摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for stabilizing the phase and gain of an amplifier in a power pooling arrangement. A pilot signal combining a reference carrier frequency with a reference sideband frequency is passed through the amplifier via an adjustable phase shifter and an adjustable attenuator in the amplifier input line. A portion of the amplified pilot signal is coupled from the output of the amplifier and mixed with the reference frequency. The remaining audio frequency signal is compared to a reference (input) audio signal to determine phase and gain changes during amplification in the amplifier. Phase and gain control signals are developed from this comparison, and are fed back to the adjustable phase shifter and adjustable attenuator, respectively, in order to compensate an incoming signal for phase and gain variations in the amplifier.
摘要:
A two-hop communications system utilizing two collocated spacecraft (Se and Sw) and two remote intersatellite exchange (RISE) means (Re and Rw) provides for communications between ground stations located in two or more defined subregions. Each satellite includes wide band transponders for relaying ground station transmissions to the RISEs. The RISEs convert first hop frequency division multiplexed (FDM) signals to time division multiplexed (TDM) for the second hop. Signals are coded by frequency, polarization and direction so as to avoid loss of bandwidth due to the two-hop approach.
摘要:
A system and method for adjusting satellite communication signal transmit power for signals transmitted to a localized region within a satellite coverage area utilize real-time information on weather conditions (172) and/or actual path losses (174) within the localized regions to adjust the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the satellite beams (188) to minimize the total radio frequency (RF) power required for transmission. The transmission system may be realized using a variety of antenna types for transmitting spot beams and/or area coverage beams. Representative antenna implementations include multi-beam antennas having a low-level beamforming network and hybrid matrix amplifier system, phased-array with independent input amplitude control and beamsteering for each beam, and a phased-array feeding a confocal imaging system for single broadcast beam per polarization. The present invention allows for the reduction of RF transmit power to achieve the same communications performance enabling either increases in satellite functionality and/or an increase in total capacity of the satellite communication system.
摘要:
A phased array antenna system (20; 120) having an array (22; 122) of radiating elements (24-30; H1-H32), such as pyramidal horns, and a distribution network (32; 124) connected thereto, has a dual mode of operation where each mode produces a composite beam which can and preferably does produce an identical far-field electromagnetic radiation pattern. The first composite beam is made up of a plurality of individual beams, forming a linear combination of excitation coefficients (a.sub.1 -a.sub.4) that are mathematically orthogonal to the linear combination of excitation coefficients (b.sub.1 -b.sub.4) of the individual beams of the other composite beam. A plurality of input ports (42-44; 176-178) are provided, and each composite beam is associated with an information-bearing input signal applied to one of the input ports. The distribution network (32; 124) is preferably constructed with at least two stages of signal-dividing devices (52-58; 222-228, 270-282) such as directional couplers and at least a pair of phase-shifting devices (60-62; 230-232, 284-296). By using passive devices, the distribution network (32; 124) is substantially lossless and reciprocal, and can thus also be used for dual mode reception of two distinct beams.
摘要:
A satellite communications system employs separate subsystems for providing broadcast and point-to-point two-way communications using the same assigned frequency band. The broadcast and point-to-point subsystems employ an integrated satellite antenna system which uses a common reflector (12). The point-to-point subsystem achieves increased communication capacity through the reuse of the assigned frequency band over multiple, contiguous zones (32, 34, 36, 38) covering the area of the earth to be serviced. Small aperture terminals in the zones are serviced by a plurality of high gain downlink fan beams (29) steered in the east-west direction by frequency address. A special beam-forming network (98) provides in conjunction with an array antenna (20) the multiple zone frequency address function. The satellite (10) employs a filter interconnection matrix (90) for connecting earth terminals in different zones in a manner which permits multiple reuse of the entire band of assigned frequencies. A single pool of solid state transmitters allows rain disadvantaged users to be assigned higher than normal power at minimum cost. The intermodulation products of the transmitters are geographically dispersed.
摘要:
A system and method for adjusting satellite communication signal transmit power for signals transmitted to a localized region within a satellite coverage area utilize real-time information on weather conditions (172) and/or actual path losses (174) within the localized regions to adjust the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the satellite beams (188) to minimize the total radio frequency (RF) power required for transmission. The transmission system may be realized using a variety of antenna types for transmitting spot beams and/or area coverage beams. Representative antenna implementations include multi-beam antennas having a low-level beamforming network and hybrid matrix amplifier system, phased-array with independent input amplitude control and beamsteering for each beam, and a phased-array feeding a confocal imaging system for single broadcast beam per polarization. The present invention allows for the reduction of RF transmit power to achieve the same communications performance enabling either increases in satellite functionality and/or an increase in total capacity of the satellite communication system.
摘要:
A beam-forming network (98) employs one or a plurality of first transmission delay lines (168, 170, 172, 174) for receiving transmit signals (T1-T4) applied thereto, and a plurality of second transmission lines (176), which serve as line summers. Each of the first transmission delay lines has first and second portions (168a, 168b; 170a, 170b; 172a; 172b; 174a; 174b) spaced apart from one another so as to define first and second levels displaced from one another. The set of second transmission lines (176) are arranged in first and second subsets (176a, 176b) which are respectively disposed adjacent to the first and second levels and respectively associated with the first and second portions of the first lines, such that the first subset of second lines is coupled to the first portion of the first lines, and the second subset of the second lines is coupled to the second portion of the first lines. Further, selected ones of the first subset of second lines are disposed adjacent to selected ones of the second subset of second lines in order to facilitate simple and orderly routing of transmission lines (126, 128, 130) between the beam-forming network and a novel equal power amplifier system (100) described herein.
摘要:
A beam-forming network (98) employs one or a plurality of first transmission delay lines (168, 170, 172, 174) for receiving transmit signals (T1-T4) applied thereto, and a plurality of second transmission lines (176), which serve as line summers. Each of the first transmission delay lines has first and second portions (168a, 168b; 170a, 170b; 172a, 172b; 174a, 174b) spaced apart from one another so as to define first and second levels displaced from one another. The set of second transmission lines (176) are arranged in first and second subsets (176a, 176b) which are respectively disposed adjacent to the first and second levels and respectively associated with the first and second portions of the first lines, such that the first subset of second lines is coupled to the first portion of the first lines, and the second subset of the second lines is coupled to the second portion of the first lines. Further, selected ones of the first subset of second lines are disposed adjacent to selected ones of the second subset of second lines in order to facilitate simple and orderly routing of transmission lines (126, 128, 130) between the beam-forming network and a novel equal power amplifier system (100) described herein.
摘要:
An improved method for designing sector beam antennas. The method is used to provide a sector beam antenna having a feed horn with a cross sectional azimuth dimension and a cross sectional elevational dimension which are optimized to irradiate a reflector to transmit a signal over a coverage area such that the gain-area-product of the transmitted signal is maximized.