IP Library Granted Patent US 11,237,242
Granted Patent B1
US 11,237,242 · App. 16/927,833 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

System and method of providing multiple antennas to track satellite movement

Inventors: James Alexander Morris Tuchel (Los Angeles, CA); Andrew Louis Burks (Long Beach, CA)
Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
G01S5/0269G01S5/0045G01S5/0226H04B7/1851
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,237,242
App. No.
16/927,833
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An example system can include a first antenna having a first orientation, a second antenna having a second orientation and a control system communicating with the first antenna and the second antenna. The control system performs operations which can include determining a pathway of a satellite, comparing the pathway to a first radiation pattern of the first antenna and a second radiation pattern of the second antenna, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each positioned such that a first keyhole of the first antenna does not overlap a second keyhole of the second antenna, to yield a comparison and selecting, based on the comparison, one of the first antenna or the second antenna to communicate with the satellite along the pathway.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

determining a pathway of a satellite;

comparing, via a processor, the pathway to a first radiation pattern of a first antenna on earth and a second radiation pattern of a second antenna on earth, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each oriented such that a first keyhole of the first antenna does not overlap a second keyhole of the second antenna, to yield a comparison; and

selecting, via the processor and based on the comparison, one of the first antenna or the second antenna to communicate with the satellite along the pathway.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting, via the processor and based on the comparison, one of the first antenna or the second antenna to communicate with the satellite along the pathway further comprises selecting the first antenna.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first antenna is selected based on the comparison determining that the pathway of the satellite will avoid the first keyhole of the first antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting further comprises selecting from one of the first antenna, the second antenna and one or more additional antennas.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna is oriented at a first tilt and the second antenna is oriented at a second tilt such that the first keyhole and the second keyhole do not overlap.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first tilt is the same as the second tilt and the first antenna and the second antenna are tilted in different directions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each oriented in a non-vertical direction such that the first keyhole and the second keyhole do not overlap.

8. A system comprising:

a first antenna having a first orientation;

a second antenna having a second orientation;

a control system communicating with the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein the control system performs operations comprising:

determining a pathway of a satellite;

comparing the pathway to a first radiation pattern of the first antenna and a second radiation pattern of the second antenna, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each positioned such that a first keyhole of the first antenna does not overlap a second keyhole of the second antenna, to yield a comparison; and

selecting, based on the comparison, one of the first antenna or the second antenna to communicate with the satellite along the pathway.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are part of either a 3×3 array of antennas, a group of two or more antennas or a linear arrangement of two or more antennas.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first antenna is selected based on the comparison determining that the pathway of the satellite will avoid the first keyhole of the first antenna.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the selecting further comprises selecting from one of the first antenna, the second antenna and one or more additional antennas.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna is oriented at a first tilt and the second antenna is oriented at a second tilt such that the first keyhole and the second keyhole do not overlap.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first tilt is the same as the second tilt and the first antenna and the second antenna are tilted in different directions.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each oriented in a non-vertical direction such that the first keyhole and the second keyhole do not overlap.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting path data associated with a path of the system to a gateway, where a control system associated with the gateway evaluates the path data and assigns, based on avoiding a keyhole, an antenna from a plurality of antennas associated with the gateway to communicate with an assigned antenna;

receiving an instruction to communicate with the assigned antenna; and

communicating with the assigned antenna across a coverage zone of the gateway.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control system assigns one of a first antenna or a second antenna from the plurality of antennas to communicate with the system along the path.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first antenna is selected by the control system based on a comparison determining that the path of the system will avoid a first keyhole of the first antenna.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of antennas comprises at least three antennas.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first antenna is oriented at a first tilt and the second antenna is oriented at a second tilt such that the first keyhole and a second keyhole of the second antenna do not overlap.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first tilt is the same as the second tilt and the first antenna and the second antenna are oriented in different directions.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 070252/0216 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION (STATE OF DELAWARE TO STATE OF TEXAS; NEW FILE NO.: 805421124; FILED: 02-14-2024) Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 069107/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2021
From: BURKS, ANDREW LOUIS; TUCHEL, JAMES ALEXANDER MORRIS
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 056274/0644 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 8, 2020
From: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 054644/0749 →