	US 9,812,775 B2
	Large aperture antenna with narrow angle fast beam steering
Dov Zahavi, Haifa (IL); and Shaul Baruch Laufer, Petah-Tiqwa (IL)
Assigned to Elbit Systems Ltd., Haifa (IL)
Appl. No. 14/653
Filed by Dov Zahavi, Haifa (IL); and Shaul Baruch Laufer, Petah-Tiqwa (IL)
PCT Filed Feb. 23, 2012, PCT No. PCT/IB2012/050826 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Aug. 21, 2013, PCT Pub. No. WO2012/114296, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 30, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 211386 (IL), filed on Feb. 23, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2013/0321204 A1, Dec. 5, 2013
Int. Cl. H01Q 3/08 (2006.01); H01Q 3/20 (2006.01); H01Q 3/26 (2006.01)

CPC H01Q 3/08 (2013.01) [H01Q 3/20 (2013.01); H01Q 3/26 (2013.01)]

4 Claims

1. A method of steering an antenna attached to a moving platform and configured to produce a directive beam, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a required steering movement for the antenna; and

switching in real-time between a first steering mechanism and a second steering mechanism, based on the received signal,

wherein the first steering mechanism is configured to apply a steering movement having a first angle over a first period of time and the second steering mechanism is configured to apply a steering movement having a second angle over a second period of time,

wherein the first angle is substantially larger than the second angle, and wherein the first period of time is substantially shorter than the second period of time,

wherein the first steering mechanism and the second steering mechanism are rotatably independent of each other,

wherein the antenna comprises a primary reflector and a secondary reflector facing the primary reflector, and wherein a first steering mechanism is a mechanical actuator coupled to the secondary reflector and configured to mechanically steer the secondary reflector, and wherein a second steering mechanism is a mechanical actuator coupled to the primary reflector and configured to mechanically steer the primary reflector.