Ronald S Carson

US Patent:

6356239, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Aug 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/644328

Inventors:

Ronald Steven Carson - Renton WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01Q 310

US Classification:

343765, 343757, 343766, 342375

Abstract:

A system and method for positioning an electronically scanned, phased array antenna disposed on a moving platform, such as an aircraft, to enable the antenna to remain pointed at, and track, a geostationary satellite as the moving platform is in motion. The antenna is mounted on a support which is coupled to an output shaft of a motor. The motor is used to rotate the support, and therefore the antenna, as needed to maintain the beam of the antenna directed at the satellite. The support is rotated only after a scan angle of the beam of the antenna exceeds a predetermined maximum scan angle. The degree of rotational movement of the support is further selected to be such that only a minimum number of adjustments to the position of the support are needed to maintain the scan angle of the beam of the antenna within the desired maximum scan angle over a large distance of travel of the aircraft. The invention significantly reduces the frequency of adjustment of the position of the support required to maintain the antenna directed at the desired satellite, and thus significantly reduces wear and tear on the motor without adversely affecting the antennas ability to track a target satellite.

US Patent:

6483458, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

May 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/870365

Inventors:

Ronald Steven Carson - Renton WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04B 700

US Classification:

342367, 342 74, 342 81, 342368, 342377

Abstract:

A method for accurately tracking and communicating with a satellite from a mobile platform, wherein the satellite has an antenna which performs both transmit and receive functions from a single antenna aperture. The method involves using an inertial reference unit (IRU) of the mobile platform to initially acquire the signal from the satellite. A sequential lobing process is then used to more accurately center the antenna aperture relative to the receive beam from the satellite. The antenna is then used to transmit data or other information, and the antenna pointing is maintained by an additional IRU local to the antenna with higher accuracy and lower latency than the IRU of the mobile platform. Periodically, transmissions from the antenna are inhibited and the sequential lobing process is repeated to eliminate for any inertial reference drift error. The method allows for more accurate antenna pointing when a single antenna aperture is used for both transmit and receive functions without significantly interfering with the transmission of data or information from the antenna.

US Patent:

6844855, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Jan 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/057286

Inventors:

Ronald Steven Carson - Renton WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01Q 128

US Classification:

343705, 343708

Abstract:

An aircraft phased array antenna system has transmit and receive antenna structures externally mounted on the aircraft fuselage. Each antenna comprises a plurality of phased array elements and antenna power and support equipment. Aerodynamically shaping antenna structure to enclose an antenna element grid provides additional antenna structure volume, which is efficiently utilized by locating antenna support equipment within the antenna structure. To control signal attenuation a receive antenna internal converter converts receive frequency signals to L-band frequency signals for aircraft use, and a similar transmit antenna converter converts L-band frequency signals to transmit frequency signals, thus unconstraining antenna to internal aircraft equipment spacing. To reduce power loss and cabling weight, antenna operating power is first generated in the 28 to 270 volts DC range within the aircraft, and locally converted in each antenna to the 3 to 6 volt DC power to operate each antenna's phased array elements.

US Patent:

7274336, Sep 25, 2007

Filed:

Aug 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/642888

Inventors:

Ronald S Carson - Renton WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01Q 1/28

US Classification:

343705, 343708

Abstract:

An aircraft phased array antenna system has transmit and receive antenna structures externally mounted on the aircraft fuselage. Each antenna comprises a plurality of phased array elements and antenna power and support equipment. Aerodynamically shaping antenna structure to enclose an antenna element grid provides additional antenna structure volume, which is efficiently utilized by locating antenna support equipment within the antenna structure. To control signal attenuation a receive antenna internal converter converts receive frequency signals to L-band frequency signals for aircraft use, and a similar transmit antenna converter converts L-band frequency signals to transmit frequency signals, thus unconstraining antenna to internal aircraft equipment spacing. To reduce power loss and cabling weight, antenna operating power is first generated in the 28 to 270 volts DC range within the aircraft, and locally converted in each antenna to the 3 to 6 volt DC power to operate each antenna's phased array elements.

US Patent:

8646010, Feb 4, 2014

Filed:

Jul 5, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/176570

Inventors:

Greg A. Bengeult - Auburn WA, US
Jeffrey P. Harrang - Sammamish WA, US
William R. Richards - Issaquah WA, US
Michael G. Lynch - Seattle WA, US
Michael De La Chapelle - Bellevue WA, US
Paulus J. Martens - Seattle WA, US
Ronald S. Carson - Renton WA, US
Daniel F. Miller - Sumner WA, US
Geoffrey O. White - Kent WA, US
George Fitzsimmons - Kent WA, US
Russell Berkheimer - Issaquah WA, US
Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US
Arthur F. Morrison - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

725 76, 725 75, 455 121

Abstract:

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system.

US Patent:

20090080368, Mar 26, 2009

Filed:

Nov 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/272299

Inventors:

Greg A. Bengeult - Auburn WA, US
Jeffrey P. Harrang - Sammamish WA, US
William R. Richards - Issaquah WA, US
Michael G. Lynch - Seattle WA, US
Michael de La Chapelle - Bellevue WA, US
Paulus J. Martens - Seattle WA, US
Ronald S. Carson - Renton WA, US
Daniel F. Miller - Sumner WA, US
Geoffrey O. White - Kent WA, US
George Fitzsimmons - Reno NV, US
Russell Berkheimer - Issaquah WA, US
Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US
Arthur F. Morrison - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04B 7/185

US Classification:

370316

Abstract:

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.

US Patent:

20140150033, May 29, 2014

Filed:

Feb 3, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/171627

Inventors:

- CHICAGO IL, US
Jeffrey P. Harrang - Sammamish WA, US
William R. Richards - Issaquah WA, US
Michael G. Lynch - Seattle WA, US
Michael De La Chapelle - Bellevue WA, US
Paulus J. Martens - Seattle WA, US
Ronald S. Carson - Renton WA, US
Daniel F. Miller - Sumner WA, US
Geoffrey O. White - Kent WA, US
George Fitzsimmons - Kent WA, US
Russell Berkheimer - Issaquah WA, US
Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US
Arthur F. Morrison - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

THE BOEING COMPANY - CHICAGO IL

International Classification:

H04N 7/173

US Classification:

725 64

Abstract:

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.