Technique for sharing a plurality of transponders among a same or larger number of channels
US4232266A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 1978 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/2046
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique is disclosed for sharing a fixed number of identical transponders among a same or greater number of input and output signaling directions by rapidly scanning each transponder over appropriately defined group pairs of the input and output directions. The apparatus comprises n transponders having input and output terminals which are selectively and separately scanned over a plurality of m input and output signaling directions, respectively, by scanning means under the control of a controller. The scanning means can comprise separate m .times. n input and output matrix switches or a separate selectively changeable phase shifter at each antenna element which is connected to a summing and dividing means at the input and output terminal, respectively, of the associated transponder. An efficient TDMA slot assignment technique is also disclosed which covers nonuniform traffic requirements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.