Method and apparatus for tracking a moving object

In an antenna system for use with a plurality of satellite sources, each transmitting at least one positioning signal to at least one object moving about an environment for determining the relative position of the object within the environment, the environment from time-to-time blocking to some degree the transmission of at least one of the positioning signals to the object dependent on the relative position of the object within the environment, said antenna system comprising:

• a) a plurality of antenna mounted on the object in a spaced relationship with each other, each of said plurality of antennae capable of receiving a positioning signal to provide a corresponding electrical output signal;
• b) a receiver for processing said output signals to facilitate at least in part a determination of the position of the object;
• and
• c) means coupled to each of said plurality of antenna to receive its output signal and to apply each of said electrical output signals to said receiver in a manner that one of said electrical output signals will not interfere with another of said electrical output signals, whereby said receiver will continue to determine the position of the object when at least one of the positioning signals is at least partially blocked by the environment from at least one of said plurality of antennae, said coupled means includes a diode junction to back bias the electrical output signal from each of said plurality of antennae.

In an antenna system for use with a plurality of satellite sources, each transmitting at least one positioning signal to at least one object moving about an environment for determining the relative position of the object within the environment, the environment from time-to-time blocking to some degree the transmission of at least one of the positioning signals to the object dependent on the relative position of the object within the environment, said antenna system comprising:

• a) a plurality of antennae mounted on the object in a spaced relationship with each other, each of said plurality of antennae capable of receiving a positioning signal to provide a corresponding electrical output signal exhibits similar electrical characteristics;
• b) a receiver for processing said output signals to facilitate at least in part a determination of the position of the object;
• and
• c) means coupled to each of said plurality of antennae to receive its output signal and to apply each of said electrical output signals to said receiver in a manner that one of said electrical output signals will not interfere with another of said electrical output signals, whereby said receiver will continue to determine the position of the object when at least one of the positioning signals is at least partially blocked by the environment from at least one of said plurality of antennae, said coupling means is connected together to sum said electrical output signal from each of said antennae.

In an antenna system for use with a plurality of satellite sources, each transmitting at least one positioning signal to at least one object moving about an environment for determining the relative position of the object within the environment, the environment from time-to-time blocking to some degree the transmission of at least one of the positioning signals to the object dependent on the relative position of the object within the environment, said antenna system comprising

• a) a plurality of antenna mounted on the object in a spaced relationship with each other, each of said plurality of antennae capable of receiving a positioning signal to provide a corresponding electrical output signal;
• b) a receiver for processing said output signals to facilitate at least in part a determination of the position of the object;
• and
• c) means coupled to each of said plurality of antenna to receive its output signal and to apply each of said electrical output signals to said receiver in a manner that one of said electrical output signals will not interfere with another of said electrical output signals, said coupled means includes diode means for receiving said sum of the electrical output signals from said plurality of antennae and for preventing an electrical output signal from one of said plurality of antennae from being applied to another of said antennae, whereby said receiver will continue to determine the position of the object when at least one of the positioning signals is at least partially blocked by the environment from at least one of said plurality of antennae.

An antenna adapted to be mounted on a moveable object for receiving a right-hand circularly polarized, satellite electromagnetic transmissions, said antenna comprising:

• a) a metallic member, which is configured and dimensioned to receive said right hand circularly polarized electromagnetic transmissions;
• b) first and second sheets of an electrical insulating material for receiving therebetween said metal member, said first and second sheets being sealed together to form a unitary assembly enclosing said metallic member, said unitary assembly including an exterior;
• c) lead means connected to said metallic member and extending to said exterior of said unitary assembly to output an electrical signal corresponding to the received electromagnetic transmissions;
• and
• d) means for coupling said lead means to said metallic member to ensure that said antenna is right-hand circularly polarized.

An antenna adapted to be mounted on a moveable object for receiving right-hand circularly polarized, satellite electromagnetic transmissions, the moveable object having a metallic surface with an opening therein, the opening having a circumference, said antenna comprising:

• a) a metallic member, which is configured and dimensioned to receive said right-hand circularly polarized, satellite electromagnetic transmissions;
• b) first and second sheets of an electrical insulating material for receiving therebetween said metallic member to form an unitary assembly;
• and
• c) means for mounting said unitary assembly within an opening of the metallic surface to be electrically isolated by at least one of said first and second sheets of an electrical insulating material from the circumference to thereby inhibit the reflection of the satellite electromagnetic transmissions by the metallic surface of the moveable object.