Sighting Tube with Reflective Surface for Satellite Terminal Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of non-geostationary satellite communications systems face challenges in accurately positioning user terminals to ensure an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions, particularly due to the need for an elevation angle as low as 45 degrees, which is difficult to achieve without professional assistance and often results in errors and dropout periods.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a convex image-reflecting surface and a planar transparent sighting surface with a circular marking (elevation limit circle) allows users to determine if surrounding objects are below or above a maximum elevation angle, ensuring the user terminal has an unobstructed view by reflecting a virtual image of the objects relative to the elevation limit circle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users visually estimate the elevation angle to position user terminals, then the installation process is simple and requires no specialized equipment, but the positioning accuracy is poor with errors of up to 10 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device consisting of a sighting tube with elevation angle markings and a reflective surface. This intermediary tool mediates between the user's visual estimation and the actual elevation angle measurement, providing accurate angle determination without requiring complex surveying equipment. The reflective surface allows users to view the angle of incoming signals indirectly, achieving precise positioning through a simple handheld device.
2Measurement precision
If surveying equipment is used to determine elevation angle accurately, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive sighting tube with printed elevation markings instead of expensive, complex surveying equipment. The device is designed to be affordable and easily replaceable, using basic optical principles rather than sophisticated electronic sensors or mechanical theodolites. This approach provides sufficient measurement precision for satellite terminal installation without the high cost and complexity of professional surveying instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical surveying systems with a simplified optical-mechanical approach. Instead of using electronic sensors, digital processors, or complex mechanical theodolites, the invention uses a sighting tube with visual markings and a reflective surface that leverages basic optical reflection principles. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity while maintaining adequate measurement precision for the application.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum elevation angle is set low at 45 degrees to ensure unobstructed sky view, then the user terminal can receive signals in challenging environments, but it becomes much more difficult for users to position the terminal correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides users with a pre-marked sighting device that indicates the 45-degree elevation angle threshold before installation begins. The elevation angle markings are预先 (pre) established on the sighting tube, allowing users to plan and execute the positioning action with confidence from the start, rather than having to calculate or estimate angles during the installation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables accurate positioning of user terminals with an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions, reducing errors and dropout periods by allowing users to determine the elevation angle with high precision, achieving about 1 to 2 degrees of accuracy compared to visual estimation methods.
Implementation Method 1
a convex image-reflecting surface and a planar transparent sighting surface with a circular marking (elevation limit circle) allows users to determine if surrounding objects are below or above a maximum elevation angle, ensuring the user terminal has an unobstructed view by reflecting a virtual image of the objects relative to the elevation limit circle
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2
AI summary
A device and method for estimating the elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal include a convex image-reflecting surface, a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface, and an elevation limit marking formed on or in the sighting surface. The elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines an elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions.