The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 29, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1996
Parthasarathy Ramanujam, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Louis R Fermelia, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Cynthia A Dixon, Rancho Palos Veredes, CA (US);
Miguel A Estevez, Culver, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for changing the radiation pattern of an antenna assembly of a satellite in orbit is provided. The antenna assembly includes a reflector antenna fed by a feed assembly. The reflector antenna transmits and receives signals within a radiation pattern. The reflector antenna and the feed assembly are movably mounted to a sliding mechanism so that they can be displaced with respect to one another. The displacement causes defocusing as the reflector antenna is displaced from the focus point. The defocusing causes the radiation pattern to become more compact or broadened. Thus, the radiation pattern of the satellite provided with a single reflector antenna and a single feed element may be changed while the satellite is in orbit. The system and method include gimballing the reflector antenna to steer the radiation pattern.