Antenna with single motor positioning and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10938103-B2
Application number	US-201815986108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2018
Priority date	May 22, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

An antenna may include a base, a gimbal mount coupled to the base, and a first guide body coupled to the base and having a first guide slot. The antenna may include a second guide body rotatably coupled with respect to the base and having a second guide slot defining a steerable intersection position with respect to the first guide slot. The antenna may also have an antenna member coupled to the gimbal mount and extending through the steerable intersection position, and an actuator configured to selectively rotate the second guide body to steer the antenna member.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An antenna comprising:
a base;
a gimbal mount coupled to said base;
a first guide body coupled to said base and having a first guide slot therein, said first guide body defining an open cavity, said gimbal mount being movable within the cavity, said first guide slot having a C-shape;
a second guide body rotatably coupled with respect to said base and having a second guide slot therein defining a steerable intersection position with respect to the first guide slot;
an antenna member coupled to said gimbal mount and extending through the steerable intersection position; and
an actuator configured to selectively rotate said second guide body to steer the antenna member.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said first guide body has a dome shape.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said second guide body has an elongate curved shape.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said second guide slot has an elongate shape.

5. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a drive gear coupled between said second guide body and said actuator.

6. The antenna of claim 5 wherein said second guide body has a geared periphery to be driven by said drive gear.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna member comprises a horn antenna.

8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a single electrical motor.

9. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said first guide body is integral with said base.

10. An antenna comprising:
a base;
a gimbal mount coupled to said base;
a first guide body coupled to said base and having a first guide slot therein, said first guide body being dome shaped and defining an open cavity, said gimbal mount being movable within the cavity, said first guide slot being spiral shaped;
a second guide body rotatably coupled with respect to said base and having a second guide slot therein defining a steerable intersection position with respect to the first guide slot, said second guide body being elongate curved shaped;
an antenna member coupled to said gimbal mount and extending through the steerable intersection position; and
an actuator configured to selectively rotate said second guide body to steer the antenna member.

11. The antenna of claim 10 wherein said second guide slot has an elongate shape.

12. The antenna of claim 10 further comprising a drive gear coupled between said second guide body and said actuator.

13. The antenna of claim 12 wherein said second guide body has a geared periphery to be driven by said drive gear.

14. The antenna of claim 10 wherein said antenna member comprises a horn antenna.

15. The antenna of claim 10 wherein said actuator comprises a single electrical motor.

16. A method for making an antenna, the method comprising:
coupling a gimbal mount to a base;
coupling a first guide body to the base, the first guide body having a first guide slot therein, the first guide body defining an open cavity, the gimbal mount being movable within the cavity, the first guide slot having one of a spiral shape and a C-shape;
rotatably coupling a second guide body with respect to the base, the second guide body having a second guide slot therein defining a steerable intersection position with respect to the first guide slot;
coupling an antenna member to the gimbal mount and extending through the steerable intersection position; and
coupling an actuator to selectively rotate the second guide body to steer the antenna member.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first guide body has a dome shape.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the second guide body has an elongate curved shape.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the second guide slot has an elongate shape.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first guide body is integral with the base.

Assignees

• Eagle Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mast Alan W
• Jandzio Gregory M
• Dull Charles F
• Peebles Kristopher M

Classifications

• H01Q1/084 Primary

  Pivotable antennas · CPC title

• H01Q13/0283

  Apparatus or processes specially provided for manufacturing horns · CPC title

• H01Q3/08

  for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation · CPC title

• H01Q3/14 Primary

  for varying the relative position of primary active element and a refracting or diffracting device · CPC title

• H01Q13/02

  Waveguide horns · CPC title