Patent ID: 7339520
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: H01Q,H04B

Abstract:
1. An antenna for communication with a satellite, the antenna being for use on a satellite terminal, comprising: a one-dimensionally rotating plate for mechanically rotating in a horizontal plane while maintaining a vertical position and scanning for wave signals in the azimuth direction; a plurality of radiation elements positioned on said rotating plate for one-dimensionally electronically scanning for wave signals in an elevation direction, said radiation elements forming respective element signals; first coding circuitry coupling a respective code to a respective one of the element signals to form respective coded element signals; a first multiplexer associated with said plurality of radiation elements for consolidating the coded element signals received at each of said plurality of radiation elements to an analog bit stream; an analog to digital converter for converting said analog bit stream to a digital bit stream; filter circuitry for forming multiple digital signals corresponding to respective coded element signals from said digital bit stream; digital beam forming circuitry beam forming multiple digital beam signals from the multiple digital signals; second coding circuitry coupling respective beam codes to each of the multiple digital beam signals to form a plurality of coded digital beam signals; a second multiplexer consolidating the plurality of coded digital beam signals to form a signal stream; and a digital receiver determining signal strengths for the coded digital beam signals in the signal stream and determining a transmit direction by identifying one of the plurality of coded digital beam signals having a strongest signal having a corresponding element.