Selenia Spazio S.p.a.

Rototec S.p.a.

Mario Falconi

Giacinto Losquadro

Paolo Benzi

A pointing system for reflector type antennas providing a high degree of accuracy with low loss over wide scan areas, including a fixed illuminator retained in fixed position at the focal point of the reflector of the antenna. Surrounding the illuminator is a Cardanic joint which acts as a spherical hinge capable of radial rotation around the illuminator. Attached to the Cardanic joint is a support arm which is connected to the reflector. The reflector is therefore freely movable in a spherical path defined around the illuminator with the illuminator coinciding with the center of the sphere. The illuminator is kept within the focal point of the reflector regardless of the position of the reflector as it spherically rotates around the illuminator. Tension springs in the Cardanic joint and guide wires controlled by motors are provided for finely positioning the support arm and reflector in any given position along the spherical rotative path through which the reflector is able to move. The beam axis of the antenna is continuously variable through the complete range of motion of the reflector, and therefore the antenna system is capable of scanning over large areas. The fine positioning of the reflector and the lack of need for articulated connectors to the feed of the antenna provide for low loss and high pointing accuracy.

Growing community of inventors

Rome, Italy

Mario Falconi