Method for determining orientation and attitude of a satellite- or aircraft-borne phased-array antenna
US5790071A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/2041
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Tripulse method determines the orientation or attitude of a phased-array antenna located at a remote site, such as an aircraft or spacecraft. Three pulses are transmitted from the phased-array antenna in an estimated direction toward a coherent receiver, with a sum beam, and with first and second difference beams formed by reversal of the phase of certain elements above a first axis of symmetry, and to one side of a second axis of symmetry. The received signals are processed in a manner which determines the error between the assumed direction and the actual direction of the receiver. To determine the rotational position of the array antenna, the same steps are performed for a second remote receiver, and additional processing determines the complete attitude, including yaw, of the phased-array antenna. The coherent receiver may use the first transmitted pulse as a reference, or it may use a separate reference signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.