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:
Dec. 26, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 03, 2003
Kenneth E. Westall, Clayton, NC (US);
Kenneth E. Westall, Clayton, NC (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A communication satellite cellular coverage pointing correction using uplink beacon signal is provided. A ground-based beacon transmits a monopulse tracking signal or a Traveling Wave Coupler (TWC) tracking signal to a specialized tracking feed section located within each uplink and downlink antennae of a satellite. From the monopulse or TWC tracking signal, a pointing correction is determined for each reflector, for example, the angle off boresight and the angle between the present beam direction and the target direction. Each reflector is then gimbaled to re-point the reflector to the target area. In this way, both uplink and downlink antennae are provided with closed-loop control over antenna pointing.