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Robust satellite detection and maintenance using a multi-beam antenna system

Robust satellite detection and maintenance using a multi-beam antenna system description/claims

This application is a non-provisional, and claims the benefit, of commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/961,073, filed Jul. 17, 2007, entitled “Modular Transceiver And Multi-Beam Antenna System,” the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

This disclosure relates in general to transceivers and, but not by way of limitation, to modular transceivers employing multiple antennas amongst other things.

The escalation of high bandwidth requirements for military and commercial applications increases the need for small, modular transceivers. Military applications, moreover, often require robust and highly reliable systems. In some cases, the choice of communication band may change during an operation. For example, a military operation may require communication over the X-band during part of a mission and communication over the Ku-band over another part of the mission. Current transceiver devices make such conversions extremely cumbersome.

Moreover, as a mobile unit moves, rotates, and/or turns, the line of site between the transceiver and the mobile unit changes over time. Finding and keeping reliable line of sight is demanding. There is a general need in the art for reliable, modular satellite transceivers.

A modular satellite transceiver is provided according to some embodiments. The modular transceiver may include an RF module and a back end module. The RF module may operate in a first band, and may include, for example, one or more antennas, an RF front end module, an up converter, a down converter, an analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter. The back end module may include various digital processing components and/or modules. The RF module may be removably coupled with the back end module such that the RF module may be replaced with another RF module operating in a second band. During transmission the back end module may provide at least one digital signal to the RF module; and during reception the RF module provides at least one digital signal to the back end module.

Another modular satellite transceiver is provided according to some embodiments, and may include an RF module and a back end module. The RF module may include a first antenna, a second antenna, one or more amplifiers, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an up converter, and a down converter. The RF module is configured to receive a packetized digital signal, up convert the signal and transmit the signal to a satellite through the first or second antenna. The RF module may also be configured to receive a signal from the first or second antenna, down convert the signal, and digitize the signal. Moreover, the back end module may be removably coupled with the RF module. The back end module may also include at least a packetization module; and may provide and receive packetized digital signals to and from the RF module.

In some embodiments the back end module may include encryption and/or decryption modules. In other embodiments, the back end module provides power conditioning to at least the RF module. In some embodiments, the digital signal provided by the back end module is independent of communication waveform and/or independent of bandwidth. The back end module, in some embodiments, may packetize transmitted data and/or depacketize received data.

A method for sending packetized data to a satellite using a modular transceiver that includes a back end module and an RF module is also provided according to some embodiments. Data may be digitally packetized at the back end module and provided to the modular front end module. The RF module may then convert the packetized data signal into an analog signal, up convert the analog packetized data signal, and transmit the analog packetized data signal toward the satellite using a first antenna.

Another method for receiving data from a satellite using a modular transceiver that includes a back end module and an RF module is provided according to some embodiments. A data signal is received from a satellite with an antenna at the RF module. The signal may then be down converted and converted from an analog signal into a digital signal at the RF module. The signal may then be digitally demodulated.

Another modular satellite transceiver is provided according to some embodiments, and may include a plurality of antennas and a processor coupled with the antennas. The plurality of antennas may, for example, include a subset of antennas arranged around a central location. The azimuth coverage of the plurality of antennas may comprise up to about 360°. The elevation coverage of each antenna may comprise between about 5° and about 90°. The processor may select at least one antenna from the plurality of antennas for communication with a satellite. The processor may include various instructions including instructions for receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna of the plurality of antennas; instructions for monitoring a second antenna of the plurality of antennas while the first antenna is receiving data from the satellite, wherein the second antenna is adjacent to the first antenna, and the second antenna covers an area adjacent to and overlapping with the area covered by the first antenna; instructions for determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna; instructions for determining if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna; instructions for switching to the second antenna if the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna; and instructions for receiving data from the satellite using the second antenna.

A method for communicating with a satellite using a plurality of antennas is also provided according to some embodiments. The method may include receiving data from the satellite using a first antenna from the plurality of antennas and determining the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna. Data may be transmitted to the satellite using the first antenna. A second antenna adjacent to the first antenna may partially overlap with the first antenna in coverage. The signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna may be monitored. If the signal strength of the signal detected from the second antenna is greater than the signal strength of the signal detected from the first antenna, then data is transmitted over the second antenna.

A method for providing a soft handoff between antennas is provided according to some embodiments. A first packetized digital data stream is received from a satellite using a first antenna and the data stream may include a plurality of packets that each include a header and data. The data is provided, forwarded or stored in memory. In the meantime, a second packetized digital data stream is monitored. The second packetized digital data stream may be received from the satellite using a second antenna. The phase difference between the first packetized digital data stream and the second packetized digital data stream may be determined and added or subtracted from the second packetized digital data stream. The second packetized digital data stream may then be provided, forwarded or stored in memory.

Another method is provided according to some embodiments. The method includes receiving a first packetized digital data stream from a satellite using a first antenna. The first packetized digital data stream includes a plurality of packets, each packet comprising a header and data. A second packetized digital data stream is received from the satellite using a second antenna. The phase difference between the first packetized digital data stream and the second packetized digital data stream is determined and subtracted from the second packetized digital data stream. The two data streams may then be combined.

A satellite transceiver is provided according to some embodiments. The transceiver may include a plurality of antennas, a processor, and memory. At least a subset of the plurality of antennas may be arranged around a central location. The azimuth coverage of the plurality of antennas include at least about 360°. The elevation coverage of each antenna includes between about 5° and about 90°. The processor may be coupled with the plurality of antennas for communication with a satellite. The memory may be configured to store processor instructions and data. The processor instructions may include: Instructions for receiving a first packetized digital data stream, wherein the first packetized digital data stream may be received from a satellite using a first antenna, and wherein the first packetized digital data stream includes a plurality of packets, each packet comprising a header and data; instructions for writing the data from the first packetized digital data stream into memory; instructions for monitoring a second packetized digital data stream, wherein the second packetized digital data stream may be received from the satellite using a second antenna, and wherein the second packetized digital data stream includes a plurality of packets, each packet comprising a header and data; instructions for determining the phase difference between the first packetized digital data stream and the second packetized digital data stream; instructions for subtracting the phase difference to the second packetized digital data stream; and instructions for writing the data from the second packetized digital data stream into memory, in some embodiments, this data may be the result of the phase difference arithmetic.

A modular transceiver with a small footprint is disclosed in one embodiment. The small footprint may be less than about 10 inches wide by 10 inches wide by 4 inches tall. The modular transceiver may be less than about 400 cubic inches in volume. In one alternative, the modular transceiver may be less than about 305 cubic inches.

A transceiver with more than one antenna group is also disclosed according to one embodiment. Each antenna group may include at least one antenna and may be configured to transmit and receive a signal using a single antenna within the antenna group. In one embodiment the transceiver may include a first group, a second group, and a third group; the first group may include three antennas, the second group comprises three antennas, and the third group comprises one antenna. The transceiver may provide 360° azimuth coverage. The transceiver may provide at least about 5° to about 90° elevation coverage.

A modular transceiver comprising a small footprint is disclosed according to one embodiment. A transceiver comprising more than one antenna group is also disclosed according to another embodiment. The transceiver may comprise antenna groups each with at least one antenna. Each antenna group may also be configured to transmit and receive a signal using a single antenna within the antenna group. The transceivers disclosed according to embodiments of the invention may also provide 360° azimuth coverage and at least about 5° to 90° elevation coverage.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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