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Method and system for providing satellite coverage using fixed spot beams and scanned spot beams

  • US 6,336,030 B2
  • Filed: 03/05/2001
  • Issued: 01/01/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for providing high frequency data communications in a satellite-based communications network, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of communications satellites each having an uplink antenna having a plurality of antenna receiving elements arranged in a first continuous array, each of said receiving elements being reconfigurable to form receiving fixed spot beams and receiving scanned spot beams;

    a receive beam forming network coupled to said plurality of antenna receiving elements, said receiving beam forming network coupled to said plurality of antenna receiving elements for configuring said antenna receiving elements into said receiving fixed spot beams and said receiving scanned spot beams;

    and a downlink antenna having a plurality of antenna transmitting elements arranged in a second continuous array, each of said transmitting elements being reconfigurable to form transmitting fixed spot beams and transmitting scanned spot beams; and

    a transmitting beam forming network coupled to said plurality of antenna transmitting elements, said transmitting beam forming network coupled to said plurality of antenna transmitting elements for configuring said antenna transmitting elements into said transmitting fixed spot beams and said transmitting scanned spot beams; and

    each of said satellites further having a controller coupled to said transmitting and receiving beam forming networks, said controller selecting either fixed spot coverage area or a scanned spot coverage area by generating respective uplink spot beams and uplink scanned spot beams or by generating respective downlink spot beams and downlink scanned spot beams for each of the reconfigurable antenna receiving elements and reconfigurable antenna transmitting elements.

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