JPH0897619A - Geostationary satellite tracking device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] The present invention provides a geostationary satellite tracking device that can reduce costs with a simple configuration and that can easily track even if the types of geostationary satellites are different. With the goal. [Structure] A GPS system 13 which receives radio waves from a GPS satellite 11 and detects the position of an antenna 16 for a geostationary satellite.
And a horizontality sensor 14 for detecting the horizontality of the antenna
An azimuth sensor 15 for detecting the azimuth of the antenna, a drive unit 17 for driving the antenna so as to face the geostationary satellite, a position detected by the GPS system, and a horizontality detected by the horizontality sensor. The geostationary satellite tracking device 10 is configured so as to include the control device 18 that controls the drive device based on the azimuth detected by the azimuth sensor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a geostationary satellite tracking device for tracking geostationary satellites such as broadcasting satellites.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a geostationary satellite tracking device is
For example, roving method, phase comparison monopulse method, amplitude comparison monopulse method, higher order mode detection monopulse method,
By adopting a tracking method such as a step tracking method,
The antenna faces the geostationary satellite.

The roving method is a method in which an antenna beam is displaced by means other than the antenna driving means, and an angular error is detected from the amplitude modulation component of the received signal caused by the deviation.

The phase comparison monopulse system is a system for detecting an angular error by utilizing the fact that the phase difference of the waves arriving at a plurality of antenna elements becomes a function of the angular error.

The amplitude comparison pulse system is provided with a plurality of primary radiators, detects the amplitude difference between these received signals,
This is a method of obtaining an angle error.

The high-order mode detection monopulse system is a system in which one primary radiator is used and an angular error is detected by a higher-order mode coupler connected to the primary radiator.

The step tracking method is a process in which an antenna is driven at a constant angle, and when the received signal level rises, it moves in the same direction, and when the received signal level falls, it moves in the opposite direction. This is a method of finding the highest point of the received signal by repeating.

[0008]

However, in each of the various geostationary satellite tracking systems described above, the angular error is detected by receiving the radio wave from the geostationary satellite in any case. , Based on weak radio waves,
The control signal needs to be extracted. Therefore, there is a problem that the extraction circuit for extracting the control signal from the received signal is relatively complicated and the cost becomes high.

Further, since the configuration of the control signal extraction circuit differs depending on the type of geostationary satellite to be tracked, there is a problem that the mass production effect cannot be expected so much and the cost becomes higher.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides a geostationary satellite tracking device that can reduce costs with a simple configuration and can easily track even if the types of geostationary satellites are different. It is an object.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the above object is to detect a position of an antenna for a geostationary satellite by receiving radio waves from a GPS satellite, and to detect the levelness of the antenna. A horizontality sensor, an azimuth sensor for detecting the azimuth of the antenna, a driving device for driving the antenna so as to face the geostationary satellite, a position detected by the GPS system, and a horizontality detected by the horizontality sensor. And a controller that controls the drive unit based on the direction detected by the degree and direction sensor, and is achieved by a geostationary satellite tracking device.

In the apparatus according to the present invention, preferably, the horizontality sensor is a sensor utilizing gravity.

In the device according to the present invention, preferably, the orientation sensor is a geomagnetic sensor.

In the device according to the invention, the geostationary orbits of geostationary satellites are preferably input to the control device in advance.

[0015]

According to the above construction, the position of the geostationary satellite antenna can be detected by receiving the radio wave from the GPS satellite. Also, the horizontality and azimuth of the antenna can be detected by a horizontality sensor and an azimuth sensor, respectively.
As a result, the control device can control the drive device based on the detected position, horizontality, and azimuth of the antenna so that the antenna faces the geostationary satellite.

Thus, when the geostationary satellite antenna is mounted on a moving body such as an automobile, the geostationary satellite antenna can always face the geostationary satellite as the moving body moves. Therefore, radio waves from geostationary satellites such as broadcasting satellites can be reliably received.

In this case, since it is not necessary to receive the radio wave from the geostationary satellite and extract the control signal for tracking the geostationary satellite, the control signal extraction circuit is not required, and the cost can be reduced. Even if the types of geostationary satellites are different, the geostationary satellites can be tracked by the same configuration.

If the geostationary orbit of the geostationary satellite has been previously input to the control device, even if the position of the geostationary satellite itself fluctuates to some extent, the geostationary satellite can be reliably tracked and different geostationary satellites can be obtained. Tracking different geostationary satellites can be easily performed by inputting the geostationary orbits of the satellites to the control device.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a geostationary satellite tracking device according to the present invention. That is, in FIG. 1, the geostationary satellite tracking device 10 includes a GPS antenna 12 that receives radio waves from a GPS satellite 11, and a GPS system 13 that receives a received signal from the GPS antenna.
A horizontality sensor 14 for detecting the horizontality, an azimuth sensor 15 for detecting the azimuth, a pan head 17 which supports a geostationary satellite antenna, for example, a BS antenna 16 and drives to rotate in a three-dimensional direction, and the pan head 17 And a control device 18 for drive control, and the whole is mounted on one moving body such as an automobile.

The GPS system 13 has a known structure and is configured to detect the current position of the moving body by receiving radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites 11 by the GPS antenna 12. .

The levelness sensor 14 is a levelness sensor utilizing gravity, for example.

The azimuth sensor 15 is, for example, a geomagnetic sensor that detects geomagnetism to obtain the azimuth.

The BS antenna 16 has a known structure, and by facing the BS satellite 19 to be tracked, the BS antenna 16 can receive radio waves from the BS satellite.

The platform 17 includes a BS antenna 16 and a BS.
The BS antenna 16 can be driven to rotate in the three-dimensional direction so as to face the satellite 19 directly.

The controller 18 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and the GPS system 13
Based on the position detected by the sensor, the horizontality detected by the horizontality sensor 14 and the azimuth detected by the azimuth sensor 15, the pan / head 17 is driven and controlled so that the BS antenna 16 always faces the BS satellite 19 directly. In addition to the possibility that the satellite will be tracked, the geostationary orbit regarding the BS satellite to be tracked has been input in advance.

Geostationary satellite tracking device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is configured as described above, and a plurality of GPS satellites 1
By receiving the radio wave from the GPS antenna 12, the GPS system 13 allows the BS antenna 1
Six positions can be detected. The horizontality and azimuth of the BS antenna 16 can be detected by the horizontality sensor 14 and the azimuth sensor 15, respectively. As a result, the control device 18 drives and controls the camera platform 17 based on the detected position, horizontality, and azimuth of the BS antenna 16, and further on the basis of the geostationary orbit of the BS satellite that is input, and the BS antenna 16 Can be directly opposed to the BS satellite 19.

Therefore, when the BS antenna 16 and the moving body on which the BS antenna 16 is mounted move, the changes in position, azimuth and horizontality due to the movement are respectively GP.
S system 13, direction sensor 15 and levelness sensor 14
The control device 18 drives and controls the camera platform 17 based on the detection result, so that the BS antenna 16 can be always held in a state of facing the BS satellite 19.

When the types of geostationary satellites are different,
A simple operation of changing the geostationary orbit of the geostationary satellite input to the controller 18 enables tracking of any geostationary satellite.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, G
The position of the geostationary satellite antenna can be detected by receiving the radio waves from the PS satellite. Also, the horizontality and azimuth of the antenna can be detected by a horizontality sensor and an azimuth sensor, respectively. As a result, the control device can control the drive device based on the detected position, horizontality, and azimuth of the antenna so that the antenna faces the geostationary satellite.

In this case, since it is not necessary to receive the radio waves from the geostationary satellite and extract the control signal for tracking the geostationary satellite, a control signal extraction circuit is not required and the cost can be reduced. Even if the types of geostationary satellites are different, the geostationary satellites can be tracked by the same configuration.

When the geostationary orbit of the geostationary satellite is input to the control device in advance, even if the position of the geostationary satellite itself fluctuates to some extent, the geostationary satellite can be reliably tracked and different geostationary geostationary satellites are obtained. Tracking different geostationary satellites can be easily performed by inputting the geostationary orbits of the satellites to the control device.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an extremely excellent geostationary satellite tracking device capable of reducing the cost with a simple structure and easily tracking even if the types of geostationary satellites are different. You will get it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a geostationary satellite tracking device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Geostationary satellite tracking device 11 GPS satellite 12 GPS antenna 13 GPS system 14 Horizontality sensor 15 Direction sensor 16 BS antenna (antenna for geostationary satellite) 17 Pan head (drive device) 18 Control device 19 BS satellite

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A GPS system for detecting the position of an antenna for a geostationary satellite by receiving radio waves from a GPS satellite, a levelness sensor for detecting the levelness of the antenna, and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the antenna. And a driving device for driving the antenna so as to face the geostationary satellite, and the driving based on the position detected by the GPS system, the horizontality detected by the horizontality sensor, and the azimuth detected by the azimuth sensor. A geostationary satellite tracking device, comprising: a control device for controlling the device. 2. The geostationary satellite tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontality sensor is a sensor utilizing gravity. 3. The geostationary satellite tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the azimuth sensor is a geomagnetic sensor. 4. The geostationary satellite tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the geostationary orbit of the geostationary satellite is input to the control device in advance.