Mobile Orientation Guidance for Satellite Antenna Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard mobile devices without specialized antennas face challenges in orienting themselves effectively towards communication satellites for satellite-based communications due to the difficulty in aligning the primary antenna node with the satellite, which is often not visible and in motion, leading to user-pointing errors and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device equipped with sensors and a user interface provides intelligent guidance to orient the device by determining target orientations based on antenna lobe direction and satellite location, using IMU, magnetometer, GNSS, and camera feedback to minimize user and sensor errors, and account for user context and environmental obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard mobile devices are used for satellite-based communications, then device versatility is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to inability to properly orient the antenna lobe toward the satellite
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the orientation of the mobile device using IMU sensors and provides real-time feedback through the user interface to guide the user in rotating the device to the correct orientation. This feedback loop ensures that the antenna lobe is properly aligned with the satellite, maintaining communication reliability while using standard mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary orientation guidance system that mediates between the user and the satellite communication process. This intermediary provides computational determination of target orientations, sensor-based current orientation detection, and user interface guidance to bridge the gap between user capability and precise antenna alignment requirements.
2Ease of operation
If users manually orient the mobile device toward the satellite, then communication functionality is enabled, but pointing precision deteriorates due to user error and difficulty in locating the invisible satellite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual orientation process with an automated sensor-based orientation detection system. Instead of relying on user visual estimation and manual alignment, the system uses IMU sensors, magnetometers, and cameras to automatically detect the device's current orientation and compute the precise rotation needed to align the antenna lobe with the satellite.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a computational model (copy) of the physical orientation problem by determining target orientations based on the antenna lobe's relationship to the satellite position. This computational copy allows the system to calculate precise orientation requirements and provide accurate guidance without requiring the user to directly visualize or estimate the satellite's position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna lobe is not aligned with the satellite, then device portability is maintained, but signal strength deteriorates leading to communication failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary orientation preparation by calculating the target orientation and providing guidance to the user before the actual communication attempt. This preliminary action ensures that when the user initiates satellite communication, the device is already properly oriented, maximizing signal strength from the outset while maintaining the portability benefits of using standard mobile devices.
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a mobile device may determine a set of target orientations of the mobile device in which an antenna lobe of the mobile device is pointed toward the satellite, the set of target orientations based on: an orientation of the antenna lobe relative to the mobile device, and a location of the satellite relative to the mobile device. The mobile device may determine a current orientation of the mobile device. The mobile device may provide, at a user interface (UI) of the mobile device, guidance for rotating the mobile device from the current orientation to an orientation within the set of target orientations.