Patent ID: 8890757

Claim:
An antenna system for satellite communication mounted on a moving platform, comprising: an antenna assembly, comprising: an eggbeater antenna mounted on an antenna mast; a control and display unit; an antenna steering unit, comprising: a support housing; a rotary joint comprising a BNC connector, wherein the BNC connector has a first part connected to the support housing of the antenna steering unit, and a second part connected to the antenna assembly at the axis of rotation, such that when the antenna rotates, the BNC connector rotates in synchronism with it; an electronic magnetic compass for sensing the Earth magnetic field to determine a reference azimuth; an angular velocity-sensing gyroscope for sensing motion and outputting an angular velocity output signal; a global positioning system receiver for providing track of the moving platform; a signal processor in communication with the electronic magnetic compass, the angular velocity-sensing gyroscope and the global positioning system receiver for receiving the reference azimuth, the angular velocity output signal, and the track, and determining the heading of the moving platform using an adaptive time interval; and a motor that controls direction of the antenna's azimuth axis, wherein the direction of the antenna's azimuth axis is determined based on the heading of the moving platform determined by the signal processor.