Cellular Interferometer for Continuous Earth Remote Observation (CICERO)
First Claim
1. Designs and orbit configurations for a plurality of small Earth satellites, or “
- cells,”
each said cell performing a set of relatively primitive functions, including emission, reception, sampling, and recording of radio and microwave signals for subsequent combination and processing to produce a diversity of observations of the earth system, its atmosphere, ionosphere, surface, potential fields, and climate.
1 Assignment
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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
21 Claims
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1. Designs and orbit configurations for a plurality of small Earth satellites, or “
- cells,”
each said cell performing a set of relatively primitive functions, including emission, reception, sampling, and recording of radio and microwave signals for subsequent combination and processing to produce a diversity of observations of the earth system, its atmosphere, ionosphere, surface, potential fields, and climate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- cells,”
Specification