Spacecraft antennas and beam steering methods for satellite communciation system
US5642122A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S343/02
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An advanced active element phased array satellite antenna is disclosed. Incorporating these novel antenna systems on a constellation of low Earth orbit spacecraft, allows phone customers worldwide to communicate through a system whose switching intelligence resides on orbit, bypassing traditional land-based networks, and offering a revolutionary expansion of communications potential. The present invention utilizes electronic beam steering is utilized to provide extremely high gain signals. In one preferred embodiment, a satellite (S) includes an Earth-facing array (10) of hexagonal antenna facets (12), mated together along their sides to form a slightly flattened, hemispherical shell. The antenna array (10) is connected to two rectilinear, unfurled, solar panels (P). The antennas (10) transmit and receive signals from terrestrial units located within the footprints (14) of the beams (11). Another embodiment (34) uses deployable, folding panels (41) which maximize panel surface area for a given weight and launch vehicle container volume. The panels (41) are stacked upon a central plate (39) along the depth axis of the container in accordion fold layers and are separately deployed ra…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.