Antenna aperture cover for antenna pointing an improved antenna pointing method using aperture cover
AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation
InventorNick Radonic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for pointing a satellite dish to receive signals from a geo-synchronous satellite. An aperture cover is used to partially block electromagnetic radiation provide to a feed horn and power and/or signal quality measurements are taken with the aperture cover covering various portions of the feed horn opening. Based on these power and/or signal quality measurements, it is determined in what direction and what angle in that direction the satellite dish must be re-oriented to achieve optimal signal strength from a geo-synchronous satellite or other fixed position microwave source.
Claims23
A method of pointing a satellite receiver antenna dish to optimize reception, comprising the steps of:
- placing an aperture cover over a first portion of an opening of a feed horn to partially cover said opening of said feed horn;
- measuring a first signal strength from a geo-synchronous satellite received by said partially covered feed horn;
- rotating said aperture cover 180 degrees with respect to said opening to cover a second portion of said opening of said feed horn, said second portion being diametrically opposite to said first portion;
- measuring a second signal strength from said geo-synchronous satellite received by said partially covered feed horn;
- determining a first angle and a first direction said antenna dish is to be turned to achieve optimum signal strength based on said first signal strength and said second signal strength;
- and
- adjusting said satellite antenna dish in said first direction and by said first angle for a correction in azimuth angle.
A method of pointing a dish of a satellite receiver antenna, comprising the steps of:
- measuring a first signal strength from a geo-synchronous satellite received by an unobstructed feed horn;
- placing an aperture cover over an opening of said feed horn in a first position to partially cover said feed horn;
- measuring a second signal strength from said geo-synchronous satellite received by said partially covered feed horn;
- rotating said aperture cover over said opening of said feed horn to a second position;
- measuring a third signal strength from said geo-synchronous satellite received by said partially covered feed horn;
- rotating said aperture cover over said opening of said feed horn to a third position;
- measuring a fourth signal strength from said geo-synchronous satellite received by said partially covered feed horn;
- determining a direction and an angle to turn said dish to achieve optimum reception by said feed horn of signals from said geo-synchronous satellite based on said four measurements and said three positions of said aperture cover;
- and
- adjusting said dish using said direction and said angle.
An apparatus for efficiently pointing a satellite receiver antenna dish, a satellite receiver having a satellite dish, a mount attached to the satellite dish, a feed horn, a low noise block radio frequency detector attached to said feed horn, microwave power amplifier, and a strut for attaching said feed horn and microwave power amplifier and said low noise block radio frequency detector to said satellite dish, and a rotation mechanism for moving said satellite dish, said feed horn, said low noise block radio frequency detector, said microwave power amplifier and said strut with respect to said mount to focus signals from a geo-synchronous satellite onto an opening of said feed horn, said apparatus comprising an aperture cover for covering a fraction of a cross-sectional area of said opening of said feed horn, said aperture cover blocking radiation that impinges on said feed horn opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.