Multi-beam active phased array architecture with independent polarization control
First Claim
1. A method of satellite communication, the method comprising:
- installing a plurality of user terminal antenna systems for communication with a satellite having a first spot beam and a second spot beam, wherein at least one of a polarization and a frequency range of the first spot beam is different from a polarization and a frequency range of the second spot beam, and each of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems includes a respective transceiver that is electronically configurable from among the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam and the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam;
providing first commands to a first group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems that are installed within a coverage area of the first spot beam, wherein the first commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the first group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam; and
providing second commands to a second group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems that are installed within a coverage area of the second spot beam, wherein the second commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the second group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are independently adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals of various polarizations are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements, with the transmitted beams having various polarizations. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
157 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of satellite communication, the method comprising:
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installing a plurality of user terminal antenna systems for communication with a satellite having a first spot beam and a second spot beam, wherein at least one of a polarization and a frequency range of the first spot beam is different from a polarization and a frequency range of the second spot beam, and each of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems includes a respective transceiver that is electronically configurable from among the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam and the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam; providing first commands to a first group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems that are installed within a coverage area of the first spot beam, wherein the first commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the first group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam; and providing second commands to a second group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems that are installed within a coverage area of the second spot beam, wherein the second commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the second group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A satellite communication system comprising:
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a satellite communicating using a first spot beam and a second spot beam, wherein at least one of a polarization and a frequency range of the first spot beam is different from a polarization and a frequency range of the second spot beam; and a system controller to assign each of a plurality of user terminal antenna systems to the first spot beam or the second spot beam, wherein each of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems includes a respective transceiver that is electronically configurable from among the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam and the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam, the system controller to; provide first commands to a first group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems installed within a coverage area of the first spot beam to communicate with the satellite via the first spot beam, wherein the first commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the first group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the first spot beam; and provide second commands to a second group of user terminal antenna systems of the plurality of user terminal antenna systems installed within a coverage area of the second spot beam to communicate with the satellite via the second spot beam, wherein the second commands are to configure electronic circuitry within transceivers of the second group of user terminal antenna systems to match the polarization and frequency range of the second spot beam. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification