Small phased-array antenna satellite terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of satellite communication, and discloses a small phased-array antenna satellite terminal, which comprises a terminal main body, and the terminal main body comprises a receiving / transmitting array plane used for transmitting and receiving satellite signals; the beam forming and control module is connected with the receiving / transmitting array plane and is used for beam forming control, data processing and signal scheduling; the frequency conversion module is connected with the receiving / transmitting array plane and the T / R assembly and is used for performing down-conversion processing on the received signal and performing up-conversion processing on the transmitted signal so as to be matched with a satellite communication frequency band; and the T / R assembly is connected with the beam forming and control module and the frequency conversion module. The flexibility, the stability and the communication performance of the satellite terminal are remarkably improved through a miniaturized design and an integrated module. The multi-protocol support of the communication port and the internet access port enables the data transmission to be more efficient and reliable, and the high efficiency of the power supply module ensures the long-time stable operation. Accurate beam control and efficient signal processing are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of satellite communication technology, and particularly to a small phased array antenna satellite terminal. Background Art

[0002] Existing satellite communication technologies mainly rely on phased array antenna systems, which achieve electronic scanning of beams through antenna arrays and are widely used in ground stations and mobile platforms, such as vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted, and airborne systems. However, satellite communication terminals in the prior art generally face the problems of large volume and inflexible deployment. Traditional satellite terminals are usually designed as large devices, occupying a relatively large volume and requiring complex infrastructure to support their operation. This makes the devices less flexible in application environments that require rapid deployment or mobility, restricting their adaptability to changing mission requirements, especially in scenarios such as vehicle-mounted and ship-mounted ones.

[0003] Traditional satellite communication terminals have high costs and complex maintenance requirements. The manufacturing of the devices involves expensive high-frequency hardware and complex power management systems, resulting in relatively high overall costs. At the same time, the maintenance and repair of the devices require professional technicians, and the process is cumbersome and time-consuming, which not only increases the operating costs but also affects the continuous operation of the terminals. Such high costs and maintenance complexities limit the popularization of satellite communication technologies, especially in cost-sensitive or resource-constrained scenarios where wide application cannot be achieved.

[0004] Existing satellite communication terminals also face the problem of poor environmental adaptability. Traditional devices are usually only designed for standard working environments and are difficult to adapt to complex external conditions, such as high temperature, low temperature, or humid environments, resulting in performance degradation or failures of the devices. In harsh environments, the stability and reliability of satellite communication will also be affected. In addition, when existing terminals encounter signal blocking environments such as urban canyons and underground facilities, the positioning accuracy and beam tracking capabilities cannot meet high requirements, resulting in unstable operation of the system and affecting the communication effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a small phased array antenna satellite terminal, which solves the problems of low frequency conversion efficiency, poor signal quality, insufficient navigation accuracy, signal processing distortion, and excessive system power consumption in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is realized through the following technical solutions: A small phased array antenna satellite terminal, including a terminal body, and the terminal body includes: A transmit / receive array surface for transmitting and receiving satellite signals; A beamforming and control module, connected to the transmit / receive array surface, for beamforming control, data processing, and signal scheduling; The frequency conversion module is connected to the transmit / receive array and the T / R components, and is used to perform down-conversion processing on the received signals and up-conversion processing on the transmitted signals to match the satellite communication frequency band; The T / R components are connected to the beamforming and control module and the frequency conversion module, and include a low-noise amplifier, a power amplifier, and a phase shifter, and are used for signal reception, amplification, and phase control, and communicate with the beamforming and control module to achieve dynamic beam adjustment; The inertial navigation and GPS module includes an inertial measurement unit and a GPS receiver unit, and is connected to the beamforming and control module, and is used to provide position information, attitude data, and perform data fusion; The communication port is connected to the beamforming and control module and is used for data interaction with external devices; The network port is connected to the beamforming and control module and is used for network access to achieve remote data transmission; The power supply module is used to supply power to the terminal and includes a power management unit to provide power distribution.

[0007] Preferably, the frequency conversion module includes a dual-mixing architecture, and the dual-mixing architecture includes a first mixer and a second mixer. The first mixer is used to receive radio frequency signals and perform the first-step frequency conversion processing, and the second mixer is used to perform the second-step frequency conversion processing on the signals after the first-step frequency conversion to reduce spurious signals and improve the spectrum utilization rate. The frequency conversion module uses a high-precision voltage-controlled oscillator to provide the local oscillator signal to ensure the stability of frequency conversion.

[0008] Preferably, the beamforming and control module includes a beamforming calculation unit. The beamforming calculation unit calculates the weight vector of the antenna array based on the minimum variance distortionless response algorithm and sends it to the T / R components through a high-speed data bus to achieve high-precision adjustment and dynamic correction of the beam.

[0009] Preferably, the inertial navigation and GPS module uses the extended Kalman filter algorithm for data fusion. The IMU provides acceleration and angular velocity data, and the GPS module provides position information. The attitude is estimated by combining the EKF algorithm, and trajectory prediction compensation is performed when the GPS signal is lost. The data update frequency is not less than 100Hz.

[0010] Preferably, the phase shifter in the T / R components has a 6-bit control accuracy and a phase shift range of 0° to 360°, and is used to adjust the relative phase of the array elements to achieve accurate beam pointing. The power amplifier supports the automatic gain control mode and dynamically adjusts the output power according to the link requirements. The noise figure of the low-noise amplifier is lower than 1.2dB to enhance the weak signal reception ability.

[0011] Preferably, the communication port supports Ethernet, serial port or fiber optic communication protocols, and the transmission rate is not less than 100 Mbps to achieve high-speed data interaction with external devices.

[0012] Preferably, the Internet access port supports wireless communication and wired connection, and has a remote management function. The Internet access port receives software update data through a network interface to achieve remote firmware upgrade.

[0013] Preferably, the power supply module includes a power monitoring unit and a power protection unit. The power monitoring unit is used to monitor the input voltage and current. The power protection unit includes overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection and undervoltage protection circuits.

[0014] Preferably, the terminal has a heat dissipation structure. The heat dissipation structure conducts heat to the casing through a silica gel pad and heat dissipation teeth for heat dissipation to ensure the stable operation of the device in an environment of -40°C to +55°C.

[0015] Preferably, the terminal is applicable to vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted and airborne communication applications, and realizes electronic beam scanning through a transmit / receive array.

[0016] The present invention provides a small phased array antenna satellite terminal, which has the following beneficial effects: 1. The present invention adopts a dual-mixing architecture and a high-precision voltage-controlled oscillator to achieve efficient frequency conversion of the up / down conversion module, reaching low loss and spurious suppression during the frequency conversion process. Compared with the single-mixing design in the prior art, in the traditional solution, high spurious and conversion losses often occur during frequency conversion, resulting in a decline in signal quality and inability to meet the high-stability communication requirements. The present invention effectively avoids these deficiencies and provides a more stable and efficient frequency conversion function.

[0017] 2. The present invention introduces the combination of inertial navigation and GPS module, and uses the extended Kalman filter algorithm for data fusion to achieve high-precision pose estimation and dynamic adjustment. Through the real-time data fusion of IMU and GPS, the problem of insufficient accuracy of traditional single GPS navigation, especially in environments with occlusion or weak signals, where reliable position information cannot be provided, is solved. This solution effectively improves the communication stability and beam tracking accuracy of the system on a high-speed moving platform, ensuring the efficient operation of the satellite terminal.

[0018] 3. The T / R component of the present invention integrates a high-gain low-noise amplifier, an efficient power amplifier and a high-precision phase shifter to achieve high-quality reception and transmission of signals. Through optimized circuit design, the phenomena of insufficient signal gain or signal distortion in the traditional system are avoided, thereby improving the overall performance of the system. In the face of a complex interference environment, the present invention can effectively improve the signal quality and maintain a stable link.

[0019] 4. The present invention adopts an efficient power management module and a heat dissipation temperature control system, and uses high-efficiency power distribution and heat dissipation technologies. The power module ensures stable power supply for the system, and the heat dissipation system effectively prevents overheating of high-power components, ensuring long-term stable operation of the device in different working environments. Compared with the low attention to heat dissipation and power consumption control in the prior art, which easily leads to overheating of the device or unstable power, the present invention greatly improves the reliability and energy efficiency of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is the KU-band IOT antenna connection frame in the present invention Figure 1 ; Figure 2 is the coordinate definition diagram of the KU-band IOT antenna in the present invention; Figure 3 is the KU-band IOT antenna connection frame in the present invention Figure 2 .

[0021] Among them, 1. Receive / transmit array surface; 2. Beamforming and control module; 3. Up / down conversion module; 4. T / R component; 5. Communication port; 6. Internet access port; 7. Power supply module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the specification of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0023] Embodiment: Please refer to the attached Figure 1 - attached Figure 3 , the embodiment of the present invention provides a small phased array antenna satellite terminal, including a terminal main body, characterized in that the terminal main body includes: A receive / transmit array surface for transmitting and receiving satellite signals; A beamforming and control module connected to the receive / transmit array surface for beamforming control, data processing and signal scheduling; A frequency conversion module connected to the receive / transmit array surface and the T / R component for down-converting the received signal and up-converting the transmitted signal to match the satellite communication frequency band; The T / R component, connected to the beamforming and control module and the frequency conversion module, includes a low-noise amplifier, a power amplifier, and a phase shifter, and is used for signal reception, amplification, and phase control, and communicates with the beamforming and control module to achieve dynamic beam adjustment; the inertial navigation and GPS module, including an inertial measurement unit and a GPS receiving unit, is connected to the beamforming and control module and is used to provide position information, attitude data, and perform data fusion; The communication port, connected to the beamforming and control module, is used for data interaction with external devices; The network port, connected to the beamforming and control module, is used for network access to achieve remote data transmission; The power supply module, used to supply power to the terminal, includes a power management unit to provide power distribution.

[0024] To ensure the stability and efficiency of the terminal in various application scenarios, the design of the communication port, network port, and power supply module is crucial. By optimizing the functions of these modules, the present invention provides a miniaturized, low-power, and reliable satellite terminal solution that can meet the high-efficiency communication requirements in vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted, airborne, and other environments.

[0025] The receive / transmit array: In the small phased array antenna satellite terminal of the present invention, the receive / transmit array is one of the core components of the entire system. Its main function is to complete the reception and transmission of satellite signals and achieve flexible control of the beam direction through beamforming technology. Since the design of the antenna array directly affects the signal quality, beam accuracy, and overall performance of the system, it is necessary to optimize the antenna unit structure, array layout, phase control, and signal transmission, etc., to ensure that the terminal has high gain, low loss, wide coverage, and excellent anti-interference ability.

[0026] Generally, the antenna units of the receive / transmit array should meet the working frequency band requirements and have good phase consistency to ensure the combined gain and beam control accuracy of the antenna array. As an option, the present invention adopts a microstrip patch antenna structure to reduce the antenna size and improve the manufacturability. Specifically, the working frequency band of the antenna array covers the Ku band, which can meet the requirements of the satellite communication system for high-frequency signals and form independent controllable beams in multiple directions to support multi-task communication.

[0027] In this embodiment, the receive / transmit array adopts an 8×8 rectangular array layout, with a total of 64 antenna units. The element spacing is set to λ / 2, where λ is the wavelength corresponding to the center operating frequency. Such an array layout can effectively reduce sidelobe interference and ensure the flexibility of beam scanning. For the center operating frequency f0 of the Ku band, the wavelength λ calculation formula is as follows: where c is the speed of light, with a value of 3.0×108 m / s; f0 is the center operating frequency. In the present invention, the receiving frequency in the Ku band is set at 12 GHz, and the transmitting frequency is set at 14 GHz.

[0028] Specifically, a single antenna element uses a microstrip patch antenna, and the patch material is selected as a low-loss dielectric substrate, such as Rogers 4350B, which has a stable dielectric constant, can reduce signal propagation loss, and improve the radiation efficiency of the antenna. The size calculation of the patch antenna is as follows: where, W is the patch width; ε r is the relative dielectric constant of the substrate; f0 is the center frequency of the antenna.

[0029] Each antenna element is connected to the beamforming module through an independent T / R module to achieve precise phase control. The phase shifter has a 6-bit control accuracy, a phase adjustment range of 0° to 360°, and a minimum phase step of 5.625°, which can ensure high-precision adjustment of the beam direction. The phase shift control follows the following mathematical expression: where, is the phase shift value of the i-th antenna element; d i is the distance of this element relative to the array center; θ is the target beam pointing angle.

[0030] As an optimization scheme, the antenna array supports a beam scanning range of azimuth 0° to 360° and elevation 0° to 90°, and the beam scanning response time is less than 1 ms, which can meet the beam real-time tracking requirements in a high-speed mobile environment. For example, in vehicle-mounted or ship-mounted application scenarios, even if the attitude of the terminal changes relative to the satellite, the system can quickly adjust the beam direction to maintain stable communication.

[0031] In this embodiment, the receive / transmit array surface also supports the multi-beam mode, can generate 2 to 8 independent beams simultaneously, and each beam is controlled by an independent weight vector to adapt to the multi-task communication requirements. The minimum interval angle between each beam is not less than 5°, and signals are received or transmitted simultaneously in multiple directions to improve communication efficiency. The beamforming adopts the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) algorithm. By optimizing the weight vector, the signal gain in the target direction is maximized, and the interference signals in non-target directions are suppressed. Its optimization objective is as follows: where, w is the antenna weight vector; R is the interference + noise covariance matrix, d is the steering vector of the desired signal direction; H represents the conjugate transpose operation.

[0032] In this embodiment, to ensure signal quality, the transmit / receive array adopts a high-gain and low-noise design. The input noise figure of the low-noise amplifier (LNA) in the receive path is ≤1.2 dB, effectively improving the ability to receive weak signals. The calculation formula is as follows: G total = G LNA + G PA - L cable ; Among them, G t otal is the total gain of the system; G L NA is the gain of the low-noise amplifier; G P A is the gain of the power amplifier; L c able is the loss of the transmission line.

[0033] As a thermal management measure, the transmit / receive array of this embodiment adopts an integrated aluminum alloy design and combines heat pipe cooling technology to effectively reduce the heat accumulation during high-power operation and ensure the stable operation of the antenna in the environment of -40°C to +55°C.

[0034] The transmit / receive array of the present invention realizes the satellite communication capabilities of high gain, low noise, and multi-beam parallel through efficient antenna design, precise beam control, and optimized signal processing, and is applicable to a variety of complex application environments, including scenarios such as high-speed mobile platforms, emergency communications, and remote data transmission.

[0035] Beamforming and control module: In the small phased array antenna satellite terminal of the present invention, the beamforming and control module plays a core signal processing and control role. The main task of this module is to adjust the phase and amplitude of the array antenna elements according to the target direction to form an accurate beam, and when there are external interferences or changes in the mobile environment, it can dynamically adjust the beam direction to maintain a stable communication link. Since the beamforming of the phased array antenna system directly affects signal gain, directivity, and anti-interference ability, the design of this module needs to combine multiple technologies such as high-speed signal processing, intelligent control algorithms, and low-latency data transmission to achieve fast and stable beam control.

[0036] Generally, beamforming controls the relative phase and amplitude of each antenna element so that the signal forms interference enhancement in a specific direction and realizes interference cancellation in non-target directions. As an option, the present invention adopts digital beamforming to improve the flexibility and accuracy of beam adjustment. Specifically, this module is designed based on the FPGA + ARM architecture. The FPGA unit is used for high-speed parallel computing and real-time signal processing, while the ARM processor is responsible for control logic and communication interface management. This can ensure the real-time nature of the calculation and at the same time provide strong expansion capabilities.

[0037] In this embodiment, beamforming calculation is based on the Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) algorithm, which is used to optimize the weight vector to maximize the main lobe gain while suppressing interference signals. The optimization objective of this algorithm is: where: w is the weight vector of the antenna array; R is the interference + noise covariance matrix of the received signal; d is the steering vector in the target direction; H represents the conjugate transpose operation.

[0038] Through this algorithm, it can be ensured that the main lobe of the beam maintains the maximum gain in the target direction, while forming a low-gain area in the interference direction to reduce the impact of interference signals.

[0039] In this embodiment, in order to achieve more precise beam control, the calculation result of the weight vector is transmitted to the phase shifters of each antenna element through the SPI high-speed bus to adjust the phase distribution. The control accuracy of the phase shifter is 6-bit, the phase adjustment range is from 0° to 360°, and the minimum phase step angle is 5.625°. The phase shift calculation formula is as follows: where: is the phase shift value of the i-th antenna element; d i is the distance of this element relative to the array center; θ is the beam pointing angle; λ is the wavelength corresponding to the operating frequency.

[0040] The beamforming and control module supports not only the single-beam mode but also the multi-beamforming mode. In this mode, the terminal can simultaneously generate 2 to 8 independent beams, and each beam is controlled by an independent weight vector. The minimum interval angle is not less than 5°, ensuring the minimum mutual interference between multi-beams. This ability enables the terminal to perform multi-task communication simultaneously, such as data transmission in one beam direction while signal detection or backup link maintenance in another beam direction.

[0041] Specifically, in the multi-beam mode, the beamforming algorithm needs to solve the weight vectors in multiple directions. Its calculation method is: W = [w1, w2,..., w n ; where: W is the weight vector matrix containing multiple beams; w n is the weight vector of the n-th beam; n is the number of beams, and the value range is 2 to 8.

[0042] In this embodiment, the control rate of the beamforming and control module reaches the 1ms level, enabling real-time beam adjustment in high-speed motion scenarios. For example, in vehicle-mounted or airborne application environments, even if the terminal moves at a speed of 100 km / h, the system can still quickly adjust the beam to ensure the stability of communication.

[0043] As an optimization solution, this module also supports the fusion of inertial navigation and GPS data, and corrects the beam direction in real time through the pose information provided by the IMU and GPS. Assume that the pitch angle and azimuth angle of the terminal are θ p and θ a , then the steering vector d(θ p ,θ a ) of the target direction is calculated as follows: where: k = 2π / λ is the wave number; d i is the position of the i-th array element relative to the reference point; N is the total number of array elements.

[0044] In a possible implementation, this module fuses GPS and IMU data through the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm to provide high-precision pose estimation. When it detects a change in the terminal's attitude, the system automatically adjusts the beam direction to compensate for the attitude error, so that the beam always points to the target satellite.

[0045] In addition, to ensure the long-term stability of the beamforming and control module, this module has a real-time temperature monitoring function. The temperature control system is built-in with multiple sensors that can detect the temperatures of the FPGA and the power management circuit.

[0046] In summary, the beamforming and control module of the present invention combines multiple technologies such as FPGA parallel computing, MVDR adaptive beamforming, multi-beam support, real-time inertial navigation compensation, and interference suppression, and realizes precise, stable, and efficient beam control capabilities. This module is not only applicable to fixed-site communication, but also can meet the reliable communication requirements in high-speed moving environments such as vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted, and airborne.

[0047] In the small phased array antenna satellite terminal of the present invention, the T / R component, as one of the core modules, undertakes the functions of signal transceiver, amplification, and phase control, and is the key to ensuring the stability and efficiency of satellite communication. The T / R component not only needs to meet the processing requirements of high-frequency signals, but also has a low noise figure, adapts to the high-power transmission requirements, and can precisely adjust the phase of the array elements to ensure the accuracy of the beam pointing. To achieve this goal, the design of the T / R component needs to consider requirements such as low-noise reception of signals, efficient transmission, and fast response of the phased array.

[0048] In general, the design of the T / R component includes a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for signal reception, a power amplifier (PA) for signal transmission, and a phase shifter for beam adjustment. The functions of each unit need to cooperate closely with the control module to ensure stable signal transmission and accurate beam tracking. As an option, in this embodiment, by optimizing the matching of the LNA and PA, the signal gain and quality are improved, and the phase of the array elements is precisely controlled by the phase shifter to achieve precise beamforming and fast adjustment.

[0049] In this embodiment, the working process of the T / R component is divided into two main parts: receiving signals and transmitting signals. First, the received satellite signals are amplified by the low-noise amplifier (LNA). The main task of the LNA is to minimize noise introduction and ensure that the received weak signals can be effectively amplified to provide sufficient signal strength. The gain design of the LNA depends on the strength of the received signal and the ambient noise. Generally, the noise figure NF_LNA of the LNA should be controlled below 1.2 dB to improve the receiving sensitivity of the system.

[0050] After the received signals are amplified by the LNA, the signals are further phase-adjusted by the phase shifter and sent to the power amplifier (PA). The task of the PA is to amplify the signal power to the required level for transmission to the satellite. The design of the PA needs to consider the output power and gain requirements. The gain of the PA is usually set at about 30 dB to ensure that the signal does not experience excessive attenuation during transmission.

[0051] Specifically, the working principle of the phase shifter is to adjust the phase of the signal to ensure that the radiation direction of the array antenna elements conforms to the predetermined beam pointing. The phase adjustment range of each phase shifter is from 0° to 360°, the minimum phase step is 5.625°, and its control accuracy is 6-bit, enabling precise beam control. The phase adjustment formula of the phase shifter is as follows: Where: is the phase adjustment value of the i-th array element; d i is the distance of the i-th array element relative to the array center; λ is the operating wavelength; θ is the target beam direction angle.

[0052] The design of the phase shifter allows for flexible adjustment of the radiation direction of the antenna array, thus achieving electronic scanning and beamforming. By adjusting the phases of the array elements, the direction of the beam can be precisely controlled to meet the requirements of dynamically tracking the target satellite.

[0053] To further improve the stability of the system, the T / R component also includes a power management unit, which is used to monitor the power voltage and current in real time and automatically cut off the power or adjust the output power when an abnormality is detected to prevent the system from overloading.

[0054] In some embodiments, the T / R component further includes a signal feedback mechanism. When the system detects a decrease in signal quality or beam offset, it automatically makes adjustments to correct the deviation and ensure that the beam stably tracks the target satellite. This feedback mechanism can monitor the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), dynamically adjust the gain values of the LNA and PA, and adjust the phase of the phase shifter to ensure that the system always operates at its optimal performance state.

[0055] The T / R component in this embodiment ensures efficient signal reception and transmission of the satellite communication terminal in a complex environment through the reasonable design and optimization of the LNA, PA, and phase shifter, and at the same time has the ability to precisely control the beam. The design of this module not only improves the anti-interference ability of the system, but also effectively reduces the system power consumption and improves the communication quality and stability. In practical applications, this component can adapt to various challenges such as high-speed movement and complex interference environments, and ensure the stable operation of the terminal in scenarios such as vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted, and airborne.

[0056] In the small phased array antenna satellite terminal of the present invention, the up / down conversion module, as the core part of signal processing, is responsible for converting satellite communication signals into frequencies suitable for system processing. Satellite communication systems usually require a frequency conversion process to convert the received high-frequency signals into intermediate-frequency signals for subsequent processing, and at the same time convert the intermediate-frequency signals back to high frequencies for transmission. Therefore, the function of the up / down conversion module in the satellite terminal is crucial. It not only needs to ensure the accuracy of the signal conversion process, but also effectively suppress spurious signals and reduce signal loss.

[0057] Generally, the up / down conversion module realizes signal frequency conversion through a mixer and a local oscillator (LO). This module mainly completes the down-conversion processing of received signals and the up-conversion processing of transmitted signals, and adjusts the frequency to match the operating frequency band required for satellite communication. As an option, the present invention adopts a dual-mixer architecture to reduce spurious signals and improve spectral utilization through two-stage mixing processing. Specifically, this module converts signals in the Ku band into intermediate frequency (IF) according to the frequency range of satellite communication, and can also convert intermediate-frequency signals into Ku band frequencies suitable for transmission.

[0058] In this embodiment, the down-conversion process is jointly completed by the first-stage mixer and the second-stage mixer. The first-stage mixer mixes the received high-frequency radio frequency signal with the local oscillator signal (LO) to generate a first-band signal. The second-stage mixer receives the signal after the first-stage mixing and mixes it with another local oscillator signal, and finally converts the signal into an intermediate-frequency signal. The calculation formula for the down-converted signal is as follows: f IF =|f RF -f LO |; where, fR F is the frequency of the received signal; f L O is the frequency of the local oscillator; f I F is the intermediate frequency signal frequency after down-conversion.

[0059] For the up-conversion process, the signal is converted from the intermediate frequency signal to the target radio frequency (RF) signal. The signal processing also adopts a double-mixing architecture. The first-stage mixer mixes the intermediate frequency signal with the first local oscillator signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal with a lower frequency, and the second-stage mixer then mixes this signal with the second local oscillator signal, and finally converts it to the required uplink transmission frequency. The calculation formula for the up-conversion process is: f RF = f IF + f LO ; where, f I F is the input intermediate frequency signal frequency; f L O is the local oscillator frequency; f R F is the frequency of the transmitted signal.

[0060] In this embodiment, the local oscillator (LO) of the frequency conversion module adopts a high-precision voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), whose frequency range can cover the required Ku-band frequency band. Usually, the frequency is selected from 10.7 GHz to 14.5 GHz, and its frequency stability and low phase noise characteristics ensure the accuracy of frequency conversion and the clarity of the signal.

[0061] To improve the purity of signal conversion, the mixer adopts a double-balanced design, which can effectively reduce the generation of non-linearity of the local oscillator signal and spurious signals. This design scheme helps to reduce signal distortion and improve the spectral efficiency of the signal. In addition, the frequency conversion module also includes a band-pass filter (BPF), whose function is to filter out unnecessary frequency components, suppress spurious signals, and ensure that the quality of the signal after conversion meets the requirements.

[0062] The frequency conversion module of the present invention can also be equipped with an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit. This circuit can adjust the gain according to the intensity of the input signal to ensure that the output signal remains stable throughout the frequency range. The AGC circuit monitors the level of the input signal and automatically adjusts the gain according to the set standard to avoid signal overload or excessive signal attenuation.

[0063] The frequency conversion module in this embodiment also has a dynamic adjustment function, which can automatically adjust the frequency according to external environmental conditions or the system operating state. By working in coordination with the system beamforming and control module, the frequency conversion module can achieve automatic frequency switching and compensation, ensuring that the system always operates within the optimal operating frequency band, thereby improving the reliability and adaptability of the system.

[0064] In terms of the power consumption management of the system, the frequency conversion module adopts a low-power design, minimizing the ineffective energy consumption during operation and improving the overall energy efficiency of the system. Especially in the standby mode, the frequency conversion module can enter the low-power operating state, maximizing the usage time of the device and maintaining low heat dissipation.

[0065] In summary, through various technical means such as the dual-mixing architecture, high-precision VCO, double-balanced mixer design, and automatic gain control (AGC), the up-conversion and down-conversion module of the present invention ensures the high efficiency, accuracy, and stability of the signal conversion of the satellite terminal. Through the design of this module, the satellite terminal can flexibly and efficiently process signals in various working environments, meeting the requirements of different application scenarios.

[0066] In the small phased array antenna satellite terminal of the present invention, the communication port, the Internet access port, and the power supply module are the core interface modules for the normal operation of the terminal. They are responsible for data input and output, network connection, and power management, ensuring the stable operation and flexible deployment of the terminal. These modules not only require efficient and reliable functions but also need to consider flexibility and compatibility to adapt to different application scenarios and device requirements.

[0067] Generally, the communication port is used for high-speed data interaction between external devices and the terminal, the Internet access port provides a connection to the external network, and the power supply module is responsible for providing stable power distribution and management for the entire terminal. As an option, in this embodiment, the communication port, the Internet access port, and the power supply module are designed as integrated modules, which can be connected to other devices or networks through standard interfaces while ensuring stable power supply in different working states.

[0068] In this embodiment, the communication port is connected to the beamforming and control module and is responsible for data interaction with external devices. The design of the communication port takes into account the high speed, stability, and compatibility of multiple protocols for data transmission. Specifically, the communication port supports standard communication protocols such as Ethernet interface and serial port interface, and can automatically select the most suitable connection method according to different application scenarios. The operating frequency of the communication port can adapt to the requirements of high-speed data transmission, ensuring efficient interconnection with other devices.

[0069] The design of the communication port follows the IEEE 802.3 standard, ensuring the reliability and stability of data transmission, especially suitable for application scenarios that require large-bandwidth data exchange. For example, the terminal can perform data synchronization, remote control, and status monitoring with the ground control station through Ethernet. As an option, the communication port supports transmission rates of 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps, capable of meeting the requirements of large-volume data transmission.

[0070] The communication port is connected to the beamforming and control module through a high-speed data bus to ensure low latency and high efficiency during the data exchange process. This communication port also integrates data encryption and security protocols to guarantee the security during data transmission, preventing external malicious attacks and data leakage.

[0071] The communication port can also be equipped with a data traffic monitoring module for real-time monitoring of the data transmission status. Through this monitoring module, the system can automatically adjust the transmission strategy or issue an alarm when the data transmission rate is abnormal or packet loss occurs, so as to ensure the high reliability of data transmission.

[0072] In this embodiment, the Internet access port is connected to the beamforming and control module and is responsible for accessing the external network to achieve remote data transmission and network management. The Internet access port supports two access methods: wireless communication and wired connection. In terms of wireless communication, the Internet access port supports the Wi-Fi wireless access protocol; in terms of wired connection, the Internet access port supports Ethernet connection to ensure the high stability of data transmission; it can adapt to complex network environments and provide flexible network connection methods.

[0073] Specifically, in vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted or remote field environments, the terminal can access the wireless network through the Internet access port for remote data transmission, remote management or system upgrade. In these applications, wireless connection can provide high flexibility and convenience, especially in places where physical networks cannot be laid, enabling data exchange and remote issuance of control instructions.

[0074] The network connection ability of the Internet access port is based on the IP protocol stack to ensure the standardization and compatibility of data transmission. After the terminal is connected to the network through the Internet access port, functions such as data synchronization, status monitoring, and terminal control can be realized. The bandwidth of the Internet access port supports a transmission rate of 1000 Mbps to meet the needs of large-volume data transmission. To ensure the high availability and anti-interference of the network, the system is also equipped with an automatic network switching function, which automatically switches to the wired network when the wireless signal quality is poor to maintain a stable network connection.

[0075] The Internet access port can also support virtual private network (VPN) connection to ensure the security of the terminal during remote control and data transmission, avoiding data leakage or illegal access.

[0076] In this embodiment, the power supply module is the power management system of the satellite terminal and is responsible for providing stable power supply for the entire terminal. The power management unit of the power supply module can achieve multiple power outputs to meet the power requirements of different modules. The operating voltage range of the power supply module is 19V to 32V, which can adapt to power supply conditions in different environments.

[0077] The power supply module converts the input power supply voltage into the operating voltages required by each module through an input voltage range of 19V to 32V, including multiple voltage outputs such as 5V, 12V, 3.3V, etc., ensuring the normal operation of each module. The conversion efficiency is higher than 96%, which can effectively reduce energy loss and improve the energy efficiency of the system. When the power demand is high, the power supply module can automatically adjust according to the load change to avoid overload or energy waste.

[0078] The power supply module also includes various safety protection mechanisms such as overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, and undervoltage protection to ensure that the device will not be damaged in extreme power environments. Specifically, the overvoltage protection circuit automatically disconnects the power supply when the input voltage exceeds 32V; the undervoltage protection circuit issues a warning and switches to the standby mode when the voltage is lower than 19V; the overcurrent protection circuit prevents the device from malfunctioning when the current is overloaded.

[0079] The power supply module also has an intelligent monitoring function, which can monitor the battery power, input voltage, and output current in real time. When the battery power is low, the system will send a warning to the user through the communication interface and suggest taking corresponding measures to avoid power failure of the device at critical moments.

[0080] To support long-term stable operation, the design of the power supply module also takes into account the low-power operating mode. In the standby state, the power supply module can control the power consumption below 25W, greatly extending the battery life of the device.

[0081] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A small phased array antenna satellite terminal, comprising a terminal body, characterized in that: The terminal body comprises: A transceiver / receiver array (1) for sending and receiving satellite signals; A beamforming and control module (2) is connected to the receiving / transmitting array (1) and is used for beamforming control, data processing and signal scheduling; A frequency conversion module (3) is connected to the receiving / transmitting array (1) and the T / R component (4) and is used to perform down-conversion processing on the received signal and up-conversion processing on the transmitted signal to match the satellite communication frequency band; The T / R component (4) is connected to the beamforming and control module (2) and the frequency conversion module (3), and includes a low noise amplifier, a power amplifier and a phase shifter, and is used for signal reception, amplification and phase control, and communicates with the beamforming and control module (2) to achieve dynamic beam adjustment; An inertial navigation and GPS module (8), comprising an inertial measurement unit and a GPS receiving unit, is connected to the beamforming and control module (2) and is used to provide position information, attitude data and perform data fusion; A communication port (5) connected to the beamforming and control module (2) and used for data exchange with an external device; An Internet access port (6) connected to the control module (2) for network access to achieve remote data transmission; The power supply module (7) is used to supply power to the terminal, and comprises a power management unit to provide power distribution.

2. A small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frequency conversion module (3) includes a dual-mixing architecture, which includes a first mixer and a second mixer. The first mixer is used to receive a radio frequency signal and perform a first frequency conversion process, and the second mixer is used to perform a second frequency conversion process on the signal after the first frequency conversion, so as to reduce stray signals and improve spectrum utilization. The frequency conversion module (3) uses a high-precision voltage-controlled oscillator to provide a local oscillation signal to ensure the stability of frequency conversion.

3. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The beamforming and control module (2) comprises a beamforming calculation unit, which calculates a weight vector of the antenna array based on a minimum variance distortion-free response algorithm and sends it to a T / R component (4) via a high-speed data bus to achieve high-precision adjustment and dynamic correction of the beam.

4. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inertial navigation and GPS module (8) adopts an extended Kalman filter algorithm for data fusion. The IMU provides acceleration and angular velocity data, and the GPS module provides position information. The EKF algorithm is combined to perform attitude estimation and perform trajectory prediction compensation when the GPS signal is lost. The data update frequency is not less than 100 Hz.

5. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The phase shifter in the T / R component (4) has a 6-bit control accuracy and a phase shift range of 0° to 360°, and is used to adjust the relative phase of the array elements to achieve accurate beam pointing. The power amplifier supports an automatic gain control mode and dynamically adjusts the output power according to link requirements. The noise coefficient of the low noise amplifier is less than 1.2 dB to enhance weak signal reception capability.

6. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communication port (5) supports Ethernet and serial communication protocols, with a transmission rate of not less than 100 Mbps, so as to achieve high-speed data interaction with external devices.

7. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Internet access port (6) supports wireless communication and wired connection and has a remote management function. The Internet access port (6) receives software update data through a network interface to achieve remote firmware upgrade.

8. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power supply module (7) comprises a power supply monitoring unit and a power supply protection unit, wherein the power supply monitoring unit is used to monitor input voltage and current, and the power supply protection unit comprises overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection and undervoltage protection circuits.

9. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal has a heat dissipation structure, which transfers heat to the casing through a silicone pad and heat dissipation teeth for heat dissipation to ensure stable operation of the device in an environment of -40°C to +55°C.

10. The small phased array antenna satellite terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The terminal is suitable for vehicle-mounted, ship-mounted and airborne communication applications, and realizes electronic beam scanning through a receiving / transmitting array (1).

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