurality of satellites, the satellite tracking system generating at least one location signal indicating the location of the selected satellite relative to said antenna pointing apparatus, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• a first shaft pivotably mounted to said base;
• a pair of first axis mating gears connected to said first shaft;
• a second shaft;
• a pair of first axis drive gears connected to said second shaft, said first axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said first axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a housing mechanically coupled to said first and second shafts;
• a guide member coupled at opposite ends to said housing, said guide member having a slot formed therein;
• a pair of second axis mating gears, each mounted to said housing;
• a pair of second axis drive gears, each mounted to said guide member, said second axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said second axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a first motor coupled to said pair of first axis drive gears, said first motor driving said first axis drive gears for rotation about said first axis mating gears in response to a first control signal;
• a second motor coupled to said pair of second axis drive gears, said second motor driving said second axis drive gears for rotation about said second axis mating gears in response to a second control signal;
• an antenna pointing arm pivotably mounted to said second shaft so that rotation of said first axis drive gears causes rotation of said antenna pointing arm about a first control axis, said antenna pointing arm passing through said slot so that rotation of said second axis drive gears causes rotation of said antenna pointing arm about a second control axis;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• and
• control means, responsive to the location signal, for generating said first and second control signals to drive said first and second axis drive gears to adjust said position of said antenna pointing arm so that said antenna is pointed in the direction of the selected satellite.

An antenna pointing apparatus for pointing an antenna at a selected satellite, said antenna pointing apparatus for use in a satellite tracking system for tracking a plurality of satellites, each satellite being positioned in a hemisphere above said antenna pointing apparatus, the satellite tracking system generating at least one location signal indicating the location of the selected satellite relative to said antenna pointing apparatus, said antenna pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• an antenna pointing arm;
• an antenna mounted to said antenna pointing arm;
• and
• pointing means, supported by said base and responsive to the location and selection signals, for rotating said antenna pointing arm about first and second axes of control, said pointing means rotating said antenna pointing arm through greater than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees about each axis of control, whereby the first and second axes of control are the only axes about which the antenna pointing arm is rotatable relative to the base.

A pointing apparatus for pointing a device at a target, said pointing apparatus for use in a tracking system mountable to a moving body, the tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the target, said pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• a pointing arm for carrying the device;
• a first gear assembly pivotably mounted to said base, said pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said first gear assembly, said first gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said pointing arm about a first control axis;
• a second gear assembly pivotably mounted to said base, said pointing arm being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly, said second gear assembly being constructed and arranged to rotate said pointing arm about a second control axis;
• said first gear assembly being mechanically coupled to said second gear assembly so that rotation of said pointing arm about said first control axis causes said second gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base, and so that rotation of said pointing arm about said second control axis causes said first gear assembly to be pivoted relative to said base;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for rotating said pointing arm about said first and second control axes when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the target so that the device is continuously pointed in the direction of the target.

A pointing apparatus for pointing a device at a target, said pointing apparatus for use in a target tracking system mountable to a moving body, the target tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the target, said pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base fixedly mountable to the moving body;
• a first shaft pivotably mounted to said base;
• a pair of first axis mating gears connected to said first shaft;
• a second shaft;
• a pair of first axis drive gears connected to said second shaft, said first axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said first axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a housing mechanically coupled to said first and second shafts;
• a guide member coupled at opposite ends to said housing, said guide member having a slot formed therein;
• a pair of second axis mating gears, each mounted to said housing;
• a pair of second axis drive gears, each mounted to said guide member, said second axis drive gears being positioned adjacent said second axis mating gears for engagement therewith;
• a first motor coupled to said pair of first axis drive gears, said first motor driving said first axis drive gears for rotation about said first axis mating gears in response to a first control signal;
• a second motor coupled to said pair of second axis drive gears, said second motor driving said second axis drive gears for rotation about said second axis mating gears in response to a second control signal;
• a pointing arm for carrying the device, said pointing arm being pivotably mounted to said second shaft so that rotation of said first axis drive gears causes rotation of said pointing arm about a first control axis, said pointing arm passing through said slot so that rotation of said second axis drive gears causes rotation of said pointing arm about a second control axis;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for generating said first and second control signals to drive said first and second axis drive gears to adjust said position of said pointing arm when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the target so that the device is continuously pointed in the direction of the target.

A pointing apparatus for pointing a device at a target, said pointing apparatus for use in a target tracking system mountable to a moving body, the target tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the target, said pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base;
• an pointing arm for carrying the device;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said pointing arm being movably mounted to said universal joint, said universal joint being constructed and arranged to point the device at any location in the hemisphere above the moving body without any singularities of control;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for moving said pointing arm within said universal joint when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the target so that the device is continuously pointed in the direction of the target.

A pointing apparatus for pointing a device at a target, said pointing apparatus for use in a target tracking system mountable to a moving body, the target tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the target, said pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• a pointing arm for carrying the device;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said pointing arm being mounted to said universal joint and rotatable about first and second control axes, said universal joint being constructed and arranged to allow rotation of said pointing arm through greater than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees about each of said first and second control axes, whereby the first and second control axes are the only axes about which the antenna pointing arm is rotatable relative to the moving body;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for controlling said universal joint to rotate said pointing arm about said first and second control axes when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the target so that the device is continuously pointed in the direction of the target.

A pointing apparatus for pointing a device at a target, said pointing apparatus for use in a target tracking system mountable to a moving body, the target tracking system having at least one sensor that generates a signal indicating the orientation of the moving body relative to the target, said pointing apparatus comprising:

• a base mountable to the moving body;
• a pointing arm for carrying the device;
• a universal joint supported by said base, said pointing arm being mounted to said universal joint and rotatable about first and second control axes, said first and second control axes each having an orientation relative to said base, said universal joint being constructed and arranged so that said orientation of said first control axis varies as said pointing arm is rotated about said second control axis, and so that said orientation of said second control axis varies as said antenna pointing arm is rotated about said first control axis;
• and
• control means, responsive to the signal generated by the at least one sensor, for rotating said pointing arm about said first and second control axes when the moving body changes its orientation relative to the target so that said device is continuously pointed in the direction of the target.