Patent US5548294A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5548294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dielectric lens focused scanning beam antenna for satellite communication system
Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt LLC
•
Filing: 1994-08-17
•
Granted: 1996-08-20
•
Expires: 2014-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing a plurality of beams (30) transmitted and received from positions in low Earth orbit (11) for communicating directly with a plurality of portable, mobile and fixed terminals and gateways is disclosed. A plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) is deployed on each satellite (12) within a constellation (10) of satellites placed in low Earth orbit (11). Each one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) simultaneously receives and transmits a plurality of beams (30), each of which beams (30) illuminates cell (26) in an Earth-fixed grid (20). The beams (30) are formed by each scanning beam antenna (28) and are focused on the cell (26) by a dielectric lens (60). A preferred embodiment uses a Luneberg spherical lens (60). Each beam (30) is electronically shaped and steered to keep the cell (26) of the Earth-fixed grid (20) within the beam footprint (50).
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Sturza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/288; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/02; H01Q25/00; H01Q25/007; H01Q25/008; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/24; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/204; H04B7/2041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A method for providing a plurality of beams transmitted and received from positions in Earth orbit, for communicating directly with a plurality of portable, mobile and fixed terminals and gateways comprising the steps of: orbiting a constellation of satellites (10) in low Earth orbit (11); creating an Earth-fixed grid (20) defining a plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22); said plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22) including a plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26); deploying a plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) on each satellite (12) within said constellation (10) of satellites; simultaneously receiving a plurality of beams (30) with one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another of said plurality of said scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously receiving and transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28); said beams (30) having a footprint (50) on the surface of the Earth (E); forming said plurality of beams (30) with each of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and continuously illuminating said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) by focusing said plurality of beams (30) on each said cell (26) with a spherically-shaped dielectric lens (60); electronically shaping and steering each one of said plurality of beams (30) by amplitude weighting an antenna feed element (63, 82) at a nominal beam center position and a plurality of said antenna feed elements (63,82) at adjacent positions to keep each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) of said Earth-fixed grid (20) within said footprint (50) of each of a corresponding one of said plurality of beams (30) as said satellite (12) progresses along its said low Earth orbit (11); and communicating with said terminals and gateways in each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) with signals carried on said plurality of beams (30), each of said plurality of beams (30) operating at one of nine frequencies (F 1 -F 9 ), said nine frequencies (F 1 -F 9 ) being reused one-hundred percent for communications in each one of said plurality of supercells (22).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
350 words
A method for providing a plurality of beams transmitted and received from positions in Earth orbit, for communicating directly with a plurality of portable, mobile and fixed terminals and gateways comprising the steps of: orbiting a constellation of satellites (10) in low Earth orbit (11); creating an Earth-fixed grid (20) defining a plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22); said plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22) including a plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26); deploying a plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) on each satellite (12) within said constellation (10) of satellites; simultaneously receiving a plurality of beams (30) with one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another of said plurality of said scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously receiving and transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28); said beams (30) having a footprint (50) on the surface of the Earth (E); forming said plurality of beams (30) with each of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and continuously illuminating said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) by focusing said plurality of beams (30) on each said cell (26) with a spherically-shaped dielectric lens (60); electronically shaping and steering each one of said plurality of beams (30) by amplitude weighting an antenna feed element (63, 82) at a nominal beam center position and a plurality of said antenna feed elements (63,82) at adjacent positions to keep each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) of said Earth-fixed grid (20) within said footprint (50) of each of a corresponding one of said plurality of beams (30) as said satellite (12) progresses along its said low Earth orbit (11); and communicating with said terminals and gateways in each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) with signals carried on said plurality of beams (30), each of said plurality of beams (30) operating at one of nine frequencies (F 1 -F 9 ), said nine frequencies (F 1 -F 9 ) being reused one-hundred percent for communications in each one of said plurality of supercells (22).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |