Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...
Patent
1996-03-07
1998-12-22
Wimer, Michael C.
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...
343882, H01Q 112, H01Q 308
Patent
active
058524231
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention concerns an antenna mount suitable for a satellite telecommunication antenna.
2. Prior Art
Terrestrial satellite communication antennas and, more generally, microwave antennas have to be pointed very accurately in a given direction, which may be fixed or mobile. This direction is that of a communication satellite, for example, usually a satellite in a quasi-geostationary or quasi-geosynchronous orbit (although this situation and that of a satellite communications antenna are in no way limiting on the invention).
There are various types of antenna mount, i.e. the mechanism which supports the antenna and points it accurately.
The type of mount most frequently used for terrestrial satellite communication stations is the so-called "elevation-azimuth" type of mount, which has a rigid basic structure on which is mounted a structure which rotates about a vertical axis and which carries a structure turning about a horizontal axis and to which the antenna is fastened.
Most mounts are heavy and complex. Accordingly, they are not suited to mass production or to mobile, portable or demountable terrestrial stations where light weight and ease of erection are essential.
On the other hand, lightweight mounts are difficult to adjust accurately, whether by hand or by means of a motor drive system. Also, it is usually necessary to provide a rigid support such as a support plate or slab.
Another problem with many existing antennas is that they were initially designed to point at quasi-geostationary satellites, i.e. for fixed pointing. Because the motors for correcting the position of the satellite eventually run out of fuel, most satellites which used to be geostationary now have a progressively increasing orbital inclination (in which case the geostationary orbit degrades into a geosynchronous orbit). This means that the Earth stations must be capable of mobile pointing, at least in a limited range of movement, to be able to track the satellite at all times.
European patent application EP-A-0 227 930 (SIEMENS) discloses a varible pointing antenna mount, in particular in FIG. 4 of that document. The mount is made up of two dihedra with variable angles. However these two dihedra do not have any common plane.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Antenna mounts proposed until now cannot reconcile these various requirements in a satisfactory way.
An object of the invention is to propose an antenna mount which is adjustable to enable accurate pointing and tracking of a satellite, which is advantageously foldable for easy transport and quick demounting/erection, and which has a mechanically simple, rugged and low-cost structure.
To this end, the mount of the invention is characterized in that it includes: a first dihedron one plane of which is carried by a support base; means for varying the angle of said first dihedron; a second dihedron one plane of which is common to the first dihedron and the other plane of which carries means for supporting the antenna, the axis of the first dihedron and the axis of the second dihedron being neither parallel nor coincident; and means for varying the angle of said second dihedron.
To be more precise, a mount of this kind can include: a first structure defining a first triangle fastened to said support base; a second structure defining a second triangle, the first and second triangles having a common side having a first hinged connection to constitute the first dihedron, the means for varying the angle of the first dihedron being disposed between the corner of the first triangle opposite the hinged side and the corner of the second triangle opposite this same side; and a third structure defining a third triangle, the second and third triangles having a common side having a second hinged connection to constitute the second dihedron, the means for varying the angle of the second dihedron being disposed between the corner of the second triangle opposite the hinged side and the corner of the third triangle opposite this same side.
The means for ad
REFERENCES:
patent: 3707721 (1972-12-01), McCartney
Agence Spatiale Europeene
Wimer Michael C.
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