Integrated digital active phased-array antenna

Abstract

An integrated digital active phased-array antenna comprises a digital active subarray, a satellite deck, a digital beam forming and control unit, a frequency source calibration assembly, an optical fiber box and a power division network, and the digital beam forming and control unit, the frequency source calibration assembly, the optical fiber box and the power division network form an in-cabin single machine. The digital active subarray is installed on the front side of a satellite deck as an integral module, and the digital beam forming and control unit, the frequency source calibration assembly, the optical fiber box and the power division network are installed on the back side of the satellite deck.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of antenna architectures, and in particular relates to an integrated antenna architecture design technology. Background Art

[0002] The Starlink system is rapidly being deployed and applied globally, and low-orbit satellite internet is also developing in parallel. The satellites used are small, lightweight satellites. To ensure continuous system performance, satellites must operate for significantly longer periods per orbit than traditional satellites. This extended operating time places higher demands on the heat dissipation of the antenna system, making lightweight design and rapid heat dissipation key technologies for low-orbit satellite internet.

[0003] In order to achieve wide coverage, high speed and intelligence, low-orbit satellites use digital active phased array antennas, which have the advantages of flexible multi-beam, fast beam scanning, redundant and high reliability. However, their complex composition and high heat consumption restrict the satellite's lightweight and rapid heat dissipation capabilities.

[0004] Traditional digital active phased array antennas include a three-layer structure consisting of a single unit outside the cabin, an antenna mounting plate, and a single unit inside the cabin. By changing the local topology and optimizing the structural parameters, the antenna weight can be reduced and the heat dissipation problem can be solved.

[0005] However, antenna design is separate from satellite design. To achieve lightweight, thin, and efficient heat dissipation for satellite internet digital active phased array antennas, breakthroughs in antenna architecture are necessary. Integrating antennas with satellites can improve platform capabilities, space efficiency, and the overall design. Based on this new design architecture, we are developing corresponding underlying design technologies and proposing a novel integrated antenna system architecture. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to solve the technical problems of weight reduction and heat dissipation of low-orbit satellites, a technical solution of an integrated digital active phased array antenna was adopted. While maintaining the antenna's working performance, the antenna's weight was reduced and the antenna's heat dissipation capacity was improved, resulting in the technical effect of making the satellite system lighter and thinner and allowing it to work for a long time.

[0007] The antenna includes a digital active sub-array, a satellite cabin panel, a digital beam forming and control unit, a frequency source calibration component, a fiber optic box, and a power division network. The digital beam forming and control unit, the frequency source calibration component, the fiber optic box, and the power division network constitute a single unit in the cabin. The number and arrangement of the digital active sub-array are adjustable and are installed as an integral module on the front of the satellite cabin panel. The digital beam forming and control unit, the frequency source calibration component, the fiber optic box, and the power division network are installed on the back of the satellite cabin panel.

[0008] The digital active subarray includes multiple pairs of radiating antennas and digital components. The radiating antennas and digital components are interconnected in a double-female blind plug-in manner. The radiating antennas realize the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, and the digital components realize the coupled transmission and reception of calibration signals.

[0009] The digital components include optical interface, power supply interface, clock interface, local oscillator interface, and calibration interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction of baseband data, control information, and BIT information, and the calibration interface realizes the interaction of uplink and downlink RF calibration signals. The digital components perform multi-beam processing on uplink and downlink data according to the control information: when working uplink, the digital components perform filtering, low-noise amplification, down-conversion, and analog-to-digital conversion; when working downlink, the digital components perform digital-to-analog conversion, up-conversion, and power amplification.

[0010] The satellite cabin panel adopts a lightweight honeycomb sandwich structure, with aluminum skin on the front and back, and aluminum honeycomb and heat pipes in the sandwich. It also serves as the mechanical structure carrier of the single machine in the cabin and the heat dissipation carrier of the antenna system.

[0011] The interfaces of the digital beamforming and control unit include optical interface, RS422 interface, clock interface, CAN interface, and telemetry interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction between antenna baseband data and control information. The CAN interface receives remote control commands and sends digital telemetry information. The telemetry interface sends analog telemetry information.

[0012] The digital beamforming and control unit controls and distributes antenna power supply, enabling information exchange between the antenna and satellite payload: During downlink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit receives baseband data and control information, generates antenna operation control and timing instructions, packages the control information and baseband data, converts them into optical signals, and transmits them to the digital active sub-array; During uplink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit receives the digital signals generated by the digital active sub-array, forms digital multi-beams according to the requirements of the control instructions, and sends the multi-beam data to the baseband processing component; in calibration mode, the digital beamforming and control unit receives and summarizes the antenna's BIT information and forwards it to the system.

[0013] The interfaces of the frequency source calibration component include power supply interface, clock interface, local oscillator interface and calibration interface, which generate clock signals and local oscillator signals to calibrate the transmit and receive clocks of the antenna system: the frequency source calibration component receives the system clock signal and amplifies it, and generates uplink local oscillator signals and downlink local oscillator signals according to the control information; during transmission calibration, the frequency source calibration component receives the transmission signals of each channel, amplifies them, and performs analog-to-digital conversion; during reception calibration, the frequency source calibration component generates a calibration excitation signal.

[0014] The optical fiber box 5 uses an optical fiber interface to aggregate and organize the through-cabin optical cables that transmit signals between the digital active sub-array and the digital beam forming and control unit. The digital active sub-array and the single machine in the cabin are directly interconnected through the through-cabin optical cables.

[0015] The power division network distributes the clock signal, local oscillator signal and calibration signal generated by the frequency source calibration component to each digital active sub-array. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is the antenna structure diagram. Figure 2 This is the structure diagram of the digital active subarray. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The technical solution of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Antenna structure such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a digital active sub-array 1, a satellite cabin panel 2, a digital beam forming and control unit 3, a frequency source calibration component 4, an optical fiber box 5, and a power division network 6. The digital beam forming and control unit 3, the frequency source calibration component 4, the optical fiber box 5, and the power division network 6 constitute a single unit in the cabin.

[0019] The digital active sub-array 1 is installed as an integral module on the front of the satellite cabin board 2 for direct heat dissipation. The digital beamforming and control unit 3, frequency source calibration component 4, fiber optic box 5, and power division network 6 are installed on the back of the satellite cabin board 2 to achieve an integrated design.

[0020] The satellite cabin panel is used as the installation support of the antenna system, replacing the traditional antenna system installation plate, which reduces the antenna profile and the antenna weight.

[0021] The digital active sub-array and the single unit in the cabin are installed on the satellite cabin board to increase the heat dissipation path and extend the antenna's on-orbit working time.

[0022] The number and arrangement of the digital active sub-arrays 1 can be adjusted according to usage requirements.

[0023] The digital active sub-array 1 includes multiple pairs of radiating antennas 7 and digital components 8, such as Figure 2 As shown, the radiating antenna 7 and the digital component 8 are interconnected in a double-female blind plug manner. The radiating antenna 7 realizes the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, and the digital component 8 realizes the coupled transmission and reception of calibration signals.

[0024] The digital component 8 performs multi-beam processing on the uplink and downlink data according to the control information: when working uplink, the digital component 8 performs filtering, low-noise amplification, down-conversion and analog-to-digital conversion; when working downlink, the digital component 8 performs digital-to-analog conversion, up-conversion and power amplification.

[0025] The digital component 8 includes an optical interface, a power supply interface, a clock interface, a local oscillator interface, and a calibration interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction of baseband data, control information, and BIT information, and the calibration interface realizes the interaction of uplink and downlink RF calibration signals.

[0026] Compared with traditional phased array antennas, the digital component 8 integrates digital circuits and analog circuits and has a self-calibration function, which greatly improves the integration of the antenna system and achieves lightweight.

[0027] Satellite cabin panel 2 adopts a lightweight honeycomb sandwich structure, with aluminum skin on the front and back, and aluminum honeycomb and heat pipes in the interlayer. It serves as the mechanical structure carrier of the single machine in the cabin and the heat dissipation carrier of the antenna system.

[0028] The interfaces of the digital beamforming and control unit 3 include an optical interface, an RS422 interface, a clock interface, a CAN interface, and a telemetry interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction between antenna baseband data and control information. The CAN interface receives remote control commands and sends digital telemetry information. The telemetry interface sends analog telemetry values ​​such as voltage and temperature.

[0029] The digital beamforming and control unit 3 controls and distributes antenna power supply, enabling information exchange between the antenna and satellite payload: During downlink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit 3 receives baseband data and control information, generates antenna operation control and timing instructions, packages the control information and baseband data, converts them into optical signals, and transmits them to the digital active sub-array; during uplink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit 3 receives the digital signals generated by the digital active sub-array, forms digital multi-beams according to the requirements of the control instructions, and sends the multi-beam data to the baseband processing component; in calibration mode, the digital beamforming and control unit 3 receives and summarizes the antenna's BIT information, and forwards it to the system.

[0030] The interfaces of the frequency source calibration component 4 include a power supply interface, a clock interface, a local oscillator interface and a calibration interface.

[0031] The frequency source calibration component 4 generates a clock signal and a local oscillator signal to calibrate the transmit and receive clocks of the antenna system: the frequency source calibration component 4 receives the system clock signal and amplifies it, and generates an uplink local oscillator signal and a downlink local oscillator signal according to the control information; during transmission calibration, the frequency source calibration component 4 receives the transmission signal of each channel, amplifies it, and performs analog-to-digital conversion processing; during reception calibration, the frequency source calibration component 4 generates a calibration excitation signal.

[0032] The optical fiber box 5 uses an optical fiber interface to aggregate and organize the through-cabin optical cables that transmit signals between the digital active sub-array 1 and the digital beamforming and control unit 3. The digital active sub-array and the single machine in the cabin are directly interconnected through the through-cabin optical cables.

[0033] The interfaces of the digital active sub-array are integrated in one place. Compared with traditional phased array antennas, the number of hatch openings is reduced, the impact on the structural strength of the cabin is weakened, and the mechanical reliability of the satellite is improved.

[0034] The power division network 6 distributes the clock signal, local oscillator signal, and calibration signal generated by the frequency source calibration component 4 to each digital active sub-array.

[0035] The above are embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated digital active phased array antenna, characterized in that: include: The digital active sub-array, satellite cabin board, digital beam forming and control unit, frequency source calibration component, optical fiber box, and power division network constitute a single unit in the cabin. The digital active sub-array is installed on the front of the satellite cabin board as an integral module, and the digital beam forming and control unit, frequency source calibration component, optical fiber box, and power division network are installed on the back of the satellite cabin board.

2. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number and arrangement of the digital active sub-arrays are adjustable.

3. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The digital active subarray includes: multiple pairs of radiating antennas and digital components, which are interconnected in a double-female blind plug-in manner. The radiating antennas realize the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, and the digital components realize the coupled transmission and reception of calibration signals.

4. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The digital component includes an optical interface, a power supply interface, a clock interface, a local oscillator interface, and a calibration interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction of baseband data, control information, and BIT information, and the calibration interface realizes the interaction of uplink and downlink radio frequency calibration signals. The digital components perform multi-beam processing on uplink and downlink data based on the control information: when working uplink, the digital components perform filtering, low-noise amplification, down-conversion and analog-to-digital conversion; when working downlink, the digital components perform digital-to-analog conversion, up-conversion and power amplification.

5. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The satellite cabin panel adopts a lightweight honeycomb sandwich structure, with aluminum skin on the front and back sides, and aluminum honeycomb and heat pipes in the sandwich, which serves as the mechanical structure carrier of the single machine in the cabin and the heat dissipation carrier of the antenna system.

6. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interfaces of the digital beam forming and control unit include an optical interface, an RS422 interface, a clock interface, a CAN interface, and a telemetry interface. The optical interface realizes the interaction between antenna baseband data and control information, the CAN interface receives remote control commands and sends digital telemetry information, and the telemetry interface sends analog telemetry information.

7. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The digital beamforming and control unit controls and distributes antenna power supply, enabling information exchange between the antenna and satellite payload. During downlink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit receives baseband data and control information, generates antenna operation control and timing instructions, packages the control information and baseband data, converts them into optical signals, and transmits them to the digital active sub-array. During uplink operation, the digital beamforming and control unit receives digital signals generated by the digital active sub-array, forms digital multi-beams according to the requirements of the control instructions, and sends the multi-beam data to the baseband processing component. In calibration mode, the digital beamforming and control unit receives and summarizes the antenna's BIT information, and forwards it to the system.

8. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interfaces of the frequency source calibration component include a power supply interface, a clock interface, a local oscillator interface and a calibration interface, which generate clock signals and local oscillator signals to calibrate the transmit and receive clocks of the antenna system: the frequency source calibration component receives and amplifies the system clock signal, and generates an uplink local oscillator signal and a downlink local oscillator signal according to the control information; during transmission calibration, the frequency source calibration component receives the transmission signals of each channel, amplifies them, and performs analog-to-digital conversion processing; during reception calibration, the frequency source calibration component generates a calibration excitation signal.

9. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber box 5 uses an optical fiber interface to aggregate and organize the through-cabin optical cables that transmit signals between the digital active sub-array and the digital beam forming and control unit. The digital active sub-array and the single machine in the cabin are directly interconnected through the through-cabin optical cables.

10. The integrated digital active phased array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power division network distributes the clock signal, local oscillator signal and calibration signal generated by the frequency source calibration component to each digital active sub-array.

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