Robust Satellite Detection And Maintenance Using A Multi-Beam Antenna System

• US 20090027260A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Sparks, William Joshua, Martin, Timothy J., Hamel, Anthony Guy, Runyon, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US12/175,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0071 using a common intermediate frequency for more than one band H04B1/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0808 comparing all antennas before reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

A method for communicating with a satellite using a plurality of antennas is provided according to some embodiments of the disclosure. These methods may include receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna from the plurality of antennas and determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna. Data may be transmitted to the satellite using the first antenna. A second antenna adjacent to the first antenna may partially overlap with the first antenna in coverage. The signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna may be monitored. If the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna, then data is transmitted over the second antenna.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a satellite using at least a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are substantially adjacent, the method comprising:

receiving data from the satellite using the first antenna;

monitoring data from the second antenna, wherein the second antenna is located substantially adjacent to the first antenna, and the second antenna covers an area adjacent to and overlapping with the area covered by the first antenna; and

receiving data from the satellite using the second antenna if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is measured based on at least the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is measured based on at least the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal.

6. A method for communicating with a satellite using a plurality of antennas, the method comprising:

receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna of the plurality of antennas;

monitoring data from a second antenna of the plurality of antennas, wherein the second antenna is adjacent to the first antenna, and the second antenna covers an area adjacent to and overlapping with the area covered by the first antenna;

determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna;

determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna;

if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna, then switching to the second antenna; and

receiving data from the satellite using the second antenna.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving motion data from a gyroscope; and

selecting the second antenna based on the motion data from the gyroscope.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving motion data from a gps unit; and

selecting the second antenna based on the motion data from the gps unit.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

selecting a first initial antenna from the plurality of antennas;

determining whether there is sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna;

if there is not sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna, then switching to a second initial antenna; and

if there is sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna, then receiving data from the satellite using the first initial antenna.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second initial antenna is adjacent to the first initial antenna.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving motion data from a gyroscope; and

selecting the second initial antenna based on the motion data from the gyroscope.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving motion data from a gps unit; and

selecting the second initial antenna based on the motion data from the gps unit.

13. A satellite transceiver comprising:

a plurality of antennas, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of antennas are arranged around a central location, wherein the azimuth coverage of the plurality of antennas comprises up to about 360°

, and wherein the elevation coverage of each antenna comprises between about 5° and

about 90°

; and

a processor coupled with the plurality of antennas, wherein the processor selects at least one antenna from the plurality of antennas for communication with a satellite, the processor includes;

instructions for receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna of the plurality of antennas;

instructions for monitoring a second antenna of the plurality of antennas while the first antenna is receiving data from the satellite, wherein the second antenna is adjacent to the first antenna, and the second antenna covers an area adjacent to and overlapping with the area covered by the first antenna;

instructions for determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna;

instructions for determining if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna;

instructions for switching to the second antenna if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna; and

instructions for receiving data from the satellite using the second antenna.

14. The satellite transceiver according to claim 13, further comprising:

instructions for transmitting data to the satellite using the first antenna; and

instructions for transmitting data to the satellite using the second antenna, if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna.

15. The satellite transceiver according to claim 13, wherein the azimuth coverage of each antenna overlaps with at least a portion of the azimuth coverage of at an adjacent antenna.

16. The satellite transceiver according to claim 13, further comprising a central antenna placed near the central location.

17. The satellite transceiver according to claim 16, wherein the central antenna points substantially vertically.

18. The satellite transceiver according to claim 16, wherein the azimuth coverage of the central antenna comprises about 360°

.

19. The satellite transceiver according to claim 16, wherein the processor further includes:

instructions for selecting a first initial antenna from the plurality of antennas;

instructions for determining whether there is sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna;

instructions for determining if there is sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna;

instructions for switching to a second initial antenna if there is not sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna; and

instructions for receiving data from the satellite using the first initial antenna, if there is sufficient signal strength to receive data from the satellite through the first initial antenna.

20. A method for communicating with a satellite using a plurality of antennas, the method comprising:

receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna from the plurality of antennas;

determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna;

transmitting data to the satellite using the first antenna;

monitoring a second antenna from the plurality of antennas, wherein the second antenna is adjacent to the first antenna, and the second antenna covers an area adjacent to and overlapping with the area covered by the first antenna;

determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna; and

transmitting data from the satellite using the second antenna, if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna.