System for simplification of reconfigurable beam-forming network processing within a phased array antenna for a telecommunications satellite
US8344945B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/18515
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A telecommunications satellite having a phased array antenna, wherein the beam-forming function within the phased array is simplified by partitioning it into two stages, in which the sub-array stage relates to a fixed, or infrequently changed, set of overlapping sub-arrays and the main stage provides the main pattern reconfiguration, typically in the form of multiple reconfigurable spot beams within a defined coverage region. The key advantage lies in the significant reduction in number of second stage beam-forming control points (at which independent amplitude and phase is applied) when compared with a conventional phased array (where amplitude and phase control is applied for each element of the array). The sub-array stage beam-forming may be implemented in analogue technology. The main beam-former may be implemented in digital technology, where the key processing functions of A/D or D/A conversion, frequency (de)multiplexing and digital beam-forming all scale with the number of control points.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.