Antenna alignment system and method
AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation
InventorsWalter Kepley, Paul Gaske, Michael Middeke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna alignment apparatus and alignment method is used to effectively position an antenna used in a satellite communication system on the satellite orbital arc, and to ensure that a proper antenna polarization is achieved during installation or alignment of a remote station antenna. The apparatus includes a secondary receiving device mounted on the feed arm of the antenna at a specified distance from the primary receiving device located on the primary plane of the antenna. An antenna using this system and method may be properly aligned on the orbital arc using only simple receiving equipment.
Claims25
An apparatus for aligning an antenna, comprising:
- a secondary receiving device arranged on the antenna and separated from a primary receiving device of the antenna,
- wherein the primary receiving device receives a first signal of a first polarization and the secondary receiving device receives a second signal of a second polarization different from the first polarization, and
- wherein alignment of the antenna is made by pointing the secondary receiving device in a direction of the second signal for proper polarization alignment.
A method of aligning an antenna, comprising:
- monitoring a received signal strength of a primary signal having a first polarization;
- adjusting a position of the antenna based on the received signal strength of the primary signal;
- monitoring a received signal strength of a secondary signal having a second polarization different from the first polarization;
- and
- further adjusting the antenna based on the received signal strength of the secondary signal for proper polarization alignment.
A method of installing a multiple beam antenna, the method comprising:
- adjusting position of the antenna to peak signal strength of a first signal with a first polarization;
- and
- rotating the antenna about a boresight of the antenna to peak signal strength of a second signal having a second polarization that is different from the first polarization, whereby proper polarization alignment is achieved for the respective signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.