公开(公告)号：US11787572B1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-17

申请号：US16870975

申请日：2020-05-10

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Andrew C. Thompson ,  Patrick Sodt ,  Thomas Tarlton ,  Robert S. Tarlton ,  Michael Dergance

IPC: B64G1/64 ,  B64G1/00 ,  B64G1/40 ,  B64G1/10 ,  B64G1/22

CPC classification number: B64G1/645 ,  B64G1/007 ,  B64G1/641 ,  B64G1/226 ,  B64G1/40 ,  B64G2001/1092 ,  B64G2001/643

Abstract: A system for securing spacecraft to a rocket and deploying the spacecraft into orbit includes a stack having a plurality of spacecraft arranged in layers, with each spacecraft being releasably mated with at least one spacecraft in an adjacent layer, and at least one hold down and deploy assembly configured to, in a first configuration, secure the layers of the stack together and secure the entire stack to the rocket, and, in a second configuration, release the entire stack from the rocket into orbit such that the layers passively separate.

公开(公告)号：US11757526B1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-12

申请号：US17334546

申请日：2021-05-28

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Chen Chen ,  Darshan Purohit ,  Yashodhan Dandekar ,  Pavel Chikulaev ,  David Sacks ,  Peter J. Worters ,  Phillip E. Barber

IPC: H04B7/185 ,  H04W74/08 ,  H04W74/00 ,  H04W72/21 ,  H04L5/00 ,  H04L1/00

CPC classification number: H04B7/18513 ,  H04W72/21 ,  H04W74/004 ,  H04W74/0833 ,  H04L1/0003 ,  H04L5/0007

Abstract: In an embodiment, a user terminal includes a connection manager component configured to generate an initial network entry request; an antenna assembly communicatively coupled to the connection manager and configured, in response to the initial network entry request, to find a satellite based on a search of a sky, wherein the satellite comprises a satellite assigned to downlink to a geographic cell associated with the user terminal; and a media access control (MAC) layer component communicatively coupled to the connection manager, the MAC layer component configured to generate an uplink radio frame including a random access channel (RACH) request associated with the initial network entry request at a particular portion of the uplink radio frame for the satellite, wherein the particular portion is selected by the MAC layer component from among a plurality of portions of the uplink radio frame.

公开(公告)号：US11735818B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-22

申请号：US17405552

申请日：2021-08-18

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Daniel A. Dueri ,  Raymond Tyler Rowe ,  Robert Baummer, Jr.

IPC: H01Q3/34 ,  H04B7/195

CPC classification number: H01Q3/34 ,  H04B7/195

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided for configuring an endpoint terminal for communication with a plurality of satellites in non-geosynchronous orbit. The endpoint terminal has an antenna system defining a limited field of regard for satellite communication. The antenna system is capable of gimbaling in order to move the field of regard. The method includes orienting the field of regard in a first position to communicate with a first satellite traveling in a first orbital plane; gimbaling the antenna system to move the field of regard from the first position to a second position to communicate with a second satellite traveling in a second orbital plane; establishing communication with the second satellite; and as the second satellite travels in the second orbital plane, gimbaling the antenna system to move the field of regard from the second position to a third position.

公开(公告)号：US20230246708A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18123879

申请日：2023-03-20

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Duncan E. Adams ,  David Milroy ,  Jonathan François Cornelis Herman ,  Jessica D. Johnson

IPC: H04B7/185

CPC classification number: H04B7/18519 ,  H04B7/18517 ,  H04B7/18571 ,  H04B7/18547 ,  H04B7/18573 ,  H04B7/18536

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a satellite communication system includes a satellite constellation including a plurality of satellites in non-geosynchronous orbit (non-GEO), wherein at least some of the plurality of satellites travel in a first orbital path at a first inclination, and an end point terminal having an earth-based geographic location, the end point terminal having an antenna system defining a field of regard for communicating with the satellite constellation, wherein the field of regard is a limited field of regard, wherein the field of regard is tilted from a non-tilted position to a tilted position, and wherein the tilt angle of the tilted position is a function of the latitude of the geographic location.

公开(公告)号：US11716154B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-01

申请号：US17872964

申请日：2022-07-25

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： David Francois Jacquet ,  Marc Gens ,  Paul Lee Pearson ,  Pascal Triaire

IPC: H04B1/00 ,  H04B17/11 ,  H04B1/38 ,  H04B17/12 ,  H04B17/19 ,  H01Q3/26 ,  H01Q3/38 ,  H01Q3/42

CPC classification number: H04B17/11 ,  H01Q3/2617 ,  H01Q3/38 ,  H01Q3/42 ,  H04B1/0082 ,  H04B1/38 ,  H04B17/12 ,  H04B17/19

Abstract: In an embodiment, a communications system includes a first transmitter including a digital beamforming baseband section configured to receive an input signal to be transmitted, the input signal at a baseband frequency, and a modulation section electrically coupled to the digital beamforming baseband section and a first antenna of a phased array antenna. The modulation section is configured to receive a local oscillator signal at a first local oscillator frequency and apply a baseband frequency shift to the input signal to generate a baseband frequency shifted input signal. The modulation section generates a modulated signal based on the input signal. The communication system includes a second transmitter included in a second IC chip of the plurality of IC chips electrically coupled to a second antenna and configured to provide a second modulated signal at the carrier frequency and a second LO leakage signal at a second local oscillator frequency.

公开(公告)号：USD992540S1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-18

申请号：US29797929

申请日：2021-07-03

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Designer： Anthony Sims ,  J. Gabriel Rustia ,  Daniel Cykman ,  Aman Thomas

Abstract: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a networking device showing our new design.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a left side view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a right side view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1; and,
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the networking device shown in FIG. 1.
The broken lines shown in the figures represent portions of the networking device that form no part of the claimed design.
The thin solid lines shown in the figures represent contours only and do not illustrate an ornamentation of decoration on the surface of the networking device.

公开(公告)号：US20230223680A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-13

申请号：US18117853

申请日：2023-03-06

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： David Milroy ,  Duncan E. Adams ,  Andrea Papi ,  Scott Kaufman ,  Ersin Yetisir ,  Anthony Sims

IPC: H01Q1/42 ,  H01Q23/00 ,  H01Q21/00 ,  H01Q9/04 ,  H01Q1/38 ,  H01Q1/12 ,  H01Q21/06 ,  H01Q21/10 ,  H01Q1/02 ,  H01Q15/14 ,  H01Q1/22

CPC classification number: H01Q1/428 ,  H01Q23/00 ,  H01Q21/00 ,  H01Q9/0407 ,  H01Q9/0414 ,  H01Q1/38 ,  H01Q1/1228 ,  H01Q21/065 ,  H01Q1/42 ,  H01Q1/422 ,  H01Q21/10 ,  H01Q1/02 ,  H01Q15/144 ,  H01Q1/1207 ,  H01Q1/2283 ,  H01Q1/2291

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna apparatus includes a housing assembly including a radome portion and a lower enclosure portion, wherein the radome portion and lower enclosure portion are couplable to form an inner compartment for housing antenna components of the antenna assembly, an antenna stack assembly disposed within the inner compartment, wherein the antenna stack assembly generates heat when in operation, and a heat transfer system within the inner compartment configured to facilitate the flow of heat toward the radome portion.

公开(公告)号：US11699852B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-11

申请号：US16276257

申请日：2019-02-14

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Alireza Mahanfar ,  Javier Rodriguez De Luis

IPC: H01Q3/36 ,  H01Q1/22 ,  H05K1/02 ,  H05K1/14

CPC classification number: H01Q3/36 ,  H01Q1/22 ,  H05K1/0298 ,  H05K1/144

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a phased array antenna system includes a first portion carrying an antenna lattice including a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a first configuration, and a second portion carrying a beamformer lattice including a plurality of beamformer elements, wherein the plurality of beamformer elements are arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of beamformer elements.

公开(公告)号：US11665043B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-30

申请号：US17671077

申请日：2022-02-14

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Martin S. McCormick ,  Feipeng Wang

IPC: H04L27/36 ,  H03F1/32 ,  H04B1/04

CPC classification number: H04L27/367 ,  H03F1/3247 ,  H04B1/04 ,  H03F1/3258 ,  H03F1/3294 ,  H04B2001/0425

Abstract: A wireless communications system includes a pre-distortion actuator configured to receive a carrier-modulated signal and convert the carrier-modulated signal into an output signal. The system includes one or more antennas configured to receive the output signal and transmit the output signal, one or more power amplifiers electrically coupled between the pre-distortion actuator and the one or more antennas and a receiver configured to receive the output signal over-the-air and generate feedback based on the output signal. The pre-distortion actuator is configured to generate the output signal by applying a correction to the carrier-modulated signal that cancels out nonlinearities associated with the one or more antennas and/or the one or more power amplifiers. The pre-distortion actuator is configured based on the feedback.

公开(公告)号：US20230142893A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-11

申请号：US17983221

申请日：2022-11-08

Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Inventor： Charbel J. Elian ,  David Milroy ,  Benjamin Eric Alburtus ,  Jackson Shaffner ,  Edison S. Conner, JR. ,  Tad A. Kilbury

IPC: H01Q1/42 ,  H01Q1/02

CPC classification number: H01Q1/42 ,  H01Q1/02

Abstract: In one example of the present disclosure, a radome body assembly for use with an antenna assembly is described. The radome body assembly may comprise a radome body portion having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface, and wherein the radome body portion defines a portion of a housing for an antenna assembly. The radome body assembly may further comprise a plurality of elongated members each coupled to the second surface of the radome body portion and each having a proximal end at or near the radome body portion and a distal end distal from the radome body portion, wherein the plurality of elongated members is configured to extend through a plurality of corresponding thru-holes defined in the antenna assembly.