Antenna system for controlling and redirecting communications beams
First Claim
1. An antenna system for receiving or transmitting communications signals between a communications satellite and earth based unit located within a coverage area of said system, said system defining a plurality of coverage beams forming said coverage area in a far field region, said system comprising:
- an antenna array containing a plurality of feed elements which cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout in a coverage area in a far field region, said feed elements being arranged in a non-circular layout; and
a beam forming network containing a plurality of beam ports and feed ports, said feed ports conveying feed signals related to said coverage beams, said feed ports conveying said feed signals between said beam forming network and said feed elements, said beam ports conveying coverage signals between said beam forming network and the communications satellite, each of said coverage signals uniquely corresponding to one of said coverage beams, said beam forming network defining a weighted mapping relation between said feed signals and said coverage signals such that said feed elements arranged in said non-circular layout cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout in said coverage area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna system 10 for a communications satellite which transmits and receives communications from ground based devices. The system includes an antenna array 16 containing a plurality of feed elements 18 which cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout at a coverage area in a far-field region proximate the surface of the earth. The feed elements 18 are arranged in a non-circular layout within the antenna array 16. This system further includes a beam forming network 14 for mapping coverage beam signals onto feed signals which drive the antenna array 16. The beam forming network 14 includes a beam forming matrix 28 and a beam connecting network 30. The beam connecting network 30 separates each coverage beam signal into a plurality of component signals weighted to have differing amplitudes from one another. The component signals are delivered to the beam forming matrix 28 which in turn produces corresponding feed signals to drive the antenna array 16 in such a manner as to form feed beams which cooperate to define the coverage beams at the far-field region. The beam connecting network 30 weights the component signals unevenly in order to shift corresponding resultant coverage beams inward or outward until aligned within the coverage area in a circular layout along concentric circles.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna system for receiving or transmitting communications signals between a communications satellite and earth based unit located within a coverage area of said system, said system defining a plurality of coverage beams forming said coverage area in a far field region, said system comprising:
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an antenna array containing a plurality of feed elements which cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout in a coverage area in a far field region, said feed elements being arranged in a non-circular layout; and a beam forming network containing a plurality of beam ports and feed ports, said feed ports conveying feed signals related to said coverage beams, said feed ports conveying said feed signals between said beam forming network and said feed elements, said beam ports conveying coverage signals between said beam forming network and the communications satellite, each of said coverage signals uniquely corresponding to one of said coverage beams, said beam forming network defining a weighted mapping relation between said feed signals and said coverage signals such that said feed elements arranged in said non-circular layout cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout in said coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for defining and redirecting a plurality of coverage beams received by or transmitted from a communications satellite, said coverage beams being arranged in a circular layout at a coverage area in a far field region, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining a one to one relation between a plurality of coverage signals and a unique corresponding plurality of coverage beams arranged in a circular layout; conveying feed signals to or from an antenna array having a plurality of feed elements arranged in a non-circular layout, said feed elements operating in connection with said plurality of coverage beams arranged in said circular layout; defining a mapping relation between said feed signals and a plurality of component signals, wherein said component signals are arranged in clusters, each of said clusters corresponding to a unique coverage signal; defining a mapping relation between each cluster of component signals and a corresponding unique coverage signal; and setting at least one of amplitudes and phases of said component signals in a cluster unevenly with respect to one another to align said coverage beams in said circular layout at said coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification