Concurrent airborne communication methods and systems

• US 9,608,756 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems Inc
• Original Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems Inc
• Inventors: Chang, Donald C. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US14/300,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20140286235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/933 of aircraft or spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/006 using shared front-end circuitry, e.g. antennas G01S13/765, G01S13/825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2581 Multimode transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/00 Optical multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/005 Optical Code Multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/08 Time-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03006 Arrangements for removing intersymbol interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03891 Spatial equalizers MIMO diversity systems H04B7/0413

Abstract

Aircrafts or unmanned air vehicles flying near Earth are used as airborne communications towers or relays. Using techniques of ground based beam forming and wavefront multiplexing enhance the ability to coherently combine the power of the communication signals, and improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

Claims

1. An unmanned airborne vehicle comprising:

antenna array elements covering a foreground area; and

a beam forming network coupled to said antenna array elements, wherein said beam forming network is configured to concurrently shape multiple radiation patterns to direct a first signal to a first beam region in said foreground area and to direct a second signal to a second beam region in said foreground area, wherein said first beam region is different from said second beam region, wherein said first and second signals are configured to be concurrently radiated at a common frequency slot to said first and second beam regions respectively.

2. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1 comprising a diplexer coupled to said beam forming network, wherein said diplexer is configured to switch one of multiple links to be coupled to said beam forming network.

3. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier arranged upstream of said beam forming network and configured to amplify said first signal.

4. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a frequency converter arranged upstream of said beam forming network and configured to down convert said first signal in frequency.

5. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1, wherein said antenna array elements are in a planar array.

6. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a frequency demultiplexer configured to separate said first and second signals by frequency.

7. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1, wherein said antenna array elements are provided for a reflector antenna.

8. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1, wherein said antenna array elements and said beam forming network are provided for a multi-beam antenna configured for a forward link from said unmanned airborne vehicle to said foreground area and for a return link from said foreground area to said unmanned airborne vehicle.

9. The unmanned airborne vehicle of claim 1 comprising an omnidirectional antenna configured to link to a ground hub away from said foreground area.