An apparatus for pointing wireless communication antennas may include (1) a mount that secures (A) a wireless communication antenna that transmits wireless communication signals to a remote wireless communication antenna that is secured on a remote mount and (B) an array of pointing antennas that receives, from a remote array of pointing antennas mounted on the remote mount, a beacon signal that indicates a location of the remote array of pointing antennas, (3) a motorized drive that physically orients the mount, and (4) a processing device that (A) determines, based at least in part on the beacon signal, an orientation of a boresight axis of the wireless communication antenna relative to a boresight axis of the remote wireless communication antenna and (B) directs the motorized drive to orient the mount such that the wireless communication antenna's boresight axis aligns with the remote wireless communication antenna's boresight axis.

Aspects of the disclosure include commanding an antenna to a first orientation relative to a structure that the antenna is mounted to, obtaining at least one measurement from at least one sensor, wherein the at least one measurement represents a first magnitude and a first direction of a displacement of the antenna relative to the first orientation, determining that the displacement of the antenna relative to the first orientation exceeds a threshold in terms of the first magnitude, the first direction, or a combination thereof, responsive to the determining that the displacement of the antenna relative to the first orientation exceeds the threshold, identifying at least one piezoelectric device to engage to cause the antenna to assume a second orientation relative to the structure, and responsive to the identifying, commanding the at least one piezoelectric device to engage to cause the antenna to assume the second orientation.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing antenna alignment, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing antenna alignment using a gimbal. In various embodiments, a gimbal system might be provided. The gimbal system may be at least one of a passive two-axis gimbal, a passive three-axis gimbal, an active two-axis gimbal, and/or an active three-axis gimbal. At least one antenna may be coupled to the gimbal system. The gimbal system may be configured to compensate for at least one of a movement of a structure and/or a wind load on the at least one antenna. Additionally and/or alternatively, the gimbal system may be configured to align the antenna toward the position and orientation where there is the signal quality is optimized.

A satellite television antenna apparatus is connectable to a remotely-located set top box (STB). The satellite television antenna apparatus can include a motorized reflector dish movable in at least one of an azimuth orientation and an elevation orientation, and an antenna control system. The antenna control system can be configured to conduct two-way communication through a physical connection or a wireless connection between the satellite television antenna apparatus and the STB.

A mobile terminal, operational both to receive and transmit, may comprise a mobile antenna and an antenna controller that may be configured to control the mobile antenna at least for keeping it pointed towards the satellite, e.g. as the mobile terminal and/or the satellite move. Disclosed is a method that may be used by the antenna controller for optimizing the pointing of the mobile antenna, the method may be based on assessing both the reception quality and the transmission quality. This method may be used for overcoming degradation, mainly to transmission quality, that may result from squints between an optimal reception direction and an optimal transmission direction associated with the mobile antenna.

Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the quality and strength of a wireless signal connecting a mobile station and a base station, in situations where the mobile station is able to utilize a directional antenna. The system for improving system quality comprise, for example, a directional antenna; an antenna power level detector which detects a signal strength; a signal inverter wherein the signal inverter generates a conditioned signal from the detected signal strength; an indicator wherein the indicator provides an indicator of a signal quality level from the detected signal strength; a reorientation decision logic wherein the reorientation decision logic communicates an instruction for movement of the directional antenna, wherein the detected signal strength is correlated to a projected orientation of the directional antenna at a time the signal strength is detected, and further wherein an antenna orientation control loop communicates a reorientation instruction for the directional antenna.

An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

A multi-beam antenna including a reflector having a single reflector surface defining a first focal region and a second focal region. A first feed group located within the first focal region includes a first feed oriented relative to the reflector to define a first beam pointed in a first direction. The multi-beam antenna further includes a fixed attachment mechanism attaching the first feed group to the reflector such that a position of the first feed group is fixed relative to the reflector. The multi-beam antenna further includes a second feed group located within the second focal region that includes a second feed oriented relative to the reflector to define a second beam pointed in a second direction. The multi-beam antenna further includes an adjustable attachment mechanism attaching the second feed group to the reflector, whereby a difference between the first direction and the second direction is adjustable.

A satellite television antenna system can include a self-pointing satellite antenna and a power inserter coupled to the self-pointing satellite antenna. The power inserter can include an enclosure body and a circuit board disposed inside of the enclosure body. The circuit board includes a microprocessor. The microprocessor can be configured via software code to determine whether a first type of communication protocol is being received from a set top box (STB) coupled to the power inserter, determine a configuration for a first constellation of spacecraft if the first type of communication protocol is being received from the STB, and determine a configuration for a second constellation of spacecraft if the first type of communication protocol is not being received from the STB. The first constellation of spacecraft is different than the second constellation of spacecraft.

Various embodiments of the present invention pertain to an instrument comprising a plane lens antenna and a control method thereof. Particularly, embodiments pertain to an instrument comprising a plane lens antenna capable of adjusting the gain and/or coverage of a wireless communication radio wave, and to a control method of the instrument. The instrument according to the various embodiments may comprise: a first plane lens antenna in which a plurality of unit cells are disposed in a predetermined pattern; and a first support member for retaining the first plane lens antenna such that the antenna can have a predetermined distance with an external antenna device.