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System for increasing the utility of satellite communication systems

  • US 5,572,216 A
  • Filed: 11/19/1993
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a tracing and data relay satellite system (TDRSS) having a satellite communication system that derives satellite receiver directionality through phase-coherent combination of multiple signals at a ground terminal, and wherein the signals are derived from an array of broad-coverage antenna elements on one or more earth orbiting satellites having a composite downlink signal, the improvement for providing additional communication, sensor, surveillance radio ink services comprising,a plurality of ground-based beam forming elements, each having antennae and receiver for said satellite'"'"'s composite down-link signal, the output from each element being directed to one or more data receptors selected from one of human operator, recorder, alarming device, signal distributing circuit,control circuit means enabling each ground based beam forming element to alter the width of its angular coverage and scan the beam thus formed and to track the direction from which a signal is received,one or more low-power ground based transmitters operating with low transmitted power, each such transmitter located within view of said satellite'"'"'s broad-coverage antenna elements,said transmitters transmitting radio signals using pulse code modulation whose code sequences are uncorrelated with those used by said satellite sensor or communication system in its normal functions, thereby enabling said low-power ground-based transmitters to communicate via a suitably satellite to a satellite ground station, for reporting, alarming, or other functions, without alternation to said satellites or pre-existing ground equipment.

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