Patent ID: 6043788
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
An antenna system for use in communicating with an orbiting satellite, comprising:an offset Gregorian dual-reflector antenna that comprises:an ellipsoidal subreflector;a rotatable paraboloidal reflector having a focus in common with a focus of the ellipsoidal subreflector and which couples energy to and from the ellipsoidal subreflector;an RF feed system for coupling RF energy to and from the ellipsoidal subreflector; andpointing apparatus for pointing the antenna at an orbiting satellite that comprises:rotating apparatus for rotating the paraboloidal reflector and ellipsoidal subreflector together around an azimuth axis of the antenna and for independently and simultaneously rotating the paraboloidal reflector about an axis between the paraboloidal reflector and ellipsoidal subreflector so as to point the antenna at an orbiting satellite; anda controller coupled to the rotating apparatus for controlling rotation of the paraboloidal reflector and the antenna to point the antenna toward the orbiting satellite.