Common multi-purpose actuator to control antenna remote electrical tilt, remote azimuth steering and remote azimuth beam-width control

摘要

A common multi-purpose actuator to control antenna remote electrical tilt, remote azimuth steering, and remote azimuth beam-width control is disclosed. A single stepper motor uses a Hall-sensor for closed loop positioning feedback. Serial and parallel communications are employed through the same harness to the motor control circuit. The driven shaft of the motor turns a self-locking worm-gear which rotates a mating shaft which drives the necessary gearing. The actuator assembly can be arranged in multiple or single output configurations. DC line filtering improves the antenna signal to spurious noise ratio.

主权项

1. A remote controlled actuator system for adjusting a radiation emission pattern of an antenna, comprising:
a master controller configured to provide actuator control signals to control antenna radiation emission patterns; two or more actuators, each actuator comprising:
an actuator control circuit configured to communicate with the master controller and receive the actuator control signals, the actuator control circuit configured to receive actuator feedback signals including rotational position feedback signals, the actuator control circuit configured to provide a drive signal in response to the actuator control signals and the actuator feedback signals;a motor having a drive shaft, the motor configured to receive the drive signal and rotate the drive shaft based on the drive signal;a rotation sensor coupled to the drive shaft, the rotation sensor configured to detect rotational position of the drive shaft and configured to provide the rotational position feedback signals to the actuator control circuit; andan actuator gear coupled to the drive shaft; and a mechanical coupling assembly comprising:
a mechanical input coupled to the actuator gear of at least one of the two or more actuators and a mechanical output coupled to a movable portion of an antenna, the assembly configured to adjust the radiation emission pattern of the antenna in response to rotation of the actuator gear of said at least one of the two or more actuators,a bracket mount plate configured to comprise a shaft pin that extends perpendicular from the bracket mount plate, the bracket mount plate comprising a curved toothed rack and form an arc on the surface of the bracket mount plate, the curved toothed rack comprising a center that corresponds with the center of the shaft pin, andan actuator mounting plate positioned apart and away from the bracket mount plate, the actuator mounting plate comprising a hole that receives the shaft pin, the actuator mounting plate pivotally coupled to the shaft pin, the actuator mounting plate configured to secure one actuator of the two or more actuators and position the actuator gear of said actuator in meshing engagement with the curved toothed rack, the actuator gear of said actuator configured to urge the actuator mounting plate to pivot about the shaft pin in response to rotation of the actuator gear.