IP Library Granted Patent US 12,374,773
Granted Patent B2
US 12,374,773 · App. 18/435,899 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Pan/tilt assembly for antenna apparatus

Inventors: Erik N. Littleton (Los Angeles, CA); Duncan Edwin Adams (Redmond, WA)
Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
H01Q1/125F16M11/126F16M11/18H01Q3/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,374,773
App. No.
18/435,899
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pan/tilt assembly for an antenna apparatus having a housing enclosing antenna components and a leg extending from the housing includes a first actuator for rotating a first gear, a second actuator for rotating a second gear, a third gear coupled to the leg and engaged by the first and second gears, and a tee having a first portion substantially transverse to a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first end rotatably received within the first gear and a second end rotatably received within the second gear, and wherein the second portion is rotatably received within the third gear.

Claims (21)

1. A method of tilting and panning a housing of an antenna apparatus relative to a leg extending from the housing, the housing enclosing antenna components, the method comprising:

providing a pan/tilt assembly, comprising:

a first gear aligned axially with a second gear;

a third gear coaxially aligned with the leg and engageable by the first and second gears; and

a tee having a first portion substantially transverse to a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first end rotatably received within the first gear and a second end rotatably received within the second gear, and wherein the second portion is rotatably received within the third gear; and

rotating the first gear in a first direction and rotating the second gear in a second direction to pan the housing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the first and second gears in a first direction to tilt the housing.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pan/tilt assembly further comprises a first actuator coupled to the first gear and configured for rotating the first gear, and a second actuator coupled to the second gear and configured for rotating the second gear.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gears are aligned along an axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third gears are disposed within the housing of the antenna apparatus.

6. A method of tilting and panning a housing of an antenna apparatus relative to a leg extending from the housing, the housing enclosing antenna components, the method comprising:

providing a pan/tilt assembly, comprising:

a first gear aligned axially with a second gear;

a third gear coaxially aligned with the leg and engageable by the first and second gears;

a first actuator coupled to the first gear and configured for rotating the first gear; and

a second actuator coupled to the second gear and configured for rotating the second gear; and

rotating the first gear in a first direction and rotating the second gear in a second direction to pan the housing.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising rotating the first and second gears in a first direction to tilt the housing.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pan/tilt assembly further comprises a tee having a first portion substantially transverse to a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first end rotatably received within the first gear and a second end rotatably received within the second gear, and wherein the second portion is rotatably received within the third gear.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second gears are aligned along an axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first, second, and third gears are disposed within the housing of the antenna apparatus.

Assignments (2)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION (STATE OF DELAWARE TO STATE OF TEXAS; NEW FILE NO.: 805421124; FILED: 02-14-2024) Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 070445/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2024
From: ADAMS, DUNCAN EDWIN; LITTLETON, ERIC N.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 066411/0767 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17065743 · Oct 8, 2020
Provisional Application 62959133 · Jan 9, 2020
Related Publication 20240213652A1 · Jun 27, 2024
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