Viasat, Inc.

Kevin Mark Skinner

E Mitchell Blalock

Bradley H Smith

Jack C Newkirk

B Wayne Holt

Kurt A Zimmerman

Donald Lawson Runyon

James William Maxwell

Sharad V Parekh

Cole David Dobson

David Mark Kokotoff

Eric Shin

A rotatable antenna is disclosed comprising a wireless rotatable interconnect comprising: a stator coil pad, a rotor coil pad, and a radiating element coupled to the rotor coil pad. In an embodiment, changes in a rotation of the rotor coil pad about an axis change a pointing direction of the radiating element. Moreover, a first channel of a plurality of wireless channels transfers power from the stator coil pad to the rotor coil pad and a second channel of the plurality of wireless channels transfers data between the stator coil pad and the rotor coil pad. Also, a data encoder may be coupled to the rotor coil pad that modulates at least a portion of the data transmitted through the second channel of the plurality of wireless channels onto a radio frequency (RF) signal, and provides the RF signal to the radiating element.

Rotatable antenna system with wireless rotatable interconnect

A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.

System and apparatus for driving antenna

Techniques for antenna positioning system having a drive element shared by multiple antennas for positioning about a positioning degree of freedom are described. In some examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with the shared drive element. By driving a shared drive element, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated via the associated coupling. In some examples, such a coupling may include link arms with an adjustable length to reduce backlash or to apply a preload to the system. In some examples, such a coupling may be configured to position multiple antennas over different orientation ranges in response to the drive element driving over an actuation range, which may include one antenna being idled or otherwise maintained at an orientation while another antenna is driven, or may include different antennas being driven according to different actuation ratios.

An antenna positioner, and methods of positioning using the antenna positioner, that may track a satellite are described. An antenna positioner may include a base and a mount rotatably coupled to the base to turn the mount about an azimuth axis. The mount may support an antenna element so that the antenna element can rotate about the elevation axis with respect to the mount. A center drive shaft for the elevation drive may pass through the hollow portion of the mount along the azimuth axis to drive a bevel gear set, a first gear of the set being coupled to the drive shaft and a second gear of the set being coupled to the antenna element, to rotate the antenna element about the elevation axis. Drive compensation is provided to counteract elevation rotation resulting from cross-coupling of the azimuth and elevation axes by the bevel gear set during azimuth rotation.

Hemispherical azimuth and elevation positioning platform

In an exemplary embodiment, a dual-band four-port orthomode transducer (OMT) is molded or cast. The OMT may be external to a transceiver housing or included as an integrated portion of the transceiver housing or a drop-in module. In an exemplary embodiment, a four-port OMT is formed from two pieces, the two pieces having a joint adjacent to or aligned to the axis of the common port. In an exemplary embodiment, the OMT is substantially planar and formed of a split-block embodiment. The two OMT pieces are joined and held together with a plurality of discrete fasteners. Furthermore, the OMT is configured to switch polarizations. The polarization switching is initiated using a remote signal and can facilitate load balancing.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, GA, United States of America

Kevin Mark Skinner