Adaptive AR Antenna Pointing for Satellite Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices face challenges in precisely pointing antennas towards satellites without the use of heavy, complex, and expensive equipment, especially in portable and user-held configurations, which is essential for maintaining communication connectivity in areas lacking terrestrial networks and avoiding interference with terrestrial transceivers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication device using augmented reality to guide users in pointing the antenna towards a satellite by determining directional offsets based on measured energy values, allowing for adaptive and precise alignment without the need for fixed bases or motorized controls, utilizing a camera and sensor modules to overlay directional information on a display for user instruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional antenna pointing systems are used to achieve high accuracy antenna pointing, then the antenna can be precisely pointed towards the satellite, but the device becomes heavy, complex, and impractical for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pointing systems with sensor-based electronic pointing. Sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) detect device orientation and calculate antenna direction electronically, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustment mechanisms while achieving sufficient pointing accuracy for satellite communication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the communication device itself serve as the pointing system by integrating sensors and processing capabilities into the portable device. The same device that communicates also determines its own orientation and antenna direction, eliminating the need for separate pointing equipment
2Reliability
If the communication device points precisely towards the intended satellite, then strong communication signals are received, but interference is caused to other satellites or terrestrial transceivers operating in the same frequency band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies directional transmission by controlling the antenna beam pattern to concentrate energy in specific directions. The narrow antenna lobe is directed precisely at the intended satellite while minimizing energy radiation in other directions, thus maintaining strong communication signals while reducing interference to other transceivers
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data about device orientation and satellite position to dynamically adjust the antenna pointing direction. This feedback mechanism ensures the antenna remains precisely aligned with the intended satellite while the system can adapt to prevent interference with other transceivers operating in the same frequency band
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device, having an antenna, determines a direction substantially in a direction to an intended transceiver. A desired direction that is different from the direction to the intended transceiver, and an anticipated direction that is offset from the desired direction, are determined. Based on the desired direction, parameters of expected energy values corresponding to a multiple pre-defined antenna directions of the antenna around the desired direction are determined. The communication device receives, using the antenna, multiple measured energy values corresponding to multiple antenna directions of the antenna around the anticipated direction. A directional offset is calculated using the multiple expected energy parameters and the multiple measured energy values. An updated anticipated direction is generated by updating the anticipated direction using the calculated directional offset. Steps of receiving measured energy values through generating an updated anticipated direction are repeated using the updated anticipated direction as the anticipated direction.