Multiple spot-beam systems for satellite communications
First Claim
1. A communications relay apparatus of the type including receive means for receiving communications over a plurality of receiving channels transmit means for transmitting communications over a plurality of transmit channels, and means for routing communications received over any of said receiving channels to any of said transmit channels, said relay apparatus comprising:
- first receive outer switching means having inputs connected to a first plurality of said receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs;
at least a first demodulator connected to said first output of said first receive outer switching means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said first and second receive channels;
at least a first input means connected to said second output of said first receive outer switching means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said first and second channels;
second receive outer switching means having inputs connected to at least third and fourth receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs;
at least a second demodulator connected to said first output of said second receive outer switching means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said third and fourth receive channels;
at least a second input means connected to said second output of said second receive outer switching means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said third and fourth channels;
first inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second demodulators, respectively, said first inner switching means selectively directing demodulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first inner switching means;
second inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second input means, respectively said second inner switching means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said second inner switching means;
a first remodulation means having an input connected to said first output of said first inner switching means;
a first output means connected to said first output of said second inner switching means; and
first transmit outer switching means having at least a first input connected to an output of said first remodulation means and a second input connected to said first output means, said first outer transmit switching means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first outer transmit switching means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
On-board satellite switching is performed in three stages, an outer stage of switching on the up-link side for routing the received signals to either demodulators or frequency translators, a first inner stage of switching, preferably a baseband switch and processor, for routing and processing the outputs of the demodulators, a second inner stage of switching, e.g., a microwave switch matrix, for routing the outputs of the frequency translators, and an outer stage on the down-link side for assembling and routing the down-link spot beams. For a multiple hopping-beam system, the outer stages are microwave switch matrices, and for a hybrid scanning-hopping system the outer stages are beam forming matrices. A general purpose modified rearrangeable switch matrix is also disclosed.
161 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A communications relay apparatus of the type including receive means for receiving communications over a plurality of receiving channels transmit means for transmitting communications over a plurality of transmit channels, and means for routing communications received over any of said receiving channels to any of said transmit channels, said relay apparatus comprising:
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first receive outer switching means having inputs connected to a first plurality of said receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs; at least a first demodulator connected to said first output of said first receive outer switching means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said first and second receive channels; at least a first input means connected to said second output of said first receive outer switching means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said first and second channels; second receive outer switching means having inputs connected to at least third and fourth receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs; at least a second demodulator connected to said first output of said second receive outer switching means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said third and fourth receive channels; at least a second input means connected to said second output of said second receive outer switching means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said third and fourth channels; first inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second demodulators, respectively, said first inner switching means selectively directing demodulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first inner switching means; second inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second input means, respectively said second inner switching means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said second inner switching means; a first remodulation means having an input connected to said first output of said first inner switching means; a first output means connected to said first output of said second inner switching means; and first transmit outer switching means having at least a first input connected to an output of said first remodulation means and a second input connected to said first output means, said first outer transmit switching means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first outer transmit switching means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A communications relay apparatus of the type including receive means for receiving communications over a plurality of receiving channels, transmit means for transmitting communications over a plurality of transmit channels, and means for routing communications received over any of said receiving channels to any of said transmit channels, said relay apparatus comprising:
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first receive outer routing means having inputs connected to a first plurality of said receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs; at least a first demodulator connected to said first output of said first receive outer routing means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said first and second receive channels; at least a first input means connected to said second output of said first receive outer routing means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said first and second channels; second receive outer routing means having inputs connected to at least third and fourth receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs; at least a second demodulator connected to said first output of said second receive outer routing means for providing demodulated data from at least one of said third and fourth receive channels; at least a second input means connected to said second output of said second receive outer routing means and for providing modulated data from at least one of said third and fourth channels; first inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second demodulators, respectively, said first inner switching means selectively directing demodulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first inner switching means; second inner switching means having at least first and second inputs connected to outputs of said first and second input means, respectively, said second inner switching means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said second inner switching means; a first remodulation means having an input connected to said first output of said first inner switching means; a first output means connected to said first output of said second inner switching means; and first transmit outer routing means having at least a first input connected to an output of said first remodulation means and a second input connected to said first output means, said first outer transmit routing means selectively directing modulated data from its first and second inputs to either of at least first and second outputs of said first outer transmit routing means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A communications relay apparatus of the type including receive means for receiving communications over a plurality of receiving channels, transmit means for transmitting communications over a plurality of transmit channels, and means for routing communications received over any of said receiving channels to any of said transmit channels, said means for routing comprising:
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first means having inputs connected to a first plurality of said receive channels and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs of said first means; second means having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs of said second means; third means having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs and selectively directing its inputs to any one of at least first and second outputs of said third means; first coupling means for coupling the outputs of said first means to the inputs of said second means; second coupling means for coupling the outputs of said second means to the inputs of said third means; and at least one of said first and second coupling means including means for changing the frequency of a received signal prior to providing it to a respective input. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification