 |
|
|
|
|
|
 Title: |
US5548294:
Dielectric lens focused scanning beam antenna for satellite communication system
[ Derwent Title ]
|
| Country: |
US United States of America
|
| |
| Inventor: |
Sturza, Mark A.; Woodland Hills, CA
|
| Assignee: |
Teledesic Corporation, Kirkland, WA
other patents from TELEDESIC CORPORATION (710519) (approx. 10)
News, Profiles, Stocks and More about this company
|
| Published / Filed: |
1996-08-20
/ 1994-08-17
|
| Application Number: |
US1994000292148
|
| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
H01Q 1/28;
H01Q 3/24;
H01Q 15/02;
H01Q 25/00;
H04B 7/204;
Core:
H01Q 1/27;
H01Q 15/00;
more...
IPC-7:
H04B 7/185;
|
| ECLA Code: |
H01Q1/28F; H01Q3/24; H01Q15/02; H01Q25/00D7B; H04B7/204B;
|
| U.S. Class: |
Current:
342/372;
342/354;
455/013.1;
Original:
342/372;
342/354;
455/013.1;
|
| Field of Search: |
342/354,352,372
455/12.1,13.1
|
| Priority Number: |
| 1994-08-17 |
US1994000292148 |
|
| Abstract: |
A method and apparatus for providing a plurality of beams (30) transmitted and received from positions in low Earth orbit (11) for communicating directly with a plurality of portable, mobile and fixed terminals and gateways is disclosed. A plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) is deployed on each satellite (12) within a constellation (10) of satellites placed in low Earth orbit (11). Each one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) simultaneously receives and transmits a plurality of beams (30), each of which beams (30) illuminates cell (26) in an Earth-fixed grid (20). The beams (30) are formed by each scanning beam antenna (28) and are focused on the cell (26) by a dielectric lens (60). A preferred embodiment uses a Luneberg spherical lens (60). Each beam (30) is electronically shaped and steered to keep the cell (26) of the Earth-fixed grid (20) within the beam footprint (50).
|
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Anglin & Giaccherini ;
|
| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Tarcza, Thomas H.; Phan, Dao L.
|
| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
Family Legal Status Report
|
| Family: |
Show 22 known family members
|
| Claim |
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing a plurality of beams transmitted and received from positions in Earth orbit, for communicating directly with a plurality of portable, mobile and fixed terminals and gateways comprising the steps of:
- orbiting a constellation of satellites (10) in low Earth orbit (11);
- creating an Earth-fixed grid (20) defining a plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22); said plurality of Earth-fixed supercells (22) including a plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26);
- deploying a plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) on each satellite (12) within said constellation (10) of satellites;
- simultaneously receiving a plurality of beams (30) with one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another of said plurality of said scanning beam antennas (28) and simultaneously receiving and transmitting a plurality of beams (30) with another one of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28); said beams (30) having a footprint (50) on the surface of the Earth (E);
- forming said plurality of beams (30) with each of said plurality of scanning beam antennas (28) and continuously illuminating said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) by focusing said plurality of beams (30) on each said cell (26) with a spherically-shaped dielectric lens (60);
- electronically shaping and steering each one of said plurality of beams (30) by amplitude weighting an antenna feed element (63, 82) at a nominal beam center position and a plurality of said antenna feed elements (63,82) at adjacent positions to keep each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) of said Earth-fixed grid (20) within said footprint (50) of each of a corresponding one of said plurality of beams (30) as said satellite (12) progresses along its said low Earth orbit (11); and
- communicating with said terminals and gateways in each of said plurality of Earth-fixed cells (26) with signals carried on said plurality of beams (30), each of said plurality of beams (30) operating at one of nine frequencies (F1 -F9), said nine frequencies (F1 -F9) being reused one-hundred percent for communications in each one of said plurality of supercells (22).
|
| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
|
| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
|
| Description: |
Show description
|
| Forward References: |
Show 23 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Foreign References: |
None
|
| Other Abstract Info: |
DERABS G96-392766
DERG96-392766
|
| Other References: |
T. Morita et al., "Microwave Lens Matching . . . ", published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Proagation, Jan. 1956, pp. 33-39.
J. J. Lee, "Dielectric Lens Shaping . . . ", published by IEEE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, Jan. 1983, pp. 211-215.
(6 pages)
G. D. M. Peeler et al., "Microwave Stepped-Index Luneberg Lenses", published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, manuscript rec'd 8 Feb. 1957, pp. 202-207.
Chester L. Parsons et al., "Design of a Large-Apeture Lens", published in IEEE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, Aug. 1988, pp. 1162-1165.
(4 pages)
D. M. Harrsion et al., "A Hemispherical Lens Antenna . . . ", published in IEEE, 1992, pp. 1332-1335.
T. C. Cheston et al., "Constant-K Lenses", published in Emerson & Cuming, Inc., reprinted from APL Technical Digest, Mar.-Apr. 1963.
"Hemispherical Constant-K Lens with Schmidt Correction, Using Concetric Spherical Focal Serfaces", published in RF Antenna Systems.
G. C. Cloutier et al., "Scanning Characteristics of Microwave Aplanatic Lenses", published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, Oct. 1957, pp. 391-396.
David K. Cheng, "Modified Luneberg Lens for Defocused Source", published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, Jan. 1960, pp. 110-111.
J. J. Lee et al., "A Coma-Corrected Multibeam Shaped Lens Antenna . . . ", published in IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, Jan. 1983, pp. 216-219.
(5 pages)
J. J. Lee, "Numerical Methods Make Lens Antennas Practical", published in Microwaves, Sep. 1982, pp. 81-84.
(4 pages)
Cited by 2 patents
E. M. T. Jones et al., "Measured Performance of Matched Dielectric Lenses". published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Porpagation, Jan. 1956, p. 31.
W. R. Free et al., "Performance of a High-Power Constant Index Lens Antenna", recieved from Engineering Experiment Station, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, pp. 1-26.
M. A. Mitchell et al., "A Multiple-Beam Multiple-Frequency SphericalLens . . . ", received by Georgia Institute of Technology-Naval Ocean Systems Center, pp. 394-398.
"On the Generalized Luneberg Lenses", published in IEEE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, Sep. 1969, p. 644.
High Technology Products, published by Cuming Corporation.
Ann Lee Peebles, "A Dielectric Bifocal Lens . . . ", published by IEEE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, May 1988, pp. 599-606.
(8 pages)
H. F. Mathis, "Checking Design of Stepped Luneberg Lens", published in IRE Transactions On Antennas & Propagation, May 1960, pp. 342-343.
Texas Instruments TGF4212, Medium-Power Microwave GaAs FET, Advance Information catalog, published by Texas Instruments Inc.
X-Band GaAs MMIC, High Power Amplifier Chip catalog, published by Hughes Microelectronics Division.
Pacific Monolithics data sheet on PM2012 1900 MHz GaAs MMIC Power Amplifer.
|
|
 Nominate this for the Gallery...
|
|
