Andrew Corporation

Ralph Brooker

Steve Buchan

Tommy Tulloch

Richard Dempster

Scott H Walker

Charles L Lipkin

David H Johnson

An adjustment tool, having a body with a bore extending between a first end and a second end. A shaft is positioned within the bore having a plurality of outward spreading spring fingers coupled to a tool end. A spring biases the shaft towards the second end of the body. A collet coupled to a first end of the body has an inner surface which restricts the spring fingers to a closed position as movement of the shaft towards the second end of the body retracts the spring fingers into the collet. A bubble ring may be coupled to the body. Graduated indicia associated with the bubble ring indicates rotation of the tool for entry of precise rotational adjustments.

Adjustment tool

A support structure apparatus for a reflector antenna having a main reflector. The support structure includes a plurality of sub-brackets and a main bracket. The sub-brackets each having a plurality of main reflector connection points and a main bracket connection point. A plurality of fasteners used to join the main reflector to the sub-brackets and the sub-brackets to the main reflector swivel when loose and become rigid when fastened. Fasteners between the sub-bracket and the main bracket may be replaced with captive screws or motors with threaded shafts to provide azimuth/elevation adjustment functionality to the support structure.

Reflector antenna support structure

An antenna mount with a primary mount having a connecting surface(s) for an azimuth plate. The azimuth plate rotationally coupled to the connecting surface via an az-pivot fastener and rigidly connectable to the connecting surface via a pair of az-lockdown fasteners passing through az-lockdown slots in the azimuth plate. A pair of connection point(s) of the primary mount and the azimuth plate, respectively, movable towards and away from each other as an azimuth bolt coupling the connection points is threaded in or out of a threaded surface at one of the pair of connection points. The azimuth bolt carrying an az-bias spring compressed between the connection points biasing the connection points apart. Movement of the connection points towards and away from each other pivoting the azimuth plate with respect to the primary mount about the az-pivot fastener. Further pivot surfaces may also be added, providing an additional adjustment axis.

Precision adjustment antenna mount and alignment method

A self-pointing antenna has a reflector, a feed or a sub-reflector and a plurality of support struts coupled between the reflector and the boom arm and supporting the feed or sub-reflector. At least one actuator is operatively coupled with the support struts for adjusting the position of the feed or sub-reflector relative to the reflector so as to selectively adjust either/or both of the beam elevation and azimuth of a main beam axis of the antenna.

Self-pointing antenna scanning

A method and system for compensating for atmospheric fading is used in a communication system wherein communication signals are exchanged between first and second earth stations via a satellite link, without increasing power of the satellite link. The method includes determining, at one or both of the earth stations, the signal power of a received signal and a signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal; calculating the difference in noise power spectral density in the received signal from that under clear sky conditions; calculating the downlink attenuation; determining the uplink attenuation, and commanding the transmitting earth station to increase its transmit power by an amount to compensate for the uplink attenuation. A corresponding system carries out the method.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Ralph Brooker