Pivoting sensor drive system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9882276-B1
Application number	US-201514695586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 24, 2015
Priority date	Aug 8, 2011
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A method of articulating a sensor comprising the steps applying a friction force on a curved surface of a sensor support frame with a friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame about a pivot point for altering an elevation and azimuth angle of the sensor. The sensor may be maintained at a predetermined elevation angle while the sensor support frame is pivoted about the pivot point with the friction drive actuator for altering an azimuth angle of the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of articulating a sensor supported by a sensor support frame movably mounted with respect to a base, comprising the steps of:
applying a first friction force on a first three-dimensional curved surface having a constant radius of the sensor support frame supporting the sensor with a first friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame about a first axis and a pivot point; and
applying a second friction force on a second three-dimensional curved surface having a constant radius of the sensor support frame with a second friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame about a second axis and the pivot point, wherein the pivot point is defined at an intersection of the first axis and the second axis;
wherein pivoting the sensor support frame about the first and second axes provides the sensor with 360 degrees of azimuth revolution at a plurality of elevation angles with respect to the base.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining the sensor at a predetermined elevation angle while pivoting the sensor support frame about the first and second axes and the pivot point to alter an azimuth position of the sensor with the first and second friction drive actuators.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor support frame is pivoted about the first and second axes simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor support frame comprises a generally spherical shape.

5. A method of articulating a sensor supported by a sensor support frame curved in three dimensions, each of a constant radius, movably mounted with respect to a base, comprising the steps of:
applying a friction force on a three-dimensional curved surface of the sensor support frame curved in three dimensions with a friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame about at least two axes and a pivot point defined at an intersection of at least two axes;
pivoting the sensor support frame about the pivot point to alter an azimuth position of the sensor with the friction drive actuator while maintaining the sensor at a predetermined elevation angle with respect to the base.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of pivoting the sensor support frame about the pivot point includes pivoting the sensor support frame about the at least two axes for altering the elevation and azimuth angle of the sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of pivoting the sensor support frame about at least two axes includes simultaneously pivoting the sensor about the at least two axes.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of pivoting the sensor support frame about the pivot point to alter an azimuth position of the sensor comprises pivoting the sensor support frame such that its azimuth position is changing with a constant angular velocity.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sensor comprises a radar antenna array.

10. A method of articulating a sensor supported by a sensor support frame curved in three dimensions, each of a constant radius, movably mounted with respect to a base, comprising the steps of:
applying a friction force on a three-dimensional curved surface of the sensor support frame with a friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame curved in three dimensions about at least two axes and a pivot point for altering an elevation and azimuth angle of the sensor, the pivot point defined at an intersection of the at least two axes; and
applying a friction force on the three-dimensional curved surface of the sensor support frame with the friction drive actuator for pivoting the sensor support frame curved in three dimensions about the at least two axes and the pivot point for altering an azimuth angle of the sensor while maintaining the sensor at a predetermined elevation angle with respect to the base.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor support frame comprises a generally spherical shape.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the friction drive actuator is configured to provide the sensor with 360 degrees of azimuth revolution at a plurality of elevation angles.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Hall Richard R
• Nichols Peter M

Classifications

• H01Q3/08 Primary

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

• H01Q1/12

  Supports; Mounting means · CPC title

• H01Q3/00

  Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system {(means for positioning H01Q1/125)} · CPC title

• H01Q3/02

  using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole · CPC title

• H01Q1/125

  Means for positioning · CPC title