Back to results
US 7,009,558 B1Granted
Vehicle mounted satellite tracking system
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTerrence L. Fall, Frank J. Hules
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite tracking system includes a vehicle having an attitude measuring device for measuring an attitude of the vehicle. An antenna is mounted on the vehicle. An antenna pointing device is coupled to the antenna and points the antenna in a direction dependent upon the attitude measured by the attitude measuring device and a location of a satellite.
Claims20
A satellite tracking system, comprising:
- a vehicle including an attitude measuring device configured to measure an attitude of said vehicle, said attitude measuring device including at least one absolute sensor and at least one relative sensor;
- an antenna mounted on said vehicle;
- and
- an antenna pointing device coupled to said antenna and configured to point said antenna in a direction dependent upon:
- a variable weighting of outputs of said at least one absolute sensor and said at least one relative sensor;
- and
- a location of a satellite.
4 more elements
A method of tracking a satellite, comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle having an antenna mounted thereon;
- providing an attitude measuring device associated with said vehicle, said attitude measuring device including at least one absolute sensor and at least one relative sensor;
- calibrating said at least one relative sensor based upon an output of said at least one absolute sensor;
- measuring an attitude of said vehicle using said attitude measuring device;
- and
- pointing said antenna in a direction dependent upon the measured attitude and a location of the satellite.
3 more elements
A method of tracking a satellite, comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle having an antenna mounted thereon;
- providing an attitude measuring device associated with said vehicle, said attitude measuring device including at least one absolute sensor and at least one relative sensor;
- setting weighting values of outputs of said at least one absolute sensor and said at least one relative sensor, the weighting values being dependent upon a quality of a signal received by said antenna from the satellite;
- measuring an attitude of said vehicle using said attitude measuring device, the measuring being dependent upon the weighting values;
- and
- pointing said antenna in a direction dependent upon the measured attitude and a location of the satellite.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.