Reconfigurable analog channel processor for multibeam satellites

• US 6,229,986 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Copeland, Wilbert B., Wu, Shih-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US09/193,947
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/13.3, 455/13.4, 455/20, 455/22, 455/18, 455/19, 455/21, 370/325, 370/316, 370/323, 370/13.4, 370/12.1
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

An analog transponder processor for use in a multibeam satellite receiving input beam signals and transmitting output beam signals has an input switch matrix, channel processors, and an output switch matrix. The input switch matrix power divides input beam signals into sets of input beam signals. The channel processors each receive at least one input beam signal from the input switch matrix. The channel processors filter the input beam signals into channel signals. Each of the channel signals corresponds to a respective channel of the input beam signals. The channel processors change the frequency of at least one channel signal such that the at least one channel signal corresponds to a different channel than the respective channel of the input beam signals. The output switch matrix combines the channel signals into output beam signals.

Claims

1. For use in a multibeam satellite receiving input beam signals and transmitting output beam signals, wherein the input and output beam signals have corresponding channels arranged in a sequence for carrying channel signals, an analog transponder processor comprising:

an input microwave switch matrix for power dividing input beam signals into sets of input beam signals;

a plurality of channel processors each receiving at least one input beam signal from the input microwave switch matrix, wherein the channel processors filter the input beam signals into channel signals, wherein each of the channel processors includes a first mixer for changing the frequency of the input beam signals to a common frequency prior to filtering the input beam signals into channel signals and a second mixer for changing the frequency of at least one channel signal from the common frequency such that the at least one channel signal corresponds to a different channel in the sequence than the respective channel of the input beam signals; and

an output microwave switch matrix for combining the channel signals into output beam signals, wherein each of the channel signals corresponds to a respective channel of the output beam signals with the at least one channel signal of the output beam signals corresponding to the different channel in the sequence than the respective channel of the input beam signals.

2. The processor of claim 1 wherein:

each of the channel processors includes a filter for setting the bandwidth of the channel signals.

3. The processor of claim 1 wherein:

each of the channel processors includes an automatic gain controller for normalizing signal strength of each of the channel signals to a reference value.

4. The processor of claim 1 wherein:

each of the channel processors includes a manual gain controller for setting signal strength of each of the channel values to a desired level.

5. The processor of claim 1 further comprising:

a manual gain controller connected to the output switch matrix for setting signal strength of the output beam signals to a desired level.

6. For use in a multibeam satellite, a method of routing a channel of an input beam signal to a channel of an output beam signal, wherein the input and output beam signals have corresponding channels arranged in a sequence for carrying channel signals, the method comprising:

power dividing an input beam signal into sets of input beam signals using an input microwave switch matrix;

filtering the input beam signals into channel signals, wherein each of the channel signals corresponds to a respective channel of the input beam signals;

changing the frequency of the input beam signals to a common frequency prior to filtering the input beam signals into channel signals;

changing the frequency of at least one channel signal from the common frequency such that the at least one channel signal corresponds to a different channel in the sequence than the respective channel of the input beam signals; and

combining the channel signals into output beam signals using an output microwave switch matrix, wherein each of the channel signals corresponds to a respective channel of the output beam signals with the at least one channel signal of the output beam signals corresponding to the different channel in the sequence than the respective channel of the input beam signals.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

setting the bandwidth of the channel signals.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

normalizing signal strength of each of the channel signals to a reference value.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

setting signal strength of each of the channel signals to a desired level.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

setting signal strength of the output beam signal to a desired level.