Method for in-orbit multiple receive antenna pattern testing

• US 6,157,817 A
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Kopito, Andrew B., Norin, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US09/244,575
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.4, 455/25, 455/67.1, 455/67.5, 455/423, 455/424, 370/316
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/20 of receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance

Abstract

A method of testing in-orbit communications satellite receive antennas from a single ground test station. The ground test station transmits an uplink test signal to the orbiting satellite. Telemetry circuitry onboard the satellite measures the power level of the uplink signal received and converts it to a corresponding digital value. The satellite'"'"'s position is slewed over angles approximately covering the receive antenna areas of reception. The power level of the received uplink test signal and satellite orientation information are transmitted to the ground test station in the satellite'"'"'s telemetry data stream. A computer at the ground test station plots the power level with respect to the satellite'"'"'s corresponding orientation to map the receive antenna pattern. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of receive antennas are tested simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method of testing a satellite receive antenna from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink test signal to a receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,

slewing said satellite over orientation angles encompassing said receive antenna'"'"'s coverage area,

sensing a power level of said uplink test signal onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said sensed power level and said orientation angles from said satellite to said ground test station, and

using said sensed power level and said orientation angles to verify the operation of said receive antenna on said satellite.

2. The in-orbit receive antenna test method of claim 1, wherein said slewing includes transmitting orientation commands to said satellite and orienting said satellite in accordance with said commands.

3. A method of testing a satellite receive antenna from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink test signal to a receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,

slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said receive antenna'"'"'s coverage area,

sensing a power level of said uplink test signal onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said sensed power level from said satellite to said ground test station,

transmitting satellite orientation information corresponding to said sensed power level to said ground test station, and

using said sensed power level and said orientation information to verify the operation of said receive antenna on said satellite.

4. The in-orbit receive test method of claim 3, wherein said using includes mapping a receive antenna pattern from said sensed power level and said satellite orientation information corresponding to said sensed power level.

5. A method of testing a satellite receive antenna from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink test signal to a receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,

slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said receive antenna'"'"'s coverage area,

sensing a power level of said uplink test signal onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said sensed power level from said satellite to said ground test station, and

using said sensed power level to verify the operation of said receive antenna on said satellite,

wherein said sensed power level is stored on the satellite during said slewing, and thereafter transmitted from said satellite to said ground test station.

6. A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,

slewing said satellite over orientation angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas'"'"' cover areas,

sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels and said orientation angles from said satellite to said ground station, and

using said sensed power levels and said orientation angles to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite.

7. The in-orbit receive antenna test method of claim 6, wherein said slewing includes transmitting orientation commands to said satellite and positioning said satellite in accordance with said commands.

8. A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,

slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas'"'"' cover areas,

sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels from said satellite to said ground station,

transmitting satellite orientation information corresponding to said sensed power levels, and

using said sensed power levels and said satellite orientation information to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite.

9. The in-orbit receive antenna test method of claim 8, wherein said using includes mapping a plurality of receive antenna patterns from said sensed power levels and said satellite orientation information.

10. A method of testing multiple in-orbit receive antennas for a satellite having a plurality of receive antennas from a single ground station, comprising the steps of;

transmitting a plurality of uplink test signals from said ground station, said plurality of uplink test signals having frequency spectrums which correspond to said plurality of receive antennas,

slewing said satellite over angles encompassing said plurality of receive antennas'"'"' cover areas,

sensing a plurality of power levels of said uplink test signals onboard said satellite during said slewing,

transmitting said plurality of sensed power levels from said satellite to said ground station, and

using said sensed power levels and said satellite orientation information to validate the operation of said plurality of receive antennas on said satellite,

wherein said sensed power level is stored on the satellite during said slewing, and thereafter transmitted from said satellite to said ground test station.

11. A method of performing in-orbit receive antenna pattern measurements for a satellite from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of

transmitting an uplink test signal in an uplink beam to at least one receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,

transmitting a series of position commands to said satellite from said ground test station to rotate said satellite to orientation angles within said uplink beam,

sensing a power level of said uplink test signal as received by said receive antenna onboard said satellite during said satellite rotation,

converting said sensed power level and said orientation angles to a corresponding digital code,

transmitting a telemetry stream which includes said digital code from said satellite to said ground test station, and

mapping said at least one receive antenna pattern from said telemetry stream.

12. A method of performing in-orbit receive antenna pattern measurements for a satellite from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink test signal in an uplink beam to at least one receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,

transmitting a series of position commands to said satellite from said ground test station to rotate said satellite within said uplink beam,

sensing a power level of said uplink test signal as received by said receive antenna onboard said satellite during said satellite rotation,

converting said sensed power level to a corresponding digital code,

transmitting a telemetry stream which includes said digital code from said satellite to said ground test station,

transmitting satellite position information corresponding to said sensed power level in said telemetry data stream to said ground test station from said satellite, and

mapping said at least one receive antenna pattern from said telemetry stream and said satellite position information.

13. The in-orbit receive antenna pattern measurement method of claim 12, wherein said mapping includes using said satellite position information and said sensed power level to plot said at least one receive antenna pattern.