Invention Grant
US09590299B2 Integrated antenna and RF payload for low-cost inter-satellite links using super-elliptical antenna aperture with single axis gimbal 有权
集成天线和RF有效载荷,用于使用单轴万向节的超椭圆天线孔径的低成本卫星间链路

Integrated antenna and RF payload for low-cost inter-satellite links using super-elliptical antenna aperture with single axis gimbal
Abstract:
A dual-reflector inter-satellite link (ISL) subsystem, for a communications satellite in a constellation of satellites in low earth orbit or medium earth orbit. The ISL subsystem includes a main antenna reflector which uses a single-axis gimbal to steer the main reflector only in the elevation plane. An antenna subreflector, a horn and RF feed circuitry are stationary with respect to the host satellite. The main reflector has a super-elliptical design which provides a beam shape which requires no steering in the azimuth plane, while meeting ISL signal strength requirements. By steering the main reflector only, and only in the elevation plane, the disclosed ISL subsystem delivers significantly lower size, mass, complexity and cost, and significantly greater reliability, than traditional ISL systems.
Information query
Patent Agency Ranking
0/0