Mobile satellite communication system

• US 6,043,776 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Iso, Akio, Konishi, Yoshihiko, Matsunaga, Makoto, Urasaki, Shuji, Chiba, Isamu, Katagi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/033,169
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 342/352, 342/354, 342/357.01, 342/368, 342/375, 342/356, 455/12.1, 359/172, 359/173, 244/158 R
• US Class Current: 342/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A mobile satellite communication system including an artificial satellite which is situated in a satellite orbit and develops an active phased array antenna so as to accomplish a line to a terrestrial station using a portable terminal in a specific area. As a result, a service that satisfies a demand for communication in the specific area can be realized.

Claims

1. A mobile satellite communication system comprising an artificial satellite, disposed in a satellite orbit, which develops an active phased array antenna so that it accomplishes a line to a terrestrial station using a portable terminal in a specific area,

wherein said satellite orbit is a substantially static orbit inclined with respect to the equator and having an eccentricity;

wherein said active phased array antenna includes a receive active phased array antenna and a transmit active phased array antenna;

wherein said artificial satellite includes a receive artificial satellite for reception only on which said receive active phased array antenna is mounted and a transmit artificial satellite for transmission only on which said transmit active phased array antenna is mounted;

wherein said receive artificial satellite and said transmit artificial satellite are docked with each other after said receive artificial satellite and said transmit artificial satellite are put in said substantially static orbit, to exhibit a transmit/receive function as one artificial satellite;

wherein said receive active phased array antenna includes a first electric wave-to-optical convertor that converts a signal received by a receive device antenna into an optical signal;

wherein a receive satellite body of said receive artificial satellite includes a first optical-to-electric wave convertor that converts the optical signal into an electric signal;

wherein said first electric wave-to-optical convertor and said first optical-to-electric wave convertor are connected through a first optical fiber;

wherein a transmit satellite body of said transmit artificial satellite includes a second electric wave-to-optical convertor that converts the electric signal into the optical signal;

wherein said transmit active phased array antenna includes a second optical-to-electric wave convertor that converts the optical signal into a microwave signal and a transmit device antenna that radiates said microwave signal; and

wherein said second electric wave-to-optical convertor and said second optical-to-electric wave convertor are connected through a second optical fiber.

2. A mobile satellite communication system comprising an artificial satellite that is disposed in a satellite orbit and develops an active phased array antenna so that it accomplishes a line to a terrestrial station using a portable terminal in a specific area,

wherein said satellite orbit is a substantially static orbit inclined with respect to the equator and having an eccentricity;

wherein said active phased array antenna includes a receive active phased array antenna and a transmit active phased array antenna;

wherein said receive active phased array antenna includes a first electric wave-to-optical convertor that converts a signal received by a receive device antenna into an optical signal;

wherein a satellite body of said artificial satellite includes a first optical-to-electric wave convertor that converts the optical signal into an electric signal;

wherein said first electric wave-to-optical convertor and said first optical-to-electric wave convertor are connected through a first optical fiber;

wherein said satellite body further includes a second electric wave-to-optical convertor that converts the electric signal into the optical signal;

wherein said transmit active phased array antenna includes a second optical-to-electric wave convertor that converts the optical signal into a microwave signal and a transmit device antenna that radiates said microwave signal; and

wherein said second electric wave-to-optical convertor and said second optical-to-electric wave convertor are connected through a second optical fiber.

3. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 2, wherein said satellite body further includes an analog-to-digital signal convertor that converts said analog electric signal into a digital signal, a first digital beam former that forms a beam on the basis of said digital signal, a second digital beam former that forms a beam on the basis of a data signal, and a digital-to-analog signal convertor that converts said digital electric signal into an analog signal.