Patent ID: 8305279

Claim:
An antenna positioner system for positioning an antenna to track a moving object, the antenna positioner system comprising: an azimuth drive assembly configured to impart azimuthal rotational motion to the antenna about an azimuth axis; an X-axis drive assembly configured to impart rotational motion to the antenna about a horizontal X-axis orthogonal to the azimuth axis, wherein the X-axis drive assembly comprises: an X-axis drive shaft; an X-axis motion encoder; limit switches; X-axis bull gear; two X-axis drive trains; and an X-axis drive housing, wherein the two X-axis drive trains are coupled to the X-axis bull gear; an Y-axis drive assembly configured to impart rotational motion to the antenna about a Y-axis orthogonal to both the X-axis and the azimuth axis, wherein the Y-axis drive assembly comprises: a Y-axis shaft and housing; a Y-axis motion encoder; Y-axis bull gear; and two Y-axis drive trains, wherein the two drive trains are coupled to the Y-axis bull gear; and a controller configured to control operation of the azimuth drive assembly, the X-axis drive assembly, and the Y-axis drive assembly so as to optimize tracking velocity and acceleration; wherein the rotational motion imparted to the antenna by the X-axis drive assembly about the X-axis encompasses an elevation angular range between about −90 degrees to about +90 degrees and wherein the azimuth axis, the X-axis, and the Y-axis all intersect at an intersection point.