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EP0812027A2
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Calibration method for satellite communications payloads using hybrid matrices
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A communication payload system for a satellite has a beam forming network (30), an amplifier (32) associated with each output port of the beam forming network (30), a plurality of hybrid matrices (34-1 - 34-N) and a calibration pick-up antenna (44). Each hybrid matrix (34) has a plurality of inputs connected to selected amplifiers (32) and a corresponding number of outputs. One output of each hybrid matrix (34) is connected to a calibration sample output port (38, 62) adapted to function as an output calibration port producing a calibration sample and the remaining outputs conencted to feed radiating elements (36). A calibration system applies power to selected output ports and calculates calibration corrections in response to the values of the calibration samples and the values of the power radiated by each feed radiating element (36) which are applied to the beam forming network (30) to maintain the calibration of the payload system.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven O. Lane
- 👤 Douglas T. Bell
- 👤 Kary L. O'connor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/267
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A communication payload system comprising: a beam forming network (30) having at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, said at least one input port being mapped to selected output ports, said beam forming network (30) providing an approppriate amplification and phase shift between said at least one input port and said output ports; a plurality of amplifiers (32), each amplifier (32) of said plurality of amplifiers (32) having an input connected to a respective one of said output ports of said beam forming network (30) and an output; at least one hybrid matrix (34) having a predetermined number of inputs and a corresponding number of outputs, said pretedermined number of inputs of said at least one hybrid matrix (34) being connected to said output of a respective one of said plurality of amplifiers (32); characterized by a calibration sample output port (38, 62) connected to one of said outputs of each of said at least one hybrid matrix (34), said calibration sample output port (38, 62) producing a first calibration sample having a value corresponding to the power output from said hybrid matrix (34); and a calibration system (40) responsive to at least said first calibration sample to generate corrections applied to said beam forming network (30) to maintain calibration of said payload system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
The communication payload system of claim 1, characterized in that said at least one hybrid matrix (34) comprises a plurality of hybrid matrices (34-1 - 34-N), each hybrid matrix (34) of said plurality of hybrid matrices (34) having said predetermined number of inputs, each input connected to the output of a respective one of said plurality of amplifiers (32).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication payload system of claim 2, characterized by a plurality of feed radiating elements (36), each of said feed radiating elements (36) connected to a respective one of said outputs of each of said hybrid matrices (34).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communcation payload system of claim 3, characterized by a calibration pick-up antenna (44) responsive to the power radiated by the feed radiation elements (36) to generate a second calibration sample, wherein said calibration system (40) is responsive to said first and second calibration samples to generate said corrections applied to said beam forming network (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The communication payload system of any of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that said predetermined number of inputs to each of said hybrid matrices (34) is four and said predetermined number of outputs is four, wherein each hybrid matrix (34) of said plurality of hybrid matrices (34-1 - 34-N) has one of said calibration sample ouput ports (38, 62) connected to one of said four outputs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The communication payload system of claim 5, characterized in that said calibration sample output port (38, 62) is an RF absorbing load connected to one output of each of said hybrid matrices (34-1 - 34-N).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The communication payload system of claim 5, characterized in that said calibration sample output port (38, 62) is a sample coupler (62) disposed between one output of said hybrid matrix (34) and its associated feed radiating element (18) producing a calibration sample corresponding to the power transmitted from the hybrid matrix (34) to the feed radiation element (18).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The communcation payload system of any of claims 4 - 7, characterized in that said calibration circuit (40) applies power to a single output port of said beam forming network (30) to produce at least a first calibration sample at said calibration sample output port (38, 62), applies power to selected output ports of said beam forming network (30) to power a selected one of said feed radiating elements (36) to radiate power detected by said calibration pick-up antenna (44) to produce said second calibration sample and calculating said correction data in response to said first and second calibration samples.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for calibrating a communication payload system having at least one hybrid matrix (34) and feed radiating elements (36), comprising the steps of: applying power one at a time to each output port of a beam forming network (30) having a plurality of output ports; measuring the value of the power produced at a calibration sample output port (36, 62) of said at least one hybrid matrix (34) to generate first calibration samples; applying power to the outputs of said beam forming network (30) selected to produce a power output to each feed radiating element (36), one at a time; measuring the value of the power radiated by each feed radiating element (36) to generate second calibration samples; and calculating a correction applied to said beam forming network (30) to maintain the calibration of said payload system in response to said first and second calibration samples.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, characterized by the step of comparing said first measured samples to a reference sample to generate an error.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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