METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS WITH A SATELLITE
First Claim
1. A mobile satellite radio comprising a receiver, a phased array antenna coupled to the receiver and a controller coupled to the phased array antenna and the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to:
- configure the phased array antenna into at least one non-directional configuration;
receive signals from a satellite when operating in the at least one non-directional configuration;
determine frequency information when receiving signals from the satellite when operating in the at least one non-directional configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile satellite radio equipped with a phased array antenna configures the phased array antenna in one or more non-directional operating modes in order to initially detect a signal from a communication satellite. Once a signal has been received from the satellite, frequency information determined in the course of operating in the one or more non-directional modes is used to configure the mobile satellite radio for operation in a subsequent stage when the phased array antenna is configured in a directional mode. In the subsequent stage the phased array antenna is used to scan a solid angle space to determine the direction of the satellite. Thereafter the antenna is used in the directional mode for satellite communication.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A mobile satellite radio comprising a receiver, a phased array antenna coupled to the receiver and a controller coupled to the phased array antenna and the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to:
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configure the phased array antenna into at least one non-directional configuration; receive signals from a satellite when operating in the at least one non-directional configuration; determine frequency information when receiving signals from the satellite when operating in the at least one non-directional configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a mobile satellite radio, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal from a satellite using a non-directional antenna beam pattern; obtaining frequency information in the course of receiving the signal; configuring the mobile satellite radio to communicate using a directional beam pattern and using a frequency selected based on the frequency information; and communicating using the directional beam pattern and the frequency selected based on the frequency information.
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- 8. A phased array antenna comprising an array of antenna elements coupled to a phase shifter array, wherein the phase shifter array is set to establish a set of phase shifts that cause the antenna to exhibit a non-directional beam pattern.
Specification