Receive only smart ground-terminal antenna for geostationary satellites in slightly inclined orbits
US8395546B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 2011 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/0615
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A receive only smart antenna with a command pointing option for communicating with geostationary satellites that autonomously detects the directions from which desired signal are received, and steer the multiple beams accordingly. An array feed is used to illuminate a parabolic reflector. Each feed element of the receive only smart antenna is associated with a unique beam pointing direction. As a receiver is switched to different feed elements, the far-field beam is scanned, making it possible to track a geostationary satellite in a slightly inclined orbit. This eliminates the need for mechanical tracking and maintains high antenna gain in the direction of the geostationary satellite. The receive only smart antenna also features capabilities to form multiple simultaneous beams supporting operations of multiple geo-satellites in closely spaced slightly inclined orbits. The designs can support orthogonal beams for enhanced bandwidth capacity via multiple beams with excellent spatial isolation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.