Antenna orienting apparatus for vehicles

Details Antenna orienting apparatus for vehicles Antenna orienting apparatus for vehicles

1993-08-03

1996-01-16

Wimer, Michael C.

Communications: radio wave antennas

Antennas

With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...

343763, 343766, 343709, H01Q 118, H01Q 308

Patent

active

054851696

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a passive, active or mixed platform type antenna orienting apparatus carried on a vehicle, such as a small-sized vessel or an automobile, which turns frequently and experiences complex vibrations, for tracing a target such as a communications satellite with a directive antenna. And more particularly, to an antenna orienting apparatus for a vehicle, which is freed from entanglements of a cable leading to the antenna due to circular travel of the vehicle, and which can provide isolation of the antenna from vehicular vibrations and using a light weight antenna and dampening system.
The orientation of a communications satellite or target is uniquely decided if its azimuth or elevation angle is determined. The azimuth is an angle which measures the orientation of the satellite clockwise from the north in a horizontal plane, and the elevation is an angle which is made between the satellite, the antenna, and the horizontal plane.
Moreover, these angles are functions of the present position of the vehicle, i.e., the longitude and the latitude. Thus, the vehicle is required to trace the satellite by computing the azimuth and elevation on the basis of the data of its present location. The apparatus carried on a vehicle for orienting the satellite communications antenna is ordinarily equipped with a tracing mechanism including a CPU and a servo mechanism. However, the antenna orienting apparatus must maintain an orientation directed to the communications satellite while the vehicle turns to provide satisfactory communication.
A north-directing gyro for computing the present location is provided along with a vertical gyro for giving a vertical reference. The orientation of the antenna can be maintained toward the communications satellite, if the vertical gyro is used to detect the turns or motions (e.g., a rolling or pitching angle in case of a vessel) of the vehicle and its signal drives the aforementioned servo mechanism. This method is of the active platform type, in which the antenna is stabilized together with its orientation control. In this active platform type antenna orienting apparatus, the motions of the antenna are compensated for those of the vehicle, so that the vehicle does not deteriorate the directivity when severe, as in a small-sized vessel.
In contrast to the active platform type, there is known a passive platform type antenna orienting apparatus for stabilizing the antenna by means of a gyro mechanism. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4. An antenna 1 is supported in a rocking manner by an elevation shaft 3 through an elevation panel 2. This elevation shaft 3 is borne in a stable platform 4, which is turnably supported by a shaft 9a. To this shaft 9a, there are attached through a turnable swivel cylinder 5 two flywheels 6 and 7 which have momentums in a vertical swivel axis.
The shaft 9a is connected through a universal joint 8 to a shaft 9b. This shaft 9b has its lower portions fitted in sliding holes 11 and 12 of a post 10. A bias spring 15 is mounted between a flange 3 of the shaft 9 and a partition 14 of the post 10. A shock absorbing action against the vertical or axial vibration is established by the friction between the sliding holes 11 and 12 and the shaft 9 and by the elastic force of the bias spring 15. The post 10 is supported through a spherical bearing 7 disposed at the center of a base 16, and bias springs 20, having a sliding case, are mounted between four arms 18 extending from the lower end of the post 10 and the folded extensions 19. A shock absorbing action against the horizontal vibration is established by the friction of the sliding case attached to the bias springs 20 and by the elastic force of the bias springs 20. Coupling the stable platform 4 and the shaft 9a, moreover there are gears 21 and an azimuth electric motor 22 to orient the antenna 1 to a predetermined azimuth angle. Between the stable platform 4 and the elevation shaft 3, there are disposed gears 23 and an elevation shaft electric motor 2

REFERENCES:
patent: 4209789 (1980-06-01), Snedkerud
patent: 4392137 (1983-07-01), Intlekofer et al.
patent: 4543549 (1985-09-01), Meltzer et al.
patent: 4596989 (1986-06-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4621266 (1986-11-01), Le Gall et al.
patent: 4647939 (1987-03-01), Kolhoff

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