Electronically Steerable Antenna Satellite Signal Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite signal acquisition methods using parabolic antennas are limited by the inability to independently steer transmit and receive beams, leading to errors and increased complexity, weight, and cost due to the need for expensive IMU sensors and mechanical gimbal systems.
Innovation Solution
An electronically steerable antenna system that perturbs roll, pitch, and yaw angles to create variant orientations, computes new scan and polarization angles, receives RF signals, generates metrics, and selects optimal orientations for satellite signal acquisition and tracking, allowing for independent control of transmit and receive beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional parabolic antennas with mechanical gimbal systems are used for satellite signal acquisition, then the antenna can physically move to track satellites, but the system complexity, weight, and cost increase due to expensive IMU sensors and mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gimbal system with an electronically steerable antenna array that uses phase shifters and signal processing to achieve beam steering. This electronic steering mechanism eliminates the need for mechanical motors, gears, and physical movement, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining satellite tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the expensive IMU sensor subsystem from the system by using alternative signal processing methods and algorithms that determine satellite position and orientation without requiring inertial measurement data, thereby reducing cost and complexity
2Ease of operation
If parabolic antennas with mechanical gimbals are used, then the antenna can be physically repositioned, but the weight and cost increase due to high-precision mechanical components and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical repositioning with electronic beam steering using phase-controlled antenna elements. The antenna array electronically shifts the beam direction by adjusting the phase and amplitude of signals at each element, achieving repositioning without physical movement and thereby eliminating the weight of mechanical drive systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering capability where the electronically controlled antenna can rapidly change beam direction in real-time without mechanical inertia or friction limitations, enabling agile satellite tracking with reduced mechanical mass
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent transmit and receive beam steering is implemented using separate antennas, then beam optimization is possible, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single antenna array that can independently steer both transmit and receive beams through separate signal processing channels. The same physical antenna structure serves dual functions for transmission and reception with independent beam control, eliminating the need for separate antenna systems while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal processing into independent transmit and receive channels within the same antenna array, allowing each beam to be controlled and optimized separately through digital signal processing while sharing the common antenna infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for acquiring and tracking a satellite signal with an antenna. In one embodiment, the method comprises a) perturbing one or more of roll, pitch and yaw angles of an antenna orientation to create variant orientations associated with a first search pattern; b) computing new scan and polarization angles, in response to perturbed roll, pitch and yaw angles, for each of the variant orientations; c) receiving a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a satellite for each of the variant orientations; d) generating one or more receiver metrics representing a received RF signal associated with each of the variant orientations; e) selecting, as a new orientation, one of the variant orientations based on the one or more receiver metrics; and f) repeating a)-e) with the new orientation with a second search pattern narrower than the first search pattern.