System and method for antenna tracking

Abstract

A method includes determining if a dynamics requirement for an antenna positioner is exceeded, and employing a combination of mechanical and electronic beam steering techniques to steer a single antenna beam if the dynamics requirement is exceeded.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining if a dynamics requirement for an antenna positioner is exceeded;   and employing a combination of mechanical and electronic beam steering techniques to steer a single antenna beam if the dynamics requirement is exceeded.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single antenna beam is steered during an acquisition process. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single antenna beam is steered during a tracking process. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic beam steering technique includes steering the single antenna beam between antenna feed elements disposed in an azimuth direction. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic beam steering technique includes steering the single antenna beam between antenna feed elements disposed in an elevation direction. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic beam steering technique includes steering the single antenna beam between antenna feed elements disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. 
   
   
       7 . A method for antenna tracking, comprising:
 a priori computing angular positions and velocities of a satellite using a satellite ephemeris;   determining if an elevation angle is above a maximum elevation angle; and   if the elevation angle is above the maximum elevation angle, employing a combination of mechanical and electronic beam steering techniques to steer an antenna beam.   
   
   
       8 . The method of antenna tracking of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic beam steering technique includes varying an amplitude combination of antenna feed elements in an azimuth coordinate. 
   
   
       9 . The method of antenna tracking of  claim 7 , further including: subtracting outputs of adjacent feed elements to verify that the antenna beam is aligned with a received signal. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sum (Σ) of each of the pairs of adjacent feed elements is configured to provide a scanned beam. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein is the difference (Δ) of each of the pairs of adjacent feed elements is configured to verify the scanned beam is aligned. 
   
   
       12 . The method of clam  11 , wherein the signal level of the difference (Δ) of each of the pairs of adjacent feed elements is configured to align the peak level of the sum (Σ) of each of the pairs of adjacent feed elements.