Antenna devices, satellite communication payloads and satellite platforms

Abstract

This application provides an antenna device, a satellite communication payload, and a satellite platform, relating to the field of satellite communication technology. The antenna device includes: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, an RF front-end unit, and an antenna unit. The RF front-end unit includes a dual-feed RF front-end and a single-feed RF front-end. The dual-feed RF front-end is connected to both the RF transceiver and a dual-feed radiating element in the antenna unit, and the single-feed RF front-end is connected to both the RF transceiver and a single-feed radiating element in the antenna unit. The RF transceiver is used to control the conduction of the dual-feed RF front-end and / or the single-feed RF front-end. The dual-feed RF front-end and the single-feed RF front-end are used for transmitting and receiving communication signals of various different standards. The antenna unit is used to receive and transmit communication signals. The antenna device can switch between different standards, improving flexibility and mission adaptability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of satellite communication technology, and in particular to an antenna device, a satellite communication payload, and a satellite platform. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, single-frequency, single-mode antenna architecture is the mainstream implementation method for satellite communication payloads, meaning that a single antenna device supports only one communication standard. Satellite communication payloads are carried on satellite platforms, and their operating mode is fixed after launch, making it impossible to dynamically switch communication standards according to the communication needs of the orbital coverage area. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an antenna device, a satellite communication payload, and a satellite platform to achieve the effect of dynamically switching communication standards.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an antenna device, including: a radio frequency transceiver, a radio frequency front-end unit, and an antenna unit; the radio frequency front-end unit includes a dual-feed radio frequency front-end and a single-feed radio frequency front-end, the dual-feed radio frequency front-end is connected to the radio frequency transceiver and the dual-feed radiating unit in the antenna unit respectively, and the single-feed radio frequency front-end is connected to the radio frequency transceiver and the single-feed radiating unit in the antenna unit respectively.

[0005] The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the conduction of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end;

[0006] The dual-feed point RF front-end and the single-feed point RF front-end are used for transmitting and receiving various communication signals of different standards.

[0007] The antenna unit is used to receive and transmit communication signals.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the radio frequency front-end unit further includes a radio frequency switch unit, which is connected to the radio frequency transceiver, the dual-feed radio frequency front-end, and the single-feed radio frequency front-end, respectively.

[0009] The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the selection state of the radio frequency switch unit to enable the input and output paths of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end according to the target communication standard.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the radio frequency front-end unit further includes a first radio frequency switch, and the radio frequency switch unit includes a second radio frequency switch and a third radio frequency switch;

[0011] The common terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the single-feed radiating unit, the first gating terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end, and the second gating terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end.

[0012] The common terminal of the second RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver, the first gating terminal is connected to the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end, and the second gating terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end.

[0013] The common terminal of the third RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver, the first strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end, and the second strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end includes a first power amplifier and a first bandpass filter connected to each other, and the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end includes a first low-noise amplifier and a second bandpass filter connected to each other.

[0015] The output path of the single-feed RF front-end includes a second power amplifier, and the input path of the single-feed RF front-end includes a second low-noise amplifier; the single-feed RF front-end also includes a third bandpass filter.

[0016] The first selection terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the second power amplifier, and the second selection terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier; the common terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the third bandpass filter, and the third bandpass filter is also connected to the single-feed radiating unit.

[0017] The first selector terminal of the second RF switch is connected to the first power amplifier, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second power amplifier;

[0018] The first selector terminal of the third RF switch is connected to the first low-noise amplifier, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the dual-feed RF front-end and the single-feed RF front-end are integrated on the same board and laid out on the board according to functional partitions, with each region physically isolated by a metal shielding cavity.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are centrally located at the edge of the circuit board.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the first bandpass filter, the second bandpass filter, and the third bandpass filter are all dielectric filters.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the circuit board includes multiple signal layers and multiple ground layers, and the radio frequency ground plane and the digital ground plane in the multiple ground layers are connected on the circuit board through a physical point.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the radio frequency transceiver is used to control the first radio frequency switch to the first strobe terminal, control the second radio frequency switch to the second strobe terminal, and control the third radio frequency switch to the first strobe terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the first communication standard, so as to enable the output path of the single-feed radio frequency front-end and the input path of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the radio frequency transceiver is used to control the first radio frequency switch to be thrown to the empty position, control the second radio frequency switch to be thrown to the first strobe terminal, and control the third radio frequency switch to be thrown to the first strobe terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the second standard, so that both the input and output paths of the dual-feed point radio frequency front end are turned on.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the RF transceiver is used to control the second RF switch to the second gating terminal and the third RF switch to the second gating terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the third standard. The first RF switch is also switched between the first gating terminal and the second gating terminal through timing control, so that the output path and input path of the single-feed RF front end are time-divisionally connected.

[0026] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a satellite communication payload, including a baseband processing unit and an antenna device as described in any embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the baseband processing unit is connected to the antenna device.

[0027] In one possible implementation, a power management unit is also included, which is electrically connected to each component in the satellite communication payload and is used to supply power to each component.

[0028] In one possible implementation, a clock circuit is also included, which is connected to each component in the satellite communication payload and is used to provide a unified clock signal to each component.

[0029] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a satellite platform on which the satellite communication payload as described in any embodiment of the second aspect is carried.

[0030] The antenna device, satellite communication payload, and satellite platform provided in this application integrate a dual-feed RF front-end and a single-feed RF front-end in the antenna device and uniformly control their conduction states, enabling the antenna device to support the transmission and reception of various communication signals of different standards. Because either RF front-end can be selectively activated, the antenna device can switch between different standards, overcoming the limitations of the traditional single-frequency, single-mode architecture, which has a fixed operating mode and cannot dynamically adapt to the communication needs of the coverage area, thereby improving flexibility and mission adaptability. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0032] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the antenna device provided in this application Figure 1 ;

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the satellite communication payload provided in this application;

[0034] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the antenna device provided in this application Figure 2 ;

[0035] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 1 ;

[0036] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 2 ;

[0037] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 3 .

[0038] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0040] In the field of satellite communications, a communication payload is a collection of physical hardware modules, specifically a functional hardware component that performs a particular task (such as communication, remote sensing, or navigation). The communication payload refers to all the hardware devices and subsystems on a satellite specifically designed to perform communication tasks. It directly participates in the processes of signal reception, processing, amplification, frequency conversion, and transmission, and is the core component for realizing satellite communication functions.

[0041] Currently, single-frequency, single-mode antenna architecture is the mainstream implementation method in satellite communication payloads, meaning that a single satellite communication payload supports only one standard. Specific parameters and implementation methods for different standards are shown in Table 1 below.

[0042] Table 1

[0043]

[0044] FDD stands for Frequency Division Duplexing, and TDD stands for Time Division Duplexing. Different operating frequency bands are represented by codes, such as band "A", band "B", band "C", etc.

[0045] Satellite communication payloads are carried on satellite platforms, and their operating mode is fixed after launch, making it impossible to dynamically switch modes according to the communication needs of the orbital coverage area.

[0046] To address the aforementioned technical issues, this application integrates a dual-feed RF front-end and a single-feed RF front-end into the satellite communication payload, with their conduction states uniformly controlled by the baseband processing unit via an RF transceiver. This enables the satellite communication payload to support the transmission and reception of various communication signals of different standards. Since the baseband processing unit can selectively activate either RF front-end, the satellite communication payload can switch between different standards, overcoming the limitations of the traditional single-frequency, single-mode architecture, which has a fixed operating mode and cannot dynamically adapt to the communication needs of the coverage area. This improves the flexibility and mission adaptability of the satellite communication payload.

[0047] This application addresses the needs for payload miniaturization and functional flexibility in low-Earth orbit satellite constellation communication systems.

[0048] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] This application provides an antenna device. Figure 1Schematic diagram of the antenna device provided in this application Figure 1 ,like Figure 1 As shown, the antenna device 10 includes a radio frequency transceiver 20, a radio frequency front-end unit 30, and an antenna unit 40.

[0050] The radio frequency front-end unit 30 includes a dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 and a single-feed radio frequency front-end 32. The dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 is connected to the radio frequency transceiver 20 and the dual-feed radiation unit 41 in the antenna unit 40, respectively. The single-feed radio frequency front-end 32 is connected to the radio frequency transceiver 20 and the single-feed radiation unit 42 in the antenna unit 40, respectively.

[0051] The RF transceiver 20 refers to a transceiver chip or module that converts baseband signals to RF signals. The RF front-end unit 30 refers to an RF path that includes power amplification, low-noise amplification, and filtering functions. The dual-feed RF front-end 31 supports two independent ports, while the single-feed RF front-end 32 supports a single port. The antenna unit 40 includes a dual-feed radiating unit 41 and a single-feed radiating unit 42, used for electromagnetic wave transmission and reception.

[0052] The radio frequency transceiver 20 is used to control the conduction of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end 32.

[0053] The dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the single-feed RF front-end 32 are used for the transmission and reception of various communication signals of different standards.

[0054] Antenna element 40 is used to receive and transmit communication signals.

[0055] Antenna element 40 uses a common-aperture wiring sequence. Dual-feed radiating element 41 and single-feed radiating element 42 are etched onto the surface of the radiating plate. Exemplarily, the radiating plate is made of carbon fiber composite material, and the thickness can be set according to actual needs, for example, 5 mm.

[0056] The transmitting antenna of the dual-feed radiating element 41 is polarized in a left-hand circular arc, and the receiving antenna is polarized in a right-hand circular arc. The dual-feed radiating element 41 supports a second communication standard. The second communication standard operates in FDD mode and in a single frequency band, such as FDD_AA mode.

[0057] The single-feed radiating unit 42 adopts an orthogonal polarization structure and supports a third communication standard. The third communication standard operates in TDD mode and in a single frequency band, such as TDD_B mode. The single-feed radiating unit 42 achieves transmit / receive switching through baseband timing control.

[0058] The transceiver combination of the dual-feed radiating unit 41 and the single-feed radiating unit 42 supports a first communication standard. The first communication standard operates in FDD mode and operates in dual frequency bands, such as FDD_AB mode.

[0059] This application integrates the dual-feed radiating unit 41 and the single-feed radiating unit 42 on the same radiating board, and achieves a balance between miniaturization and high performance by sharing the radio frequency front-end unit 30.

[0060] Specifically, the radio frequency transceiver 20 controls the conduction state of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 or the single-feed radio frequency front-end 32, so that the antenna device 10 can selectively enable different front-end paths to adapt to different communication standards. The dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 and the single-feed radio frequency front-end 32 coexist in the antenna device 10 and are respectively connected to the corresponding radiating elements to realize multi-mode signal processing.

[0061] This application integrates a dual-feed RF front-end 31 and a single-feed RF front-end 32 into the antenna device 10 and controls their conduction states uniformly, enabling the antenna device 10 to support the transmission and reception of various communication signals of different standards. Since either RF front-end can be selectively activated, the antenna device 10 can switch between different standards, overcoming the limitations of the traditional single-frequency single-mode architecture where the operating mode is fixed and cannot dynamically adapt to the communication needs of the coverage area, thereby improving flexibility and task adaptability.

[0062] This application also provides a satellite communication payload. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the satellite communication payload provided in this application is shown below. Figure 2 As shown, the satellite communication payload 50 includes a baseband processing unit 60 and an antenna device 10, and the baseband processing unit 60 is connected to the antenna device 10.

[0063] Specifically, the baseband processing unit 60 is connected to the radio frequency transceiver 20. Optionally, the radio frequency transceiver 20 is connected to the baseband processing unit 60 via a high-speed serial interface.

[0064] The baseband processing unit 60 is a digital processing module that performs signal modulation and demodulation, protocol processing, and control logic. The baseband processing unit 60 is used to control the conduction of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 and / or the single-feed RF front-end 32 through the RF transceiver 20.

[0065] In one optional embodiment, the satellite communication payload 50 further includes a power management unit, which is electrically connected to each component in the satellite communication payload 50 and is used to supply power to each component.

[0066] Optionally, the power management module controls the power supply to each component through a standard protocol.

[0067] In one alternative embodiment, the satellite communication payload 50 further includes a clock circuit, which is connected to each component in the satellite communication payload 50 and is used to provide a unified clock signal to each component.

[0068] Optionally, the clock circuit uses an Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO) to provide a reference clock and ensure signal synchronization.

[0069] In this application, configuring only one baseband processing unit 60, RF transceiver 20 and power management unit can meet the requirements of multiple communication standards.

[0070] In one alternative embodiment, Figure 1 Based on the embodiment shown, the RF front-end unit 30 also includes an RF switch unit, which is connected to the RF transceiver 20, the dual-feed RF front-end 31, and the single-feed RF front-end 32, respectively.

[0071] The radio frequency transceiver 20 is used to control the selection state of the radio frequency switching unit to turn on the input and output paths of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end 31 and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end 32 according to the target communication standard.

[0072] An RF switch unit refers to an integrated switch assembly or set of switches disposed in the RF front-end unit 30 for switching RF signal paths. Its function is to establish selectable conduction paths according to control commands.

[0073] By incorporating an RF switch unit within the RF front-end unit 30, which is connected to the RF transceiver 20, the dual-feed RF front-end 31, and the single-feed RF front-end 32, and controlling the selection state of this RF switch unit by the RF transceiver 20, the input and output paths of the corresponding front-end can be activated according to the target communication standard, thus achieving flexible switching of multi-mode communication paths. This structure helps avoid the redundant design of configuring independent RF links for each standard, supports signal transmission and reception processing of multiple standards on a single hardware platform, and improves the integration and resource utilization efficiency of the antenna device 10. Simultaneously, by centrally managing path selection through the RF switch unit, it ensures that signal paths do not conflict when different standards are operating, effectively preventing self-interference caused by multi-mode concurrency, and enhancing reliability and stability.

[0074] Optionally, the radio frequency switching unit is physically a combination of one or more independent radio frequency switching devices. In terms of control method, the radio frequency transceiver 20 provides control signals to realize centralized management of path switching.

[0075] In one alternative embodiment, Figure 1Based on the embodiment shown, the radio frequency front-end unit 30 further includes a first radio frequency switch, and the radio frequency switch unit includes a second radio frequency switch and a third radio frequency switch.

[0076] In this configuration, the first, second, and third RF switches are all RF switching devices whose paths can be switched by a control signal. Optionally, the first, second, and third RF switches are all single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches. For example, the insertion loss of the RF switches is ≤0.5dB, and the isolation is ≥30dB.

[0077] The common terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the single-feed radiating unit 42, the first gating terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end 32, and the second gating terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32.

[0078] The common terminal of the second RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver 20, the first strobe terminal is connected to the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31, and the second strobe terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32.

[0079] The common terminal of the third RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver 20, the first strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31, and the second strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end 32.

[0080] Specifically, the radio frequency path is managed by three radio frequency switches to achieve independent selection and combined control of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the single-feed RF front-end 32, ensuring that the signal path is correctly connected and does not conflict when either mode is activated.

[0081] This application provides flexible RF path switching capabilities, supports precise configuration of transceiver links under different standards, avoids signal path misconnection or short circuit, and ensures the reliability of multi-mode switching.

[0082] In one alternative embodiment, Figure 1 Based on the illustrated embodiment, Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the antenna device provided in this application Figure 2 ,like Figure 3 As shown, the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 includes a first power amplifier PA1 and a first bandpass filter BPF1 connected to each other, and the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 includes a first low-noise amplifier LNA1 and a second bandpass filter BPF2 connected to each other; the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32 includes a second power amplifier PA2, the input path of the single-feed RF front-end 32 includes a second low-noise amplifier LAN2, and the single-feed RF front-end 32 also includes a third bandpass filter BPF3.

[0083] like Figure 3 As shown, the first selector terminal of the first RF switch SPDT1 is connected to the second power amplifier PA2, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier LAN2. The common terminal of the first RF switch SPDT1 is connected to one end of the third bandpass filter BPF3, and the other end of the third bandpass filter BPF3 is connected to the single-feed radiating unit 42. The first selector terminal of the second RF switch SPDT2 is connected to the first power amplifier PA1, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second power amplifier PA2. The first selector terminal of the third RF switch SPDT3 is connected to the first low-noise amplifier LAN1, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier LAN2.

[0084] The dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the single-feed RF front-end 32 contain several key components in their output and input paths, such as a power amplifier (PA), a bandpass filter (BPF), and a low-noise amplifier (LNA). The power amplifier amplifies the RF signal to meet the power requirements of the transmitted signal. The bandpass filter selects signals within a specific frequency range and suppresses interference from other frequency bands, thereby improving signal quality and anti-interference capability. The low-noise amplifier maintains a low noise figure while achieving high gain, thus improving receiver sensitivity and signal quality. These components together constitute the basic functional modules of the RF front-end and work collaboratively to achieve efficient signal transmission and reception.

[0085] Among them, the first bandpass filter BPF1 is the output filter in the dual-feed RF front-end 31, that is, the transmit filter (Filter_TX); the second bandpass filter BPF2 is the input filter in the dual-feed RF front-end 31, that is, the receive filter (Filter_RX); the third bandpass filter BPF3 is a filter shared by the output path and the input path in the single-feed RF front-end 32. Therefore, the third bandpass filter BPF3 serves as both the transmit filter (Filter_TX) and the receive filter (Filter_RX).

[0086] like Figure 3 As shown, the antenna unit 40 also includes a first connector 43 and a second connector 44. The dual-feed RF front-end 31 is connected to the dual-feed radiating unit 41 through the first connector 43, and the single-feed RF front-end 32 is connected to the single-feed radiating unit 42 through the second connector 44.

[0087] like Figure 3As shown, the dual-feed RF front-end 31 also includes a bridge BR1, which is connected to the first connector 43, and is also connected to the first bandpass filter BPF1 and the second bandpass filter BPF2 respectively.

[0088] In one alternative embodiment, the dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the single-feed RF front-end 32 are integrated on the same board and laid out on the board according to functional partitions, with each area physically isolated by a metal shielding cavity.

[0089] Specifically, the dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the single-feed RF front-end 32 are integrated on the same high-density printed circuit board (PCB) and are integrated with a partitioned layout and metal shielding cavity structure.

[0090] For example, the system is first divided into functional zones (such as PA zone, LNA zone, and filter zone), and then each zone is physically isolated using a metal cavity with partition walls. Optionally, the metal shielding cavity can be made of a highly conductive metal (such as copper alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum), and the surface can be plated with silver or tin to reduce contact resistance. The metal shielding cavity needs to be connected to the RF ground plane with low impedance; otherwise, it cannot effectively discharge induced current and may instead amplify interference from the resonant cavity.

[0091] This application provides a multi-frequency, multi-mode hardware co-board integrated architecture. Through a single set of core components and a partitioned RF front-end co-board design, it achieves hardware reuse for multiple standards, solving the problem of resource redundancy in independent designs. Compared to arranging multiple independent components on a single antenna device 10, this application reduces payload size and weight through hardware reuse. Compared to launching satellites supporting each standard separately, the antenna device 10 provided in this application supports multiple standards and can be integrated onto the satellite communication payload 50, thereby reducing satellite launch costs.

[0092] In one alternative embodiment, the first power amplifier PA1 and the second power amplifier PA2 are centrally located at the edge of the circuit board.

[0093] Specifically, the power amplifier area is concentrated at the edge of the PCB to keep it away from the sensitive low-noise amplifier and reduce thermal interference.

[0094] In one optional embodiment, the first bandpass filter BPF1, the second bandpass filter BPF2, and the third bandpass filter BPF3 are all dielectric filters. Using dielectric filters facilitates transmission and reception isolation across different frequency bands and reduces crosstalk between frequency bands.

[0095] Optionally, the dielectric filter may take the form of a dielectric cavity filter, a dielectric-loaded waveguide filter, or a multilayer dielectric filter, etc., and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0096] In one alternative embodiment, the circuit board includes multiple signal layers and multiple ground layers, and the radio frequency ground plane and the digital ground plane in the multiple ground layers are connected on the circuit board through a physical point.

[0097] This application achieves a grounding impedance of ≤0.1Ω by connecting the radio frequency ground and the digital ground at a single point, thereby suppressing common-mode interference.

[0098] This application provides a solution for suppressing radio frequency interference by employing a combination of measures such as partitioned shielding and single-point grounding to ensure low interference between multi-frequency and multi-mode signals.

[0099] In one alternative embodiment, the satellite communication payload 50 further includes a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is used to receive mode switching instructions sent by ground control equipment, which instruct the satellite communication payload 50 to switch to the target communication standard.

[0100] The satellite communication payload 50 is remotely connected to the ground control equipment. When the area served by the satellite communication payload 50 changes, the ground control equipment sends a mode switching command to the satellite communication payload 50 so that the satellite communication payload 50 switches the current standard to the area-matching standard.

[0101] The mode switching command is transmitted from the ground control equipment to the CPU via a signal transmission path consisting of antenna unit 40, RF front-end unit 30, RF transceiver 20, baseband processing unit 60, and CPU. The CPU parses the mode switching command to obtain the target communication standard. Accordingly, the CPU sends a switching control command to the baseband processing unit 60, so that the baseband processing unit 60 controls the switching of the RF path.

[0102] The baseband processing unit 60 loads software of the corresponding standard from flash memory in response to a switching control command. For example, the loading time is ≤500ms.

[0103] Each standard corresponds to different software. These software programs use a mutex mechanism to ensure that only one standard is active at a time, fundamentally avoiding interference caused by simultaneous operation of multiple modes. The mutex ensures that only one standard's software can "occupy" shared hardware resources at any given time, while other standards must wait. Here, "software" refers to the communication protocol stack.

[0104] Optionally, the CPU also controls the power management unit to power on the corresponding RF front-end components. For example, when the target communication standard is FDD_AA, only the power amplifier, filter, and low-noise amplifier of the A band are powered on, while the other components are powered off to reduce power consumption.

[0105] Optionally, the CPU also automatically performs amplitude / phase calibration. Specifically, it compensates for the gain and phase deviations of the RF transceiver 20 and the RF front-end components through a built-in calibration channel. For example, the error after calibration is ≤0.5dB / 1°. After calibration, the CPU sends a mode-ready telemetry signal to the ground control equipment to initiate normal communication.

[0106] This application achieves rapid mode switching through dynamic power supply, protocol stack loading (software loading), and automatic calibration, while suppressing interference by employing non-parallel operation between different standards. Through interference suppression design, it reduces signal-to-noise ratio fluctuations during multi-frequency, multi-mode switching, meeting the high reliability requirements of satellite communication.

[0107] Specifically, for FDD mode (such as FDD_AB, FDD_AA), the transmit signal (Tx) is switched to the dual-feed RF front-end 31, and the receive signal (Rx) is switched to the corresponding polarization receive channel; for TDD mode (such as TDD_B), the shared channel for transmit and receive signals is switched to the single-feed RF front-end 32, and time-division multiplexing of transmit and receive is achieved through baseband timing control.

[0108] Specifically, the first radio frequency switch SPDT1, the second radio frequency switch SPDT2, and the third radio frequency switch SPDT3 are controlled by control signals output from the baseband processing unit 60, such as general purpose input / output (GPIO) signals, thereby meeting the needs of dynamic adjustment of the satellite in orbit.

[0109] The switching process for each of the various standards is explained below.

[0110] Example 1:

[0111] The first communication standard, also known as FDD_AB, is used to cover densely populated areas. Downlink uses the B band, and uplink uses the A band. The baseband processing unit 60 needs to load the software corresponding to the FDD mode.

[0112] For example, one possible application scenario is: when a satellite is operating in the 30°-40° North latitude region, it needs to provide high-capacity downlink communication, for example, the satellite is required to meet the following performance indicators:

[0113] Coverage radius of 500km, single beam capacity of 500Mbps.

[0114] In one optional embodiment, the baseband processing unit 60 is used to send a switch control command to the radio frequency transceiver 20 when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the FDD_AB standard, so that the radio frequency transceiver 20 controls the first radio frequency switch SPDT1 to be thrown to the first gate terminal, controls the second radio frequency switch SPDT2 to be thrown to the second gate terminal, and controls the third radio frequency switch SPDT3 to be thrown to the first gate terminal, so that the output path of the single-feed radio front-end 32 and the input path of the dual-feed radio front-end 31 are turned on.

[0115] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 1 ,like Figure 4 As shown, the RF path of the FDD_AB standard is composed of the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 and the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32.

[0116] After receiving the switching control command from the CPU indicating a switch to FDD_AB mode, the baseband processing unit 60 first parses the command and generates switching control commands for each RF switch according to the communication protocol requirements of FDD_AB mode. Subsequently, the switching control commands are transmitted via the RF transceiver 20 to the first RF switch SPDT1, the second RF switch SPDT2, and the third RF switch SPDT3, respectively, switching them to their preset operating states. Specifically, the first RF switch SPDT1 is set to the first select terminal, allowing the output signal of the single-feed RF front-end 32 to be successfully transmitted to the antenna element 40; the second RF switch SPDT2 is set to the second select terminal, ensuring that the output signal of the single-feed RF front-end 32 can be received by the RF transceiver 20; and the third RF switch SPDT3 is set to the first select terminal, introducing external signals into the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31. Through the above logic control, the baseband processing unit 60 achieves precise management of the signal path, thereby meeting the communication requirements under the FDD_AB mode.

[0117] Example 2:

[0118] The second communication standard is FDD_AA, which uses the A band for both downlink and uplink. The baseband processing unit 60 needs to load the software corresponding to the FDD mode.

[0119] In one optional embodiment, the baseband processing unit 60 is used to send a switch control command to the radio frequency transceiver 20 when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the FDD_AA standard, so that the radio frequency transceiver 20 controls the first radio frequency switch SPDT1 to be empty, controls the second radio frequency switch SPDT2 to be thrown to the first gate terminal, and controls the third radio frequency switch SPDT3 to be thrown to the first gate terminal, so that both the input path and the output path of the dual-feed point radio frequency front-end 31 are turned on.

[0120] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 2 ,like Figure 5 As shown, the RF path of the FDD_AA standard is composed of the input path and the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end 31.

[0121] After receiving the switching control command sent by the CPU to indicate switching to the FDD_AA standard, the baseband processing unit 60 first parses the command and generates a switching control command corresponding to each RF switch according to the communication protocol requirements of the FDD_AA standard. Subsequently, the switching control commands are transmitted to the first RF switch SPDT1, the second RF switch SPDT2, and the third RF switch SPDT3 via the RF transceiver 20, respectively, switching them to their preset operating states. Specifically, in the FDD_AA standard, the dual-feed RF front-end 31 needs to support both signal reception and transmission functions simultaneously; therefore, its input and output paths must remain fully open. To achieve this goal, the baseband processing unit 60 sends a control signal to the second RF switch SPDT2 via the RF transceiver 20, switching it to the first gating terminal, thereby connecting the first power amplifier PA1 of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 to the transmit port of the RF transceiver 20. Simultaneously, the baseband processing unit 60 sends a control signal to the third RF switch SPDT3 via the RF transceiver 20, switching it to the first gating terminal, thereby connecting the receive port of the RF transceiver 20 to the first low-noise amplifier LNA1 of the dual-feed RF front-end 31. Since the first RF switch SPDT1 is controlled to a throttle state, the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32 is cut off, avoiding signal interference. Through the above logic control, the input and output paths of the dual-feed RF front-end 31 are fully connected, thus meeting the full-duplex communication requirements of the FDD_AA standard.

[0122] Example 3:

[0123] The third communication standard is TDD_B. It is suitable for covering remote areas, with both downlink and uplink using the B band. The baseband processing unit 60 needs to load the software corresponding to the TDD mode. In the B band, the PA and LNA operate in a time-sharing manner, and the power management unit needs to dynamically adjust the supply current.

[0124] For example, one possible application scenario is: when a satellite is operating in a remote area in the northwest, it is necessary to flexibly adjust the uplink and downlink bandwidth, for example, the satellite is required to meet the following performance indicators:

[0125] It has a coverage radius of 800km and a single beam capacity of 200Mbps.

[0126] In one optional embodiment, the baseband processing unit 60 is used to send a switch control command to the radio frequency transceiver 20 when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the TDD_B standard. This causes the radio frequency transceiver 20 to control the second radio frequency switch SPDT2 to be thrown to the second select terminal and the third radio frequency switch SPDT3 to be thrown to the second select terminal according to the switch control command. The first radio frequency switch SPDT1 is also switched between the first select terminal and the second select terminal through timing control, so that the output path and the input path of the single feed point radio frequency front-end 32 are time-divisionally connected.

[0127] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the radio frequency path provided in this application Figure 3 ,like Figure 6 As shown, the RF path of the TDD_B standard is composed of the output path and the input path of the single-feed RF front-end 32.

[0128] In TDD_B mode, the baseband processing unit 60 uses the RF transceiver 20 to precisely time-control the three RF switches to achieve time-division multiplexing of the input and output paths of the single-feed RF front-end 32. Specifically, during the transmission phase, the baseband processing unit 60 controls the first RF switch SPDT1 to be thrown to the first select terminal via the RF transceiver 20, thereby guiding the modulated communication signal to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end 32. In this path, the signal sequentially passes through the second power amplifier PA2 and the third bandpass filter BPF3, and is finally radiated to the external environment through the antenna unit 40. At the same time, the second RF switch SPDT2 and the third RF switch SPDT3 maintain their common terminals connected to the output and input paths of the single-feed RF front-end 32, respectively, ensuring effective signal transmission.

[0129] During the receiving phase, the baseband processing unit 60 adjusts the first RF switch SPDT1 to the second selection terminal via the RF transceiver 20, allowing the signal received by the antenna unit 40 to enter the input path of the single-feed RF front-end 32. In this process, the signal is first pre-filtered by the third bandpass filter BPF3, then amplified by the second low-noise amplifier LAN2, and finally transmitted back to the baseband processing unit 60 via the RF transceiver 20 for demodulation.

[0130] It should be noted that, to avoid interference between transmitted and received signals, the switching timing of the first RF switch SPDT1 must strictly adhere to the preset time interval to ensure complete separation of signals in the time domain. Through the above logic design, efficient time-division duplex communication can be achieved under the TDD_B standard, while ensuring the accuracy and stability of signal processing.

[0131] This application improves the on-orbit utilization of satellite communication payload 50 through a dynamic switching mechanism. For example, a satellite can switch between FDD_AB (covering cities) and TDD_B (covering suburbs) modes in one orbital cycle (about 90 minutes) to achieve efficient coverage of the entire area.

[0132] This application supports upgrading SPDT switches to single-pole multi-throw (SPnT) switches to expand to more frequency bands (such as the Ku band), while maintaining compatibility with software-defined radio (SDR) technology and reserving space for future functional upgrades. For example, replacing SPDT switches with single-pole quad-throw (SP4T) switches and adding RF front-ends for C and D bands can support four standards (such as FDD_AB, FDD_AA, TDD_B, and FDD_C / D), suitable for multi-band coverage requirements.

[0133] The connection between the internal components of the antenna device 10 and the satellite communication payload 50 provided in this application refers to electrical connection.

[0134] This application also provides a satellite platform, on which the satellite communication payload 50 provided in the above embodiments is carried. A satellite platform refers to the remaining part of a satellite excluding the payload or payload bay, consisting of the satellite body and service systems, including modules such as a service bay and a propulsion bay, and having functional subsystems such as energy supply, attitude control, propulsion, and temperature control.

[0135] The satellite mentioned in this application consists of a satellite platform and a satellite communication payload 50 integrated thereon.

[0136] The ground control equipment mentioned in this application refers to ground systems used for the measurement, control, management, and scheduling of satellites, including space tracking and control stations, satellite operation and control centers, and telemetry and remote control command uplink stations. Ground control equipment is used to control the satellite platform status (such as orbit, attitude, power supply, and payload switching), for example, by sending mode switching commands. Mode switching commands are configuration commands for payload operating modes and belong to mission-level control commands.

[0137] In an optional embodiment, the antenna device 10 provided in this application can also be integrated into a base station device. Base station device refers to a ground access node that communicates with a user terminal, such as a satellite communication earth station, a user gateway station, or a gNodeB (next generation Node B) in a 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network). 5G refers to the fifth generation mobile communication technology.

[0138] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first," "second," and "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0139] Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" and its other forms, such as the third-person singular "comprises" and the present participle "comprising," are interpreted as open-ended and encompassing, meaning "including, but not limited to." In the description of the specification, terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "exemplary embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic associated with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. The illustrative representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic may be included in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0140] It should be noted that "multiple" in this article refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0141] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to a variety of systems. Applicable systems may include, but are not limited to: narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems, long-term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth-generation mobile communication systems or possible sixth-generation or seventh-generation mobile communication systems, vehicle-mounted short-range wireless communication systems, satellite broadband communication systems, and future mobile communication systems.

[0142] The technical solutions provided in this application are also applicable to different network architectures, including but not limited to relay network architecture, dual-link architecture, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) architecture, device-to-device (D2D) architecture, Internet of Vessels, and other architectures.

[0143] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An antenna device, characterized in that, include: RF transceiver, RF front-end unit, and antenna unit; The radio frequency front-end unit includes a dual-feed radio frequency front-end and a single-feed radio frequency front-end. The dual-feed radio frequency front-end is connected to the radio frequency transceiver and the dual-feed radiating element in the antenna unit, respectively. The single-feed radio frequency front-end is connected to the radio frequency transceiver and the single-feed radiating element in the antenna unit, respectively. The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the conduction of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end; The dual-feed point RF front-end and the single-feed point RF front-end are used for transmitting and receiving various communication signals of different standards. The antenna unit is used to receive and transmit communication signals; The radio frequency front-end unit further includes a radio frequency switch unit, which is connected to the radio frequency transceiver, the dual-feed radio frequency front-end, and the single-feed radio frequency front-end respectively. The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the selection state of the radio frequency switch unit to conduct the input and output paths of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end and / or the single-feed radio frequency front-end according to the target communication standard. The transmit / receive combination of the dual-feed radiating unit and the single-feed radiating unit supports a first communication standard, the dual-feed radiating unit supports a second communication standard, and the single-feed radiating unit supports a third communication standard.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radio frequency front-end unit further includes a first radio frequency switch, and the radio frequency switch unit includes a second radio frequency switch and a third radio frequency switch; The common terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the single-feed radiating unit, the first gating terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end, and the second gating terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end. The common terminal of the second RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver, the first gating terminal is connected to the output path of the dual-feed RF front-end, and the second gating terminal is connected to the output path of the single-feed RF front-end. The common terminal of the third RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver, the first strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end, and the second strobe terminal is connected to the input path of the single-feed RF front-end.

3. The antenna device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The output path of the dual-feed RF front-end includes a first power amplifier and a first bandpass filter connected to each other, and the input path of the dual-feed RF front-end includes a first low-noise amplifier and a second bandpass filter connected to each other. The output path of the single-feed RF front-end includes a second power amplifier, and the input path of the single-feed RF front-end includes a second low-noise amplifier; the single-feed RF front-end also includes a third bandpass filter. The first selection terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the second power amplifier, and the second selection terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier; the common terminal of the first RF switch is connected to the third bandpass filter, and the third bandpass filter is also connected to the single-feed radiating unit. The first selector terminal of the second RF switch is connected to the first power amplifier, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second power amplifier; The first selector terminal of the third RF switch is connected to the first low-noise amplifier, and the second selector terminal is connected to the second low-noise amplifier.

4. The antenna device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The dual-feed RF front-end and the single-feed RF front-end are integrated on the same board and laid out according to functional partitions on the circuit board, with each area physically isolated by a metal shielding cavity.

5. The antenna device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are centrally located at the edge of the circuit board.

6. The antenna device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first bandpass filter, the second bandpass filter, and the third bandpass filter are all dielectric filters.

7. The antenna device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The circuit board includes multiple signal layers and multiple ground layers, and the radio frequency ground plane and the digital ground plane in the multiple ground layers are connected on the circuit board through a physical point.

8. The antenna device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the first radio frequency switch to the first strobe terminal, control the second radio frequency switch to the second strobe terminal, and control the third radio frequency switch to the first strobe terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the first communication standard, so as to enable the output path of the single-feed radio frequency front-end and the input path of the dual-feed radio frequency front-end; the first communication standard operates in frequency division duplex mode and operates in dual frequency bands.

9. The antenna device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the first radio frequency switch to be thrown to the empty position, control the second radio frequency switch to be thrown to the first strobe terminal, and control the third radio frequency switch to be thrown to the first strobe terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the second communication standard, so that both the input and output paths of the dual-feed point radio frequency front-end are turned on; the second communication standard operates in frequency division duplex mode and operates in a single frequency band.

10. The antenna device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The radio frequency transceiver is used to control the second radio frequency switch to the second gating terminal and the third radio frequency switch to the second gating terminal when the ground control equipment indicates a switch to the third communication standard. It also controls the first radio frequency switch to switch between the first gating terminal and the second gating terminal through timing control, so that the output path and input path of the single feed point radio frequency front end are time-divisionally connected. The third communication standard operates in time-division duplex mode and on a single frequency band.

11. A satellite communication payload, characterized in that, include: The baseband processing unit and the antenna device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; The baseband processing unit is connected to the antenna device.

12. The satellite communication payload according to claim 11, characterized in that, It also includes a power management unit, which is electrically connected to each component in the satellite communication payload and is used to supply power to each component.

13. The satellite communication payload according to claim 11, characterized in that, It also includes a clock circuit, which is connected to each component in the satellite communication payload and is used to provide a unified clock signal to each component.

14. A satellite platform, characterized in that, The satellite communication payload as described in any one of claims 11 to 13 is carried on the satellite platform.

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