FREQUENCY TRANSLATION ROUTING COMMUNICATIONS TRANSPONDER

• US 3,810,255 A
• Filed: 06/10/1971
• Issued: 05/07/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arnold L. Berman, Christoph E. Mahle, Marvin Richard Wachs
• Original Assignee: Arnold L. Berman, Christoph E. Mahle, Marvin Richard Wachs
• Inventors: Wachs, Marvin Richard, Berman, Arnold L., Mahle, Christoph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/151,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 325/4,9,11,14 343/6.8R,6.8LC,18B,1ST 325/4,9,11,14 324/77E
• US Class Current: 455/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2045 SS-FDMA, FDMA satellite switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 1/04 Frequency-transposition arrangements modulation with carrier or side-band suppression H03C1/52, H03C1/60; single-band suppression H04B1/00, H04B15/00; telegraphic communication H04L27/02, H04L25/49; transference of modulation from one carrier to another, e.g. frequency- changing H03D7/00; demodulation or transference of modulation of modulated electromagnetic waves H03D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 1/06 Arrangements for supplying the carrier waves ; Arrangements for supplying synchronisation signals synchronisation in general H03B; frequency multiplication H03B19/00, H03B21/00; mixing H03D7/00, H03D9/00; carrier supply H04L5/10

Abstract

Frequency bands in spot beams received by a satellite transponder are routed to transmitted spot beams. Every band in all received beams are frequency translated into separate bands within the transponder. The separate bands result in a total bandwidth within the transponder equal to the number of received spot beams times the bandwidth of each spot beam. The total bandwidth is then divided among the transmitters - each divided portion being reconverted into the transmitter bandwidth. Routing of a single receive band is accomplished by mixing the band with a local oscillator signal having a frequency whose value causes the mixer output to assume a particular band within the total bandwidth - the particular band being diverted to the transmitted spot beam of interest.

Claims

1. A frequency translation routing transponder comprising, a. means for receiving a plurality of composite signals each of said composite signals comprising a plurality of frequency slots occupying frequency bands which overlap the frequency bands occupied by other frequency slots in other ones of said plurality of composite signals, b. first translating means for translating each frequency slot within said plurality of composite signals into a separate, substantially non-overlapping, band of frequencies, c. filter means for separating the total frequency band occupied by said plurality of composite signals following said translation into separate frequency segments, and d. second translating means for translating each of said segments into a frequency band suitable for transmission, said suitable frequency bands overlapping in frequency.

2. A frequency translating routing transponder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first translating means comprises, a. filter means for dividing said received plurality of composite signals into said frequency slots, b. means for generating a plurality of local oscillator frequencies, c. means for mixing selected local oscillator frequencies with the signals occupying said frequency slots to provide a total band of frequencies occupied by said plurality of composite signals with substantially no overlapping of frequencies.

3. A frequency translation routing transponder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for mixing comprises an individual mixer for each of said frequency slots, each of said mixers having the signals occupying a given frequency slot connected to one input thereof, and a local oscillator frequency connected to a second input thereof.

4. A frequency translation routing transponder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for mixing further comprises, a. power divider means connected to said generating means producing attenuated replica of said plurality of local oscillator frequencies at multiple output terminals, b. a plurality of electronically tuneable high-Q filters, each having its input connected to a respective one of said power divider outputs, and its output connected to the second input of a respective one of said individual mixers.

5. A frequency translation routing transponder as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said electronically tuneable filters is a YIG filter.