Method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform

A mobile platform and precise technology, applied in the field of satellite communication systems, can solve problems such as the pointing angle error of the transmitting antenna and the inability to use the timing lobe method

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-03-05
THE BOEING CO
View PDF5 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] For antennas where the transmit and receive functions are performed in the same physical antenna aperture, several sources of error are eliminated, but at step sizes where the transmit beam pointing accuracy requirements are smaller than the misalignment used during the timing lobe process , the timing lobe technique cannot be used
Such a situation also results in an error (i.e. misalignment) in the pointing angle of the transmitting antenna relative to the target satellite

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform
  • Method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform
  • Method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0022] The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and should in no way be considered as limiting the invention, its application or uses.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4 , a mobile platform 10 having an antenna aperture 12 in communication with a target satellite 14 is shown. Antenna aperture 12 is adapted to perform transmit and receive functions to enable reception of signals from satellite 14, as well as transmission of data and other information to the satellite. Satellite 14 typically carries one or more transponders 16 for retransmitting signals to ground stations (not shown). It is also appreciated that the mobile platform 10 includes an inertial reference unit (IRU), an antenna controller and a receive / transmit antenna subsystem for controlling the pointing of the antenna aperture 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

[0024] It is also to be understood that although the mobile platform is illustrated in Figure 4 as a fixed wing aircraf...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

PUM

No PUM Login to view more

Abstract

A method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform, wherein the satellite has an antenna which performs both transmit and receive functions from a single antenna aperture. The method involves using an inertial reference unit (IRU) of the mobile platform to initially acquire the signal from the satellite. A sequential lobing process is then used to more accurately center the antenna aperture relative to the receive beam from the satellite. The antenna is then used to transmit data or other information, and the antenna pointing is maintained by an additional IRU local to the antenna with higher accuracy and lower latency than the IRU of the mobile platform. Periodically, transmissions from the antenna are inhibited and the sequential lobing process is repeated to eliminate for any inertial reference drift error. The method allows for more accurate antenna pointing when a single antenna aperture is used for both transmit and receive functions without significantly interfering with the transmission of data or information from the antenna.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to satellite communication systems, and more particularly to a system for use with a mobile platform having an antenna aperture performing receive and transmit functions, and to a system for enabling precise tracking of the antenna aperture as the mobile platform moves method of targeting satellites. technical background [0002] High precision tracking of communication satellites from mobile platforms such as airplanes, ships and land vehicles is required to optimize data rate (ie, peak energy from / to the target) and prevent interference with satellites operating in close proximity to the target satellite. Various tracking methods that have been used include "dead-reckoning" or open-loop methods in which the correct pointing angle is calculated from known satellite and platform positions and platform attitudes. Other methods, such as "closed loop" tracking methods, use some form of feedback control through signal optimiz...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to view more

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to view more
Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): H01Q1/18G01S3/20H04B7/185H01Q1/12H01Q3/08
CPCH01Q1/125H01Q3/08G01S3/20H04B7/18508
Inventor 罗纳德·S·卡森
Owner THE BOEING CO
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Try Eureka
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap