Satellite beamforming
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of amplifiers configured to output amplified signals;
an array of feeds configured to form beams based on the amplified signals, wherein a total number of feeds in the array is greater than a total number of amplifiers in the plurality of amplifiers;
a switching circuitry configured to route the amplified signals to a subset of feeds in the array; and
a beam former processor configured to perform operations comprising;
receiving, at a first time, a first group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the first group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in the array;
determining first terrestrial regions for transmitting the first group of signals;
identifying a first subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the first terrestrial regions; and
controlling the switching circuitry to route the first group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the first subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the first subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the first terrestrial regions based on the first group of signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beam former processor receives a group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in an antenna array. The beam former processor determines terrestrial regions for transmitting the group of signals. The beam former processor identifies a subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the terrestrial regions. The beam former processor controls the switching circuitry to route the group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the terrestrial regions based on the group of signals.
218 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of amplifiers configured to output amplified signals; an array of feeds configured to form beams based on the amplified signals, wherein a total number of feeds in the array is greater than a total number of amplifiers in the plurality of amplifiers; a switching circuitry configured to route the amplified signals to a subset of feeds in the array; and a beam former processor configured to perform operations comprising; receiving, at a first time, a first group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the first group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in the array; determining first terrestrial regions for transmitting the first group of signals; identifying a first subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the first terrestrial regions; and controlling the switching circuitry to route the first group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the first subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the first subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the first terrestrial regions based on the first group of signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of amplifiers configured to output amplified signals; an array of feeds configured to form beams based on the amplified signals; a plurality of hybrid matrices, each hybrid matrix configured to perform operations comprising; receiving one or more amplified signals at input ports from one or more amplifiers; forwarding a received signal to an individual feed coupled to an output port of the hybrid matrix in a first configuration of matrix circuitry; and forwarding a received signal to a group of feeds coupled to output ports of the hybrid matrix in a second configuration of the matrix circuitry; and a beam former processor configured to perform operations comprising; receiving, at a first time, a first group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers; determining first terrestrial regions for transmitting the first group of signals; identifying a first subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the first terrestrial regions; determining whether all first terrestrial regions are covered by beams formed using the first subset of feeds; based on determining that all first terrestrial regions are not covered by beams formed using the first subset of feeds, determining a subset of the first terrestrial regions for covering by grouping feeds; identifying, from the first subset of feeds, a second subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the subset of the first terrestrial regions; controlling hybrid matrices coupled to the second subset of feeds to group, in each hybrid matrix using the second configuration of the matrix circuitry, feeds that are coupled to the hybrid matrix and forwarding a respective received signal to the grouped feeds; and controlling hybrid matrices coupled to remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds to forward, in each hybrid matrix using the first configuration of the matrix circuitry, a respective received signal to an individual feed coupled to the hybrid matrix that is one of the remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds, wherein the second subset of feeds and the remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the first terrestrial regions based on receiving the first group of signals from respective hybrid matrices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of amplifiers configured to output amplified signals; an array of feeds configured to form beams based on the amplified signals, wherein a total number of feeds in the array is greater than a total number of amplifiers in the plurality of amplifiers; a switching circuitry configured to route the amplified signals to a subset of feeds in the array; a plurality of hybrid matrices, each hybrid matrix configured to perform operations comprising; receiving one or more amplified signals at input ports from one or more amplifiers through the switching circuitry; forwarding a received signal to an individual feed coupled to an output port of the hybrid matrix in a first configuration of matrix circuitry; and forwarding a received signal to a group of feeds coupled to output ports of the hybrid matrix in a second configuration of the matrix circuitry; and a beam former processor configured to perform operations comprising; receiving, at a first time, a first group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the first group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in the array; determining first terrestrial regions for transmitting the first group of signals; identifying a first subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the first terrestrial regions; determining whether all first terrestrial regions are covered by beams formed using the first subset of feeds; based on determining that all first terrestrial regions are not covered by beams formed using the first subset of feeds, determining a subset of the first terrestrial regions for covering by grouping feeds; identifying, from the first subset of feeds, a second subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the subset of the first terrestrial regions; controlling the switching circuitry to route the first group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to a first group of hybrid matrices coupled to the first subset of feeds through the switching circuitry; controlling a subset of the first group of hybrid matrices that are coupled to the second subset of feeds to group, in each hybrid matrix using the second configuration of the matrix circuitry, feeds that are coupled to the hybrid matrix and forwarding a respective received signal to the grouped feeds; and controlling a remainder of the first group of hybrid matrices that are coupled to remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds to forward, in each hybrid matrix using the first configuration of the matrix circuitry, a respective received signal to an individual feed coupled to the hybrid matrix that is one of the remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds, wherein the second subset of feeds and the remaining feeds in the first subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the first terrestrial regions based on receiving the first group of signals from respective hybrid matrices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification