A multi-beam calibration method suitable for high-throughput satellite transmit-receive split antennas

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of multi-beam calibration methods suitable for high-throughput satellite transceiving separate antenna, comprising the following steps: S1.calibration station site selection design;S2.receiving and transmitting antenna feed design;S3.under the participation of two calibration stations, receiving and transmitting two pairs of antenna time-sharing calibration.In the application, for high-throughput satellite transceiving two pairs of separate antennas, an uplink calibration scheme is proposed, and two pairs of antennas can share calibration stations through time-sharing calibration, which saves the construction cost of calibration stations;For the uplink calibration scheme of the transmitting antenna, the time delay of ground processing and satellite-ground propagation in the downlink calibration scheme is reduced, and the real-time of calibration is improved;By constructing two cooperative calibration stations, the pointing error of other user beams outside the calibration beam caused by satellite yaw error can be effectively calibrated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of high-throughput satellite transceiver antenna technology, and in particular to a multi-beam calibration method suitable for high-throughput satellite transceiver antennas. Background Technology

[0002] Multi-aperture single-feed per-beam beamforming is the simplest and most direct beamforming method. Due to its advantages such as high radiation efficiency, convenient feeding, good common and cross-polarization characteristics between adjacent beams, and the ability to share transmit and receive beams, it is widely used in current high-throughput satellite systems. However, as future high-throughput satellite systems increasingly demand ultra-narrow beams, high capacity, and high flexibility, the multi-aperture single-feed per-beam beamforming method, which integrates transmit and receive, can no longer meet the growing and diversified needs of users.

[0003] For high-throughput satellites using separate transmit and receive antennas, the resulting spot beams are typically narrow and have high gain. If there is a significant deviation in the on-orbit pointing, it will severely affect the edge gain of the coverage area, degrade the carrier-to-interference ratio of the same-frequency beam, and affect system performance. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct research on multi-beam calibration methods suitable for separate transmit and receive antennas of high-throughput satellites. The beam calibration methods for separate transmit and receive antennas of foreign communication satellites are usually as follows: the user-side receiving antenna uses uplink calibration, that is, the ground station transmits calibration signals, and the satellite measures and calibrates, such as the Spaceway 3 satellite system; the transmitting antenna uses downlink calibration, that is, the satellite transmits calibration signals, the ground calibration station measures and calibrates and controls through uplink commands, such as the AceS satellite.

[0004] Traditional methods for multi-beam calibration of high-throughput satellite transmit / receive antennas have three significant drawbacks:

[0005] (1) When the existing satellite transmit and receive antennas are calibrated separately, they are based on the uplink calibration and downlink calibration schemes respectively. The calibration stations are built at the beam center and the beam edge respectively. Since the transmit and receive antennas cannot share the calibration station, the construction cost is relatively large.

[0006] (2) If the transmitting antenna adopts the downlink calibration scheme, the ground calibration station needs to process the received data, calculate the pointing error, and then upload the calibration control command to the satellite. The real-time performance of the calibration is poor.

[0007] (3) Although the design of each antenna being calibrated by a single calibration station can eliminate the pointing error of the calibration beam, it is difficult to eliminate the pointing error of other beams besides the calibration beam caused by the satellite yaw angle error. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-beam calibration method suitable for high-throughput satellite transmit and receive antennas in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] A multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas includes the following steps:

[0011] S1. Site selection and design for the calibration station;

[0012] S2. Feed design for receiving and transmitting antennas;

[0013] S3. With the collaborative participation of two calibration stations, the receiving and transmitting antennas are calibrated in a time-division manner.

[0014] Preferably, the method for site selection and design of the bidding station in step S1 specifically includes the following steps:

[0015] S11. Select the most central beam and the coverage area edge beam that is farthest from the center beam from all beams in the coverage area as two calibration beams. In order to facilitate uplink calibration, the two calibration stations are established at the beam centers of the center and edge beams of the coverage area, respectively, and are called "calibration station 1" and "calibration station 2".

[0016] S12. For the selection of calibration station locations, if the selected beam or beam center location is not suitable for building a calibration station, a nearby beam or a location slightly off the beam center can be selected, but the distance between the two calibration stations must be as far as possible and as close as possible to the beam center.

[0017] Preferably, the method for designing the feed source for the receiving and transmitting antennas in step S2 specifically includes the following steps:

[0018] S21. For the receiving antenna, select one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the center beam or edge beam of the synthesized coverage area as the calibration feed source, and add a differential mode coupler to enable user communication and calibration to be shared. For the transmitting antenna, in addition to adding a differential mode coupler in one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the two synthesized beams, a receiving channel is also required to ensure that the calibration signal transmitted from the ground can be received.

[0019] Preferably, the method for implementing step S3 specifically includes the following steps:

[0020] S31. Select one antenna from the two transmitting and receiving antennas in turn, and perform uplink calibration in a time-division manner;

[0021] S32. Calibration station 1 and calibration station 2 transmit calibration signals in time division, and the satellite receives the calibration signals and measures the elevation difference x1, x2 and azimuth difference y1, y2 of the antenna pointing through a single-channel closed-loop self-tracking algorithm.

[0022] S33. Calculate the differences in elevation and azimuth between the two calibration stations on the satellite: delta_x = |x1 - x2|, delta_y = |y1 - y2|, and determine whether delta_x0 and delta_y0 have been stored on the satellite:

[0023] (a) If not, then determine whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b (a and b are very small and both are greater than 0):

[0024] a1. If so, output x_1 and y_1 to the antenna controller, and drive the antenna through the motor to calibrate the elevation and azimuth differences until the calibration residual error meets the requirements, then complete the calibration of this sub-antenna, and return to step S31 to calibrate the other sub-antenna;

[0025] a2. If not, store the following data: delta_x0 = delta_x, delta_y0 = delta_y, then rotate the platform clockwise around the yaw axis by delta_z, where delta_z is the minimum adjustment angle of the platform's attitude and orbit control on the yaw axis, and then return to step S32;

[0026] (b) If so, then determine whether delta_x < delta_x0 and delta_y < delta_y0:

[0027] b1. If so, enter step S33-(a), that is, determine whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b;

[0028] b2. If not, let delta_z = -delta_z, and then enter step S33-(a)-a2.

[0029] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0030] 1. In this application, for the two sub-antennas of the high-throughput satellite with separate transceiver functions, an uplink calibration scheme is proposed. Through time-sharing calibration of the two sub-antennas, the two sub-antennas can share the calibration station, saving the construction cost of the calibration station.

[0031] 2. In this application, for the uplink calibration scheme of the transmitting antenna, it reduces the time delay of ground processing and space-ground propagation in the downlink calibration scheme, and improves the real-time performance of calibration.

[0032] 3. In this application, by building two calibration stations that can cooperate with each other, it can effectively calibrate the pointing error of other user beams outside the calibration beam caused by the satellite yaw error. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1A flowchart illustrating the principle of a multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of calibration station site selection is shown, which is applicable to a multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] Please see Figure 1-2 The present invention provides a technical solution:

[0037] A multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas includes the following steps:

[0038] S1. Site selection and design for the calibration station;

[0039] S11. Select the most central beam and the coverage area edge beam that is farthest from the center beam from all beams in the coverage area as two calibration beams. In order to facilitate uplink calibration, the two calibration stations are established at the beam centers of the center and edge beams of the coverage area, respectively, and are called "calibration station 1" and "calibration station 2".

[0040] S12. For the selection of calibration station sites, if the selected beam or beam center location is not suitable for building a calibration station, a nearby beam or a location slightly off the beam center can be selected, but the distance between the two calibration stations must be as far as possible and as close as possible to the beam center.

[0041] S2. Feed design for receiving and transmitting antennas;

[0042] S21. For the receiving antenna, select one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the center beam or edge beam of the combined coverage area as the calibration feed source, and add a differential mode coupler to enable user communication and calibration to be shared. For the transmitting antenna, in addition to adding a differential mode coupler in one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the two combined beams, a receiving channel is also required to ensure that the calibration signal transmitted from the ground can be received.

[0043] S3. With the collaborative participation of two calibration stations, the receiving and transmitting antennas are calibrated in a time-division manner.

[0044] S31. Select one antenna from the two transmitting and receiving antennas in turn, and perform uplink calibration in a time-division manner;

[0045] S32. The calibration station 1 and the calibration station 2 respectively send calibration signals at different times. The signals are received on the satellite, and the elevation differences x1, x2 and azimuth differences y1, y2 of the antenna pointing are measured through a single-channel closed-loop self-tracking algorithm.

[0046] S33. The satellite calculates the differences between the elevation differences and azimuth differences of the two calibration stations: delta_x = |x1 - x2|, delta_y = |y1 - y2|, and determines whether delta_x0 and delta_y0 have been stored on the satellite:

[0047] (a) If not, then determine whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b (a and b are very small and both are greater than 0):

[0048] a1. If so, output x_1 and y_1 to the antenna controller, and drive the antenna to calibrate the elevation difference and azimuth difference through the motor until the calibration residual error meets the requirements, then complete the calibration of this sub-antenna, and return to step S31 to calibrate another sub-antenna;

[0049] a2. If not, store the following data: delta_x0 = delta_x, delta_y0 = delta_y, then the platform rotates clockwise around the yaw axis by delta_z, where delta_z is the minimum adjustment angle of the platform's attitude and orbit control on the yaw axis, and then return to step S32;

[0050] (b) If so, then determine whether delta_x < delta_x0 and delta_y < delta_y0:

[0051] b1. If so, enter step S33-(a), that is, determine whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b;

[0052] b2. If not, let delta_z = -delta_z, and then enter step S33-(a)-a2.

[0053] Specifically, as Figure 2 shown, S11. Select the most central beam and the edge beam of the coverage area that is farthest from the central beam among all the beams in the coverage area shown as Figure 2 shown as two calibration beams, and build the calibration stations at the centers of these two beams;

[0054] S21. For the receiving antenna, select a feed in the feed cluster that synthesizes the central beam or the edge beam of the coverage area as the calibration feed, and add a differential-mode coupler to realize the sharing of user communication and calibration. For the transmitting antenna, in addition to adding a differential-mode coupler to one of the feeds in the feed cluster that synthesizes the two beams, also add a receiving channel;

[0055] S31. Select one antenna from the transmitting and receiving antennas in turn, and perform uplink calibration分时;

[0056] S32. The calibration stations 1 and 2 send calibration signals respectively分时, the satellite receives the calibration signals, and measures the elevation differences x1, x2 and azimuth differences y1, y2 of the antenna pointing through the single-channel closed-loop self-tracking algorithm;

[0057] S33. The satellite calculates the differences of the elevation differences and azimuth differences of the two calibration stations: delta_x = |x1 - x2|, delta_y = |y1 - y2|, and determines whether delta_x0 and delta_y0 have been stored on the satellite:

[0058] (a) If not, then determine whether delta_x < 0.001° and delta_y < 0.001°: [[ID=

[0059] a1. If so, output x_1 and y_1 to the antenna controller, and drive the antenna to calibrate the elevation difference and azimuth difference through the motor until the calibration residual error meets the requirements, then complete the calibration of the receiving antenna, and return to step S31 to calibrate the transmitting antenna;

[0060] a2. If not, store the following data: delta_x0 = delta_x, delta_y0 = delta_y, then the platform rotates clockwise around the yaw axis by delta_z = 0.001°, and then return to step S32;

[0061] (b) If so, then determine whether delta_x < delta_x0 and delta_y < delta_y0:

[0062] b1. If so, enter step S33-(a), that is, determine whether delta_x < 0.001° and delta_y < 0.001°;

[0063] b2. If not, let delta_z = -delta_z, and then enter step S33-(a)-a2.

[0064] In summary, a multi-beam calibration method applicable to the separate transmitting and receiving antennas of high-throughput satellites provided in this embodiment proposes an uplink calibration scheme for the separate transmitting and receiving antennas of high-throughput satellites. Through the time-sharing calibration of the two antennas, the two antennas can share the calibration station, saving the construction cost of the calibration station; for the uplink calibration scheme of the transmitting antenna, it reduces the time delay of ground processing and space-ground propagation in the downlink calibration scheme, improving the real-time performance of calibration; by building two calibration stations that can cooperate, it can effectively calibrate the pointing error of other user beams outside the calibration beam caused by the satellite yaw error.

[0065] The above description of the embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A multi-beam calibration method suitable for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: S1. Site selection and design of calibration stations; S2. Feed design of receiving and transmitting antennas; S3. Under the collaborative participation of two calibration stations, time-sharing calibration of two receiving and transmitting antennas; The method of step S3 specifically includes the following steps: S31. Select one antenna from the receiving and transmitting antennas in turn for time-sharing uplink calibration; S32. Calibration station 1 and calibration station 2 send calibration signals in time-sharing respectively. The satellite receives the calibration signals and measures the pitch differences x1, x2 and azimuth differences y1, y2 of the antenna pointing through the single-channel closed-loop self-tracking algorithm; S33. The satellite calculates the differences of the pitch differences and azimuth differences of the two calibration stations: delta_x = |x1 - x2|, delta_y = |y1 - y2|, and judges whether delta_x0 and delta_y0 have been stored on the satellite: (a) If not, judge whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b, where a and b are very small and both are greater than 0: a1. If so, output x1 and y1 to the antenna controller, and drive the antenna to calibrate the pitch difference and azimuth difference through the motor until the calibration residual error meets the requirements, then complete the calibration of this antenna, and return to step S31 to calibrate the other antenna; a2. If not, store the following data: delta_x0 = delta_x, delta_y0 = delta_y, then the platform rotates clockwise around the yaw axis by delta_z, where delta_z is the minimum adjustment angle of the platform's attitude and orbit control on the yaw axis, and then return to step S32; (b) If so, judge whether delta_x < delta_x0 and delta_y < delta_y0: b1. If so, enter step S33-(a), that is, judge whether delta_x < a and delta_y < b; b2. If not, let delta_z = -delta_z, and then enter step S33-(a)-a2.

2. The multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of site selection and design of calibration stations in step S1 specifically includes the following steps: S11. Select the most central beam and a beam at the edge of the coverage area that is farthest from the central beam from all the beams in the coverage area as two calibration beams. For the convenience of realizing uplink calibration, two calibration stations are respectively established at the beam centers of the central and edge beams in the coverage area, called "calibration station 1" and "calibration station 2"; S12. For the site selection of calibration stations, if the selected beam or the position of the beam center is not suitable for building a calibration station, adjacent beams or slightly deviated from the beam center can be selected, but it is necessary to ensure that the distance between the two calibration stations is as far as possible and as close to the beam center as possible.

3. The multi-beam calibration method for high-throughput satellite transmit / receive separate antennas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of feed design of receiving and transmitting antennas in step S2 specifically includes the following steps: S21. For the receiving antenna, select one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the center beam or edge beam of the synthesized coverage area as the calibration feed source, and add a differential mode coupler to enable user communication and calibration to be shared. For the transmitting antenna, in addition to adding a differential mode coupler in one of the feed sources in the feed source cluster of the two synthesized beams, a receiving channel is also required to ensure that the calibration signal transmitted from the ground can be received.

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