Lightweight space-fed active phased array antenna system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A space-based antenna system for a satellite, the system comprising:
- a central system of the space-based antenna system, wherein the central system includes;
a stable local oscillator configured to generate a reference frequency signal,circuitry configured to generate transmit signals based at least in part on the reference frequency signal,at least one system transceiver for transmitting the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal, and to receive a receive signal; and
,multiple active antenna nodes forming a portion of an active phased array antenna system, wherein each active antenna node includes;
at least one node transceiver configured to receive the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal from the system transceiver, and to transmit the receive signal to the system transceiver,frequency translating circuitry coupled to receive the reference frequency signal, and to provide signal translation between the transmit and receive signals to inhibit interference between the transmit and receive signals,a power generation portion, andcontrol circuitry coupled with the node transceiver and the power generation portion, wherein the control circuitry is configured to process or control the transmit and receive signals, and configured to at least facilitate control of beam formation and beam steering of the space-based antenna system using, at least in part, the reference frequency signal and, one or both of the transmit and receive signal.
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Abstract
A system for a satellite includes a core system and multiple nodes for generating an active phased array. Each node includes a transceiver for wirelessly receiving a transmit signal from the core system, for wirelessly transmitting the transmit signals to a target, for wirelessly receiving the receive signals from the target, and for wirelessly transmitting the receive signal back to the core system. The system also includes a subsystem for inhibiting signal interference between the transmit and receive signals. Each of the nodes may also include local power generation circuitry.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A space-based antenna system for a satellite, the system comprising:
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a central system of the space-based antenna system, wherein the central system includes; a stable local oscillator configured to generate a reference frequency signal, circuitry configured to generate transmit signals based at least in part on the reference frequency signal, at least one system transceiver for transmitting the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal, and to receive a receive signal; and
,multiple active antenna nodes forming a portion of an active phased array antenna system, wherein each active antenna node includes; at least one node transceiver configured to receive the reference frequency signal and the transmit signal from the system transceiver, and to transmit the receive signal to the system transceiver, frequency translating circuitry coupled to receive the reference frequency signal, and to provide signal translation between the transmit and receive signals to inhibit interference between the transmit and receive signals, a power generation portion, and control circuitry coupled with the node transceiver and the power generation portion, wherein the control circuitry is configured to process or control the transmit and receive signals, and configured to at least facilitate control of beam formation and beam steering of the space-based antenna system using, at least in part, the reference frequency signal and, one or both of the transmit and receive signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An active phased array antenna system for a satellite, the system comprising:
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a core system comprising; at least one controller for generating transmit signals; at least one transceiver for wirelessly transmitting a reference signal and the transmit signal from the core system to nodes, and for wirelessly receiving a receive signal from the nodes; multiple nodes for generating an active phased array, wherein each node comprises; at least one node transceiver configured for wirelessly receiving a reference signal and the transmit signal from the core system, for transmitting the transmit signals to a target, for receiving the receive signals from the target, and for wirelessly transmitting the receive signal to the core system, circuitry for inhibiting signal interference between the transmit and receive signals between the core system and node and between the node and the target; and at least one node control controller, coupled with the node transceiver and the circuitry for inhibiting signal interference, for controlling or processing the transmit and receive signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. In a space-based active lens radar system having at least one elongated planar portion, an apparatus comprising:
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multiple nodes carried by the elongated planar portion and forming at least part of the space-based active lens radar system, wherein each node comprises; a transmit portion configured to wirelessly receive a space fed signal from the radar system and to generate a transmit signal to be directed to a target as part of a transmit beam; a receive portion configured to receive an echo signal from the target and to generate a receive signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the radar system; a signal isolation portion, coupled to at least one of the transmit and receive portions, and configured to inhibit signal interference between the transmit signal and the receive signal; a controller coupled among the transmit, receive and signal isolation portions; and
,local power generation at each node for providing power to the controller and to the transmit, receive and signal isolation portions within the node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In a space-based active lens radar system having a central core portion and at least one elongated planar portion, an apparatus comprising:
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multiple nodes carried by the elongated planar portion and forming at least part of the space-based active lens radar system, wherein each node comprises; a transmit portion configured to wirelessly receive a space fed signal from the radar system and to generate a transmit signal to be directed to a target as part of a transmit beam; a receive portion configured to receive an echo signal from the target and to generate a receive signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the radar system; a signal isolation portion, coupled to at least one of the transmit and receive portions, and configured to inhibit signal interference between the transmit signal and the receive signal; a controller coupled among the transmit, receive and signal isolation portions; a frequency adjuster for adjusting a received reference signal and to produce a frequency adjusted signal, a modulator for producing a modulated signal based on the frequency adjusted signal, transmit and receive paths, each having a mixer for mixing in the modulated signal, and a signal selector for selectively providing the modulated signal to the transmit and receive paths. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. In a space-based active lens radar system having at least one wing, an apparatus comprising:
multiple nodes carried by the wing and forming at least part of the space-based active lens radar system, wherein each node comprises; a signal processing portion configured to at least assist in directing a transmit signal to a target as part of a transmit beam, and to receive an echo signal from the target; a node controller coupled to the signal processing portion; and
,local power generation circuitry configured to locally provide power to the node controller and to the signal processing portion, without use of external power or external power distribution wiring from the radar system to the multiple nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17)
Specification