Process and apparatus for communicating with user antenna phased arrays

• US 10,181,894 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratospheric Platforms, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Stratospheric Platforms, Ltd.
• Inventors: Alexander, Paul, Davidson, Peter, Grace, David, Faulkner, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US15/758,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20180262264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The use of phased array antennas in ground based or low altitude user equipment linked to high altitude aerial platforms also utilizing sparse phased-array antennas (uniform and non-uniform), which enables the delivery of information services, including telecommunications, earth observation, astronomical and positioning services with higher data rates, lower weight, power consumption and sidelobe levels than for other antenna arrangements.

Claims

1. A system for forming a plurality of simultaneous communication signals having an operating wavelength comprising (a) a plurality of phased array antennas each mounted on a respective high altitude platform (HAP) and (b) a phased array antenna mounted on user equipment at a lower altitude than that of the HAPs wherein the phased array mounted on the user equipment has operating antenna elements, the centres of which are spaced from their nearest operating antenna element centres by more than 1.2 times the operating wavelength and the phased arrays mounted on the HAPs have operating antenna elements, the centres of which are spaced from their nearest operating antenna element centres by more than 1.2 times the operating wavelength.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment and its associated phased arrays are solar powered.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment includes a WiFi transceiver.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of simultaneous communication signals have an operating frequency that is greater than 0.6 GHz.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each HAP provides a respective simultaneous communication signal with a phased array mounted on the user equipment.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the user equipment is a BG station.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a cluster of HAPs together form a cooperative inter-antenna beam, by beamforming between the signals from the HAPs, the cooperative beam thus formed providing one communication signal with the phased array on the user equipment.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein there are at least five HAPs.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs are at an elevated location of at least 10,000 m.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise unmanned solar powered aircraft, airships, or hybrid air vehicles.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise unmanned hydrogen powered aircraft.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise tethered aerostats.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise free-flying aerostats.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise hydrocarbon-fuelled aircraft.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise satellites.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the HAPs use different phased array antennas for transmission or reception.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein data rates to and/or from the antenna elements exceed 100 Mbps.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the beamforming within the phased array antenna mounted on the user equipment is adapted dynamically by modifying aerial antenna weights to provide optimal service conditions.

19. The system according to claim 1, in which the user equipment is mobile.

20. The system according to claim 1, where at least some of the user equipment is ground based.

21. The system according to claim 1, where at least some of the user equipment is on unmanned aerial vehicles.

22. The system according to claim 1, where at least some of the user equipment is on manned aircraft.

23. The system according to claim 1, where at least some of the user equipment is on some form of transportation technology.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the HAPs comprise multiple fleets of aerial platforms.