Edward J Simmons

US Patent:

61848255, Feb 6, 2001

Filed:

Jun 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/342369

Inventors:

James W. Wehner - Torrance CA
Richard B. Sherwood - Palos Verdes Estates CA
Edward J. Simmons - Cypress CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H01Q 300

US Classification:

342359

Abstract:

An RF beam pointing apparatus (500, 600) compensates for the effects of settling errors on antenna pointing. The beam pointing apparatus includes an attitude reference system (502, 528, 530, 534) generating an antenna attitude output from the satellite attitude. Also included is attitude comparison circuitry (528, 530), coupled to the attitude reference system, that includes an antenna pointing error output. Control circuitry (528, 530) is coupled to the attitude reference system (502, 528, 530, 534) and the attitude comparison circuitry (528, 530). The control circuitry (528,530) directs the attitude comparison circuitry (528, 530) to generate control error output signals in response to dynamic settling antenna pointing errors induced by a mechanical slew on the satellite. An electronic beam pointing system (500, 600) is provided to steer the antenna (544) in response to the antenna pointing error signals to reduce the dynamic settling antenna pointing errors to within a predetermined pointing accuracy for nominal operation (202).