Viasat, Inc.

Kurt A Zimmerman

Donald Lawson Runyon

Thaddeus Dylan Oxford

David H Irvine

Clifford K Burdick

Kevin Duane House

Philip A Lampe

John R Zlogar

Kevin Mark Skinner

Scott D Leach

James William Maxwell

Donald L Runyon, Jr

Cole David Dobson

Jack C Newkirk

Charles Michael Luke

Robert J Wojewoda

Saifuddin M Ansari

Alex C Panos

Methods, systems, and devices are described for antenna positioning with an eccentric tilt pointing mechanism. For example, a system in accordance with the present disclosure may include a base structure and an intermediate structure that is rotatably coupled with the base structure about a first axis (e.g., a tilt axis). The system may also include a positioning system that is coupled with the intermediate structure and configured to orient an antenna boresight about at least two angular degrees of freedom with respect to the intermediate structure (e.g., in an elevation-over-azimuth configuration). The system may also include an actuator between the base structure and the intermediate structure that is configured to set, change, or maintain an angle between the base structure and the intermediate structure, which, in some examples, may include a rotation of an eccentric element based on a predicted path of a target device.

Antenna positioner with eccentric tilt position mechanism

One example includes a self-synchronizing TDD antenna system. The system includes an antenna to communicate transmit and receive signals and an antenna circuit coupled to a user communication system via a transmission line cable. The antenna circuit includes a transmission line measurement circuit to determine signal loss through the transmission line cable and an amplitude adjustment circuit to adjust amplitude of the transmit and/or receive signals based on the determined signal loss. The antenna circuit also includes a transmit detection circuit to monitor signal power of the transmit signal, and a controller to switch the amplitude adjustment circuit from a receive mode to a transmit mode in response to the monitored signal power exceeding a predetermined threshold. In the receive mode, the adjustment circuit applies a receive amplitude adjustment to the receive signal, and in the transmit mode the adjustment circuit applies a transmit amplitude adjustment to the transmit signal.

Time-division duplex (TDD) antenna system

A reflector antenna heating system includes a dielectric radome that covers a first side of a reflector and a feed subsystem of an antenna. The system also includes a plurality of heater blower devices on a second side of the reflector, each of the plurality of heater blower devices having an inlet port and an outlet port. The system further includes a plurality of outlet duct assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of outlet duct assemblies is coupled to the outlet port of a respective heater blower device to direct heated air around a perimeter of the reflector and along an inside surface of the dielectric radome. One or more gaps proximal to a center of the reflector are included to recirculate cooled air toward a plurality of inlet ducts for the plurality of heater blower devices to feed the inlet port of each heater blower device.

Reflector antenna heating system

An antenna may have features to ameliorate ice accumulation thereon. For instance, the antenna may include a feed structure between a reflector and a radome. The radome may cover at least a portion of the antenna and/or components of the antenna. A heating element may be located at various locations on the feed structure of the antenna. The heating element may heat the radome or other aspects of the antenna. The heating element may heat the radome or other aspects by infrared radiation, and/or via circulating warmed air. A fan may be provided to promote circulation of warmed air. The heat ameliorates ice accumulation the antenna so that ice accumulation does not diminish the electromagnetic performance of the antenna.

Satellite antenna anti-icing system and method

Determining alignment and clear line-of-sight (LOS) of a satellite antenna using sensor data from an LOS sensor of the satellite antenna. Described techniques include storing first sensor data captured by the LOS sensor at a first time, the first sensor data indicating a first LOS condition of the satellite antenna corresponding to the satellite antenna having a beam LOS with a satellite of the satellite communication system that is aligned and unobstructed. The techniques may include receiving second sensor data captured by the LOS sensor at a second time after the first time, the second sensor data indicating a second LOS condition of the satellite antenna. The techniques may include determining an LOS condition change for the satellite antenna between the first time and the second time based on a comparison of the second sensor data with the first sensor data.

Satellite antenna with sensor for line-of-sight detection

Determining movement for alignment of a satellite antenna using accelerometer data and gyroscope data of the satellite antenna. Described techniques include receiving accelerometer data for a first time period from an accelerometer mounted on the antenna and analyzing the accelerometer data to determine a movement time window for a movement event of the antenna. The techniques may include receiving gyroscope data for the first time period from a gyroscope mounted on the antenna and analyzing the gyroscope data during the movement time window to determine an amount of movement of the antenna due to the movement event.

Antenna with sensors for accurate pointing

Methods, systems, and devices are described for an antenna positioning apparatus, which includes a multiple-assembly positioner for adjusting a positioning angle about a positioning axis. The multiple-assembly positioner has two or more positioning assemblies that are coupled in series between a base structure and a positioning structure. Positioning assemblies can be individually selected based on various criteria, such as cost, complexity, angular range, and other performance, and be configured to work together to provide a desired range of adjustment to the positioning angle while simultaneously meeting precision requirements. In one example, a positioning assembly can include a shaft with an eccentric portion, which is rotated in order to provide the adjustment. A method is described where a first positioning assembly can be actuated to a first initial position, and then held, such that a second positioning assembly can be actuated to provide a selected antenna positioning angle.

Multiple-assembly antenna positioner with eccentric shaft

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.

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Dunwoody, GA, United States of America

Kurt A Zimmerman