(19)
(11) EP 0 152 221 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
05.11.1986 Bulletin 1986/45

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.08.1985 Bulletin 1985/34

(21) Application number: 85300563

(22) Date of filing: 28.01.1985
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 09.02.1984 GB 8403445
07.11.1984 GB 8428155
25.01.1985 GB 8501944

(71) Applicant: THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, p.l.c.
 ()

(72) Inventors:
  • Garrood, David
     ()
  • Crawshaw, Roger
     ()
  • Henderson, Robert Ian
     ()
  • Dutton, Frank Allwood
     ()

   


(54) An earth terminal for satellite communication systems


(57) An earth terminal for a geostationary satellite communication system incorporates an oval or elliptical shaped antenna 1 whose horizonal dimension d1 is greater than its vertical dimension d2. The relatively small dimension d2 facilitates transportation of the antenna whilst giving a beam shape which is broader in a direction perpendicular to the geostationary orbit of the satellite than in a direction parallel thereto. This special beam shape accommodates small movements of the satellite perpendicular to the orbit whilst giving the necessary angular resolution in the direction of the orbit to avoid interference with other satellites in the geostationary orbit.






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