Terrestrial antennas for satellite communication system

• US 5,905,466 A
• Filed: 07/08/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wengen Wireless LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Teledesic, LLC (Michael J. Larson, MBA)
• Inventors: Jha, Asu Ram
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/889,409
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/702, 343/754, 343/778, 343/853, 342/371, 342/372, 342/373, 342/374, 342/375
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/244 extendable from a housing along a given path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18571 for satellites; for fixed or mobile stations

Abstract

Terrestrial antennas (10A, 10B, 10C and 10D) which are capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals directly to and from satellites in low Earth orbit are disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the invention employs circularly polarized, dual-frequency printed circuit antenna elements (136) measuring only a fraction of an inch in diameter. One embodiment (10A) includes an elevation array and an azimuth array which both reside on a trapezoidal, semi-conical housing that resembles a flattened pyramid. Both the top and the curved exterior of the pyramid support circular, slotted, printed circuit patches on their surfaces which bound individual radiating antenna elements (18). Since the entire antenna is only a few inches in diameter and is less than two inches high, it can be incorporated as an integral element of a telephone (T) or can be mounted at the end of a collapsible mast (CM). Other embodiments (10B, 10C, and 10D) of the invention employ hemispherical, cylindrical, and truncated hemispherical configurations. These unique antennas permit direct communication with satellites in low Earth orbit using the 20 and 30 GHz frequency bands. The antennas (10A, 10B, 10C and 10D) and their associated circuitry are sufficiently powerful to provide dependable service virtually anywhere on land, sea or in the air.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a satellite communication device which is capable of communicating directly with a satellite in Earth orbit comprising:

an antenna surface being generally hemispherical in shape and capable of transmitting and receiving radio beams to and from said satellite in Earth orbit;

said antenna surface being capable of steering radio beams in an azimuth dimension and in an elevation dimension; and

a plurality of phased-array antenna elements disposed along said antenna surface, said phased-array elements each including upper and lower conducting surfaces separated by an insulating layer, said upper conducting surface being sized to operate at a first predetermined frequency and said lower conducting surface being sized to operate at a second predetermined frequency different from said first predetermined frequency.

2. An apparatus for use with a satellite communication device which is capable of communicating directly with a satellite in Earth orbit comprising:

an antenna surface capable of transmitting and receiving radio beams to and from said satellite in Earth orbit;

said antenna surface being capable of steering radio beams in an azimuth dimension and in an elevation dimension, wherein said antenna surface comprises first and second surface portions with said plurality of phased-array elements being disposed along said first and second surface portions, said first surface portion being generally planar and circular in shape, said second surface portion being generally trapezoidal in shape; and

a plurality of phased-array antenna elements disposed along said antenna surface, said phased-array elements each including upper and lower conducting surfaces separated by an insulating layer, said upper conducting surface being sized to operate at a first predetermined frequency and said lower conducting surface being sized to operate at a second predetermined frequency different from said first predetermined frequency.

3. An apparatus for use with a satellite communication device which is capable of communicating directly with a satellite in Earth orbit comprising:

an antenna surface capable of transmitting and receiving radio beams to and from said satellite in Earth orbit;

said antenna surface being capable of steering radio beams in an azimuth dimension and in an elevation dimension, wherein said antenna surface comprises first and second surface portions with said plurality of phased-array elements being disposed along said first and second surface portions, said first surface portion being generally planar and circular in shape, said second surface portion being generally cylindrical in shape; and

a plurality of phased-array antenna elements disposed along said antenna surface, said phased-array elements each including upper and lower conducting surfaces separated by an insulating layer, said upper conducting surface being sized to operate at a first predetermined frequency and said lower conducting surface being sized to operate at a second predetermined frequecny different from said first predetermined frequency.

4. An apparatus for use with a satellite communication device which is capable of communicating directly with a satellite in Earth orbit comprising:

a housing sized to be held by a hand of a user;

an antenna surface capable of transmitting and receiving radio beams to and from said satellite in Earth orbit;

said antenna surface being capable of steering radio beams in an azimuth dimension and in an elevation dimension;

a plurality of phased-array antenna elements disposed along said antenna surface, said phased-array elements each including upper and lower conducting surfaces separated by an insulating layer, said upper conducting surface being sized to operate at a first predetermined frequency and said lower conducting surface being sized to operate at a second predetermined frequency different from said first predetermined frequency.

a transmitter within said housing and coupled to at least a first portion of said plurality of phased-array elements;

a receiver within said housing and coupled to at least a second portion of said plurality of phased-array elements; and

a power supply supported by said housing to provide electrical power to said transmitter and said receiver to thereby provide a hand-held portable satellite communication device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including a collapsible mast having a proximal end coupled to said housing and a distal end displaced from said housing along a longitudinal axis of said mast, said antenna surface being attached to said mast at said distal end.