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A system and method for automatically pointing a microwave antenna at a desired satellite in geosynchronous earth orbit from a remote location, such as encountered in a well logging, is disclosed. The system uses a truck borne, gimbal mounted antenna and a computer arranged to automatically control

A system and method for automatically pointing a microwave antenna at a desired satellite in geosynchronous earth orbit from a remote location, such as encountered in a well logging, is disclosed. The system uses a truck borne, gimbal mounted antenna and a computer arranged to automatically control and drive servo motors connected to the gimbal mounts of the antenna. Accurate pointing with minimal human intervention is achieved.

대표청구항 ▼

An automatic system for positioning a Ku band microwave antenna accurately to within approximately 0.1 degrees to point at a particular satellite located among others having as close as 2 degree angular spacing in geosynchronous earth orbit from a remote location for establishing a Ku band microwave

An automatic system for positioning a Ku band microwave antenna accurately to within approximately 0.1 degrees to point at a particular satellite located among others having as close as 2 degree angular spacing in geosynchronous earth orbit from a remote location for establishing a Ku band microwave communication link from the remote location via the satellite, comprising: a Ku band microwave antenna having a gimbal mount adapted to move in at least azimuth and elevation; means for driving said gimbal amount in azimuth and means for driving said gimbal mount in elevation; means for sensing a satellite signal detected by said antenna and for producing an output signal representative of the strength of said satellite signal and a separate output signal indicative of a satellite code or signature; inclinometer means for measuring the actual elevation angle of said elevation gimbal with respect to vertical and for generating an output signal representative thereof; means for measuring the azimuth angle of said azimuth gimbal relative to a fixed reference and for generating an output signal representative thereof; computer means capable of receiving input data comprising the earth latitude and longitude of a remote location and a satellite position and capable of receiving as inputs said strength representative signal, said satellite code or signature indicative signal, said elevation representative signal and said azimuth representative signal and further being capable of generating output command signals to said driving means to drive said azimuth and elevation gimbals to commanded positions the initial commanded position of said azimuth gimbal being one of its stops; means, included in said computer means, for pointing said elevation gimbal to a fixed direction and for scanning said azimuth gimbal to a computed direction based on said earth latitude and longitude and said satellite position signals and then for varying the pointing of said gimbals in response to said signal strength signal in such a manner as to optimize said strength signal; and wherein said computer means further includes means capable of receiving said input signal indicative of a satellite code or signature and means for comparing said code or signature input signal with a predetermined reference code or signature signal in the memory of said computer means to verify the pointing of said antenna at the correct satellite and means responsive to such comparison for moving said gimbal mount in azimuth away from its initial stop position if said comparison fails to match.