EP0624008A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile communication satellite payload
Assignee: Lanteris Space LLC
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Filing: 1993-08-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A communications satellite payload provides for efficient communications between user devices, such as hand held cellular telephones, and terrestrial gateways that may be connected to world-wide public telephone and telegraph (PTTs) networks. The satellite payload simultaneously supports a plurality of independent antenna beams, for example 12 or 16 beams, on both the uplink and downlink for user devices employing full duplex communications. The satellite payload furthermore supports an identical number of full duplex channels between a terrestrial gateway and the satellite. The communications satellite payload is carried by one satellite of a plurality of such satellites in a low earth orbit (LEO) constellation to provide world-wide communications. Downlink beam forming occurs prior to final amplification of transmitted signals, thereby reducing losses within the beam forming equipment. A multi-element phased array of receiving antennas and a multi-element phased array of transmitting antennas is also disclosed, wherein each element of each phased array is utilized for each individual one of a plurality of received or transmitted beams.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Hirschfield
- 👤 Chich-Hsing Alex Tsao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/288; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/14; H01Q15/16; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/064; H01Q21/065; H01Q25/00; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18569; H04B7/18571; H04B7/204; H04B7/2041; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/10; B64G1/1007; B64G1/1085; B64G1/22; B64G1/66; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A satellite payload for use with a communication system, the payload comprising: a phased array receiving antenna having n receive elements for receiving RF signals within a first band of frequencies; first beam forming means having an input coupled to each of said n receive elements for forming m uplink beams from RF signals received by said phased array receiving antenna, wherein n is greater than one, and wherein m is less than n; ground station communication means, having an input coupled an output of said first beam forming means, for converting said m uplink beams into RF signals within a second band of frequencies and for transmitting RF signals to and for receiving RF signals from a ground station, the transmitted and received RF signals being within said second band of frequencies; second beam forming means having an input coupled to an output of said ground station communication means for forming m downlink beams from the RF signals received from said ground station, said m downlink beams being formed within a third band of frequencies; and a phased array transmitting antenna having n transmit elements for transmitting said m downlink beams as RF signals within said third band of frequencies, each of said transmit elements having a power amplifier means associated therewith, each of said power amplifier means having an input coupled to an output of said second beam forming means and an output coupled to one of said transmit elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first band of frequencies is within an L-band, wherein said second band of frequencies is within a C-band, and wherein said third band of frequencies is within an S-band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said n receive elements has a plurality of receive amplifiers coupled thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 3, wherein an input of each of said receive amplifiers is coupled into free space at one of said receive elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 1, wherein an output of each of said power amplifiers is coupled into free space at one of said transmit elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said m uplink beams has a corresponding downlink beam that illuminates a same region from which said uplink beam originates, and wherein a power level of said corresponding one of said downlink beams is a function of a power level of said uplink beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
340 words
A satellite payload for use with a communication system, the payload comprising: a phased array receiving antenna having n receive elements for receiving m uplink beams comprised of RF signals within a first band of frequencies, wherein n is greater than one, and wherein m is less than n; n power dividers each having an input coupled to an output of one of said n receive elements and m outputs; m uplink beam forming means each having m inputs and one output, individual ones of said m inputs being coupled to one of said m outputs of one of said n power dividers; m first frequency conversion means each of which has an input coupled to said output of one of said m beam forming means, each of said m first frequency conversion means having an output for providing an RF signal within a second band of frequencies; means for combining said outputs of said m frequency conversion means and for transmitting an m-channel RF signal to a ground station, the transmitted RF signal being within said second band of frequencies; means for receiving an m-channel RF signal from the ground station, the received RF signal being within second band of frequencies; m second frequency conversion means each of which has an input coupled to an output of said ground station receiving means, each of said m second frequency conversion means being responsive to one of said received m-channels and having an output for providing an RF signal within a third band of frequencies; m downlink beam forming means each having an input coupled to an output of one of said m second frequency conversion means; n power combiners each having m inputs for coupling to an output of said m downlink beam forming means and an output; and a phased array transmitting antenna having n transmitter elements for transmitting m beams comprised of RF signals within said third band of frequencies, each of said n transmitter elements being coupled to an output of one of said n power combiners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first band of frequencies is within an L-band, wherein said second band of frequencies is within a C-band, and wherein said third band of frequencies is within an S-band.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said n receive elements has at least one receive amplifiers coupled thereto, and wherein an input of each of said receive amplifiers is coupled into free space at one of said receive elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said n transmitter elements has at least one transmit amplifiers coupled thereto, and wherein an output of each of said transmit amplifiers is coupled into free space at one of said transmitter elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A satellite payload as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said n uplink beams has a corresponding downlink beam that illuminates a same region from which said uplink beam originates, and wherein a power level of said corresponding one of said downlink beams is a function of a power level of said uplink beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
A phased array transmitter antenna assembly, comprising: n transmitter elements arranged in a predetermined pattern, each of said n transmitter elements having power amplifier means associated therewith, each of said power amplifier means having an output coupled into free space at said associated one of said n transmitter elements; m beam forming circuit means, individual ones of said m beam forming circuit means being disposed one upon another in a stacked fashion beneath said n transmitter elements, each of said m beam forming circuit means having n outputs; and n m-way power combiner means coupled to said m beam forming circuit means, each of said m-way power combiner means having individual ones of m inputs coupled to an output of each one of said m beam forming circuit means, each of said n m-way power combiner means having an output coupled to one of said power amplifier means associated with one of said n transmitter elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A phased array transmitter antenna assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said assembly has a generally circular cylindrical shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein said n transmitter elements are disposed at one end of said generally circular cylindrical shape, wherein each of said m beam forming circuit means includes a circuit board having a generally circular shape wherein said n outputs are arranged around a circumference of said circuit board, and wherein individual ones of said n m-way power combiner means each includes a circuit board having a length that is disposed along said longitudinal axis for coupling to a corresponding output from each of said m beam forming circuit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A phased array transmitter antenna assembly, comprising: n transmitter elements arranged in a predetermined pattern, each of said n transmitter elements having power amplifier means associated therewith, each of said n transmitter elements including an electrically conductive patch that is disposed upon a surface of a multi-layered circuit board, and further including n two cavity filters individual ones of which are electrically coupled to one of said n patches, said n two cavity filters being formed within a plurality of layers of said multi-layered circuit board, the plurality of layers underlying said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
A phased array receiver antenna assembly, comprising: n receiver elements arranged in a predetermined pattern, each of said n receiver elements having receive amplifier means associated therewith, each of said receive amplifier means having an input coupled into free space at said associated one of said n receiver elements; m beam forming circuit means, individual ones of said m beam forming circuit means being disposed one upon another in a stacked fashion beneath said n receiver elements, each of said m beam forming circuit means having n outputs; and n m-way power divider means coupled to said m beam forming circuit means, each of said n m-way power divider means having an input coupled to an output of each one of said receive amplifier means, each of said n m-way power divider means having m outputs individual ones of which are coupled to an input of each one of said m beam forming circuit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A phased array receiver antenna assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said assembly has a generally circular cylindrical shape having a longitudinal axis, wherein said n receiver elements are disposed at one end of said generally circular cylindrical shape, wherein each of said m beam forming circuit means includes a circuit board having a generally circular shape wherein said n inputs are arranged around a circumference of said circuit board, and wherein individual ones of said n m-way power divider means each includes a circuit board having a length that is disposed along said longitudinal axis for coupling to a corresponding input of each of said m beam forming circuit means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A phased array receiver antenna assembly, comprising: n receiver elements arranged in a predetermined pattern, each of said n receiver elements having receive amplifier means associated therewith, each of said n receiver elements including an electrically conductive patch that is disposed upon a surface of a multi-layered circuit board, and further including n two cavity filters individual ones of which are electrically coupled to one of said patches, said n two cavity filters being formed within a plurality of layers of said multi-layered circuit board, the plurality of layers underlying said surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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