Methods and Systems for Satellite Communications Employing Ground-Based Beam Forming with Spatially Distributed Hybrid Matrix Amplifiers
First Claim
1. A satellite communications system comprising:
- a satellite configured to communicate with terminals;
a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links; and
a beamformer comprising an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) and a complementary output MPHM in a signal path with the plurality of feeder links, the output MPHM positioned at the satellite and coupled to the input MPHM via the plurality of feeder links.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite communications system includes a satellite configured to communicate with terminals, a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links and a beamformer including an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) and a complementary output MPHM in a signal path with the plurality of feeder links. The output MPHM is positioned at the satellite and coupled to the input MPHM via the plurality of feeder links. For example, the input MPHM may be positioned at a ground-based satellite gateway. The input and output MPHMs may be configured to implement fully populated signal transformation matrices that collectively provide a substantially diagonal signal transformation matrix.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A satellite communications system comprising:
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a satellite configured to communicate with terminals; a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links; and a beamformer comprising an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) and a complementary output MPHM in a signal path with the plurality of feeder links, the output MPHM positioned at the satellite and coupled to the input MPHM via the plurality of feeder links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communications satellite comprising:
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a feeder link antenna configured to receive signals from a station via a plurality of feeder links; a phased array antenna configured to communicate the received signals to terminals; and a processing unit coupled between the feeder link antenna and the phased array antenna and comprising an output MPHM configured to complement an input MPHM coupled to the satellite via the plurality of feeder links. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for supporting satellite communications between a satellite and terminals, the apparatus comprising:
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a feeder link antenna configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links; and a signal processing unit comprising an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) configured to complement an output MPHM positioned at the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a satellite communications system comprising a satellite configured to communicate with terminals and a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links, the method comprising:
beamforming for communications between the satellite and terminals using an HMA including an output MPHM positioned at the satellite and a complementary input MPHM coupled to the output MPHM via the plurality of feeder links. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
Specification