Cellular interferometer for continuous Earth remote observation (CICERO) satellite
First Claim
1. A satellite for use in a system comprising a constellation of satellites which generates a set of Earth observations, comprising:
- a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna to receive a GNSS signal;
a first crosslink antenna that points in a first direction;
a first crosslink module that feeds a first received signal from the first crosslink antenna to a digital signal processor;
a second crosslink antenna that points in a second direction opposite the first direction;
a second crosslink module that feeds a second received signal from the second crosslink antenna to the digital signal processor; and
a down-looking receiving antenna;
wherein the first crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a first transmission signal for transmission in the first direction to a second satellite of the constellation;
wherein the second crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a second transmission signal for transmission in the second direction to a third satellite in the constellation;
wherein the encoding of the first transmission signal and the encoding of the second transmission signal use a unique code;
wherein the unique code is unique to the satellite;
wherein the digital signal processor is programmed to determine a first distance and a second distance using the GNSS signal, the first transmission signal, and the second transmission signal; and
wherein the first and second distances are to be used by the system to derive at least one Earth observation in the set of Earth observations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fleet of small spacecraft (“cells”) in low Earth orbit combine to form an integrated Earth observing system providing many observations previously requiring distinct sensing systems. Each cell performs a few relatively primitive functions, including emission, reception, sampling, and recording of radio and microwave signals. Each cell observes over a spherical field of view, samples the received signals independently at many small antenna elements, and stores the data from each element. Data from all cells are sent to a common location where they can be combined in diverse ways to realize a wide range of observing functions. These functions may include ionosphere and gravity field mapping; atmospheric radio occultation; ocean, ice, and land altimetry; ocean scatterometry; synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging; radar sensing of soil moisture, land cover, and geological surface properties; and interferometric SAR sensing of surface change. The system can also provide real-time messaging, navigation and surveillance functions.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A satellite for use in a system comprising a constellation of satellites which generates a set of Earth observations, comprising:
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a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna to receive a GNSS signal; a first crosslink antenna that points in a first direction; a first crosslink module that feeds a first received signal from the first crosslink antenna to a digital signal processor; a second crosslink antenna that points in a second direction opposite the first direction; a second crosslink module that feeds a second received signal from the second crosslink antenna to the digital signal processor; and a down-looking receiving antenna; wherein the first crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a first transmission signal for transmission in the first direction to a second satellite of the constellation; wherein the second crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a second transmission signal for transmission in the second direction to a third satellite in the constellation; wherein the encoding of the first transmission signal and the encoding of the second transmission signal use a unique code; wherein the unique code is unique to the satellite; wherein the digital signal processor is programmed to determine a first distance and a second distance using the GNSS signal, the first transmission signal, and the second transmission signal; and wherein the first and second distances are to be used by the system to derive at least one Earth observation in the set of Earth observations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A satellite for use in a system comprising a constellation of satellites which generates a set of Earth observations, comprising:
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a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna to receive a GNSS signal; a first crosslink antenna that points in a first direction; a first crosslink module that feeds a first received signal from the first crosslink antenna to a digital signal processor; a second crosslink antenna that points in a second direction opposite the first direction; a second crosslink module that feeds a second received signal from the second crosslink antenna to the digital signal processor; and a down-looking receiving antenna; wherein the first crosslink module is programmed to; (i) conduct an encoding of a first transmission signal for transmission in the first direction to a second satellite of the constellation using a first code; and (ii) distinguish the first received signal from a third received signal received from the first direction based on a second code; wherein the second crosslink module is programmed to; (i) conduct an encoding of a second transmission signal for transmission in the second direction to a third satellite of the constellation using the first code; and (ii) distinguish the second received signal from a fourth received signal received from the second direction based on a third code; wherein the first code is a unique code that is unique to the satellite; and wherein the transmission signals and the received signals are to be used by the system to derive at least one Earth observation in the set of Earth observations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A satellite for use in a system comprising a constellation of satellites which generates a set of Earth observations, comprising:
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a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna to receive a GNSS signal; a first crosslink antenna that points in a first direction, a first crosslink module feeds a first received signal from the first crosslink antenna to a digital signal processor; a second crosslink antenna that points in a second direction opposite the first direction; a second crosslink module feeds a second received signal from the second crosslink antenna to the digital signal processor; and a down-looking receiving antenna; wherein the first crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a first transmission signal for transmission in the first direction to a second satellite of the constellation using a unique code; wherein the second crosslink module is programmed to conduct an encoding of a second transmission signal for transmission in the second direction to a third satellite of the constellation using the unique code; and wherein the transmission signals and the received signals are to be used by the system to derive at least one Earth observation in the set of Earth observations. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification