Multiple-beam antenna system using hybrid frequency-reuse scheme

• US 7,382,743 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Rao, Sudhakar, Wang, Jim, Sheshadri, Mysore
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Andrew C.
• Application Number:
  US11/029,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/007 using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device for operation on different wavebands H01Q5/22

Abstract

Antenna system and methodology for producing multiple interleaved beams using a hybrid frequency-reuse scheme. In particular, depending on the traffic demand in specific coverage areas, some beams are assigned with frequency channels in accordance with a 4-cell frequency-reuse scheme, and the other beams are assigned with frequency channels in accordance with a 7-cell frequency-reuse scheme. The antenna system has multiple feeds divided into clusters, and a number of reflectors fed by respective feed clusters and configured to form one beam for each of the feeds.

Claims

1. An antenna system for producing multiple beams, comprising:

multiple feeds; and

a number of reflectors configured to form one beam for each of the multiple feeds,

wherein the antenna system is configured to assign the multiple beams with frequency channels in accordance with population or geographic demands for the frequency channels in areas covered by respective ones of the multiple beams,

wherein at least a first group of the multiple beams is assigned with the frequency channels in accordance with a first frequency-reuse scheme, and at least a second group of the multiple beams is assigned with the frequency channels in accordance with a second frequency-reuse scheme different from the first frequency-reuse scheme, and

wherein the first group of the multiple beams corresponds to a first area covered by the multiple beams, and the second group of the multiple beams corresponds to a second area covered by the multiple beams.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first group of the multiple beams includes a first number of beams representing all available frequency channels, and the second group of the multiple beams includes a second number of beams representing all available frequency channels.

3. The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first number of beams corresponding to the first frequency-reuse scheme is less than the second number of beams corresponding to the second frequency-reuse scheme if a frequency channel demand in the first area is higher than a frequency channel demand in the second area.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the multiple feeds are combined into a number of sets.

5. The antenna system of claim 4, wherein a separate reflector is configured to accommodate each set of the multiple feeds.

6. The antenna system of claim 5, wherein each reflector is configured to provide transmission and reception at transmission and reception frequencies of the frequency channels assigned to the beams corresponding to the respective set of the multiple feeds.

7. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein each reflector is configured to support transmission and reception at separated transmission and reception frequency bands respectively corresponding to the transmission and reception frequencies of the frequency channels.

8. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein a surface of each reflector is shaped to broaden receive beams and maintain a predetermined beam size at both transmission and reception frequency bands.

9. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein a surface of each reflector is shaped to improve co-polar isolation.

10. A method of producing multiple beams, comprising the steps of:

assigning at least a first group of the multiple beams with frequency channels in accordance with a first frequency-reuse scheme; and

assigning at least a second group of the multiple beams with the frequency channels in accordance with a second frequency-reuse scheme different from the first frequency-reuse scheme,

wherein the assigning at least the first group and assigning at least the second group are in accordance with population or geographic demands for the frequency channels in areas covered by respective ones of the multiple beams, and

wherein the first group of the multiple beams corresponds to a first area covered by the multiple beams, and the second group of the multiple beams corresponds to a second area covered by the multiple beams.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first group of the multiple beams includes a first number of beams representing all available frequency channels, and the second group of the multiple beams includes a second number of beams representing all available frequency channels.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first number of beams corresponding to the first frequency-reuse scheme is less than the second number of beams corresponding to the second frequency-reuse scheme if a frequency channel demand in the first area is higher than a frequency channel demand in the second area.